I have waltzed...
Posted by Helen on October 13, 1997 at 10:17:07:
In response to Walzing, written by Tilde on October 13, 1997 at 04:01:11
] Off the top of my head:
] The waltz was there at the Vienna-congress, but it was considered highly indecent for quite some time. A man and a woman, embracing .... IN PUBLIC. I beg you.
] So even if it had been "invented" at the time of JA, it would not have been danced at decent establishments.
] It was very fast.
] Tilde (looking down her nose over her spectacles :-)
As I said on ramble, I minueted at the weekend (and jolly good fun it was too). A long time ago, I went to another such workshop where we did Regency dances - we moved forwards from the country dances which were still common in time to the very first waltzes. It was an amazing historical experience: we really enjoyed the country dance setup, where it doesn't really matter who your partner is in some ways (eg, if you have to dance with another woman or a short fat man) because you don't really come in contact with them, and in many of the dances you relate to a foursome rather than just your partner.
Then the waltz, my goodness. From sedately working your way down a line in a rigid pattern, acting as an independent agent in association with your partner, to being taken round by someone, the two of you on your own against the crowd on the dancefloor. You whirl round really fast, and my head was spinning by the end of the day. Imagine being in the arms of a strong man, you would quite literally be swept off your feet! - add to that the tight corsets and hot atmosphere. I think that in these terms the waltz was far more shocking and radical as a dance than any rock'n'roll could ever be!
Helen
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