The waltz is a classical musical genre, which also unfolds into a classical dance style, originating in Austria and Germany at the beginning of the 12th century.
Usually the waltz, either as a musical genre or as a dance style, has a ternary measure, that is, it has three beats, the first beat being strong and the others weak.
The word waltz comes from the German word waltzen, which translated means “going around”. It is mainly marked by the slow rhythm and the movement of paired twists, which move around the room in circles, as if they were taking turns.
Although the waltz is considered classical, its origin is country and first emerged as a dance style inspired by the minuet, a dance in which pairs danced separately, and in the laendler, German country dance.
The waltz was seen in principle as vulgar by the higher social classes and the aristocracy. Some European countries even banned the waltz, considering it an immoral dance. However, it gained strength in the most popular layers of society.
Over the years, many variants, including musical compositions of the waltz, have been developed, depending on the geographic region.
The most famous composers of the waltz are members of the Strauss family, Josef and Johann Strauss.
She was later reinterpreted by composers such as Frédéric Chopin, Johannes Brahms and Maurice Ravel. Johann Strauss II composed more than two hundred waltzes, which turned the style into an independent dance with closer contact between the partners. Among them, the waltz "Blue danube", considered his most played and known composition.
At the end of the 16th century, dance began to be accepted by high society, becoming a classic genre.
Waltz in Brazil
In Brazil, the waltz can be found in the repertoire of some important composers, such as Villa Lobos, Carlos Gomes, Ernesto Nazaré, Chiquinha Gonzaga and some others.
It is common in Brazil for the tradition of the waltz to be danced in important celebrations such as debutante balls (15 years parties), graduations and weddings.
The waltz also appears in some Brazilian expressions, such as "waltz foot", which characterizes the person who is an excellent dancer.
See also the meaning of Dance.
