Waltz Dance Lessons

Want to take a great Waltz dancing class in Los Angeles? Well, you have come to the right place! By Your Side Dance Studio provides a fun and enjoyable Waltzing lessons that improve your dance skills and make you look great on the dance floor!

Learn To Waltz From The Best Ballroom Dance Teachers in Los Angeles

By Your Side Dance Studio provides you with the best Waltz dancing instructor in a private setting so that you receive one-on-one personal Waltzing dance instruction custom-tailored to your particular needs. We also provide Waltz dance lessons as group classes.

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About the Waltz

The word waltz comes from the German word “walzen” meaning to roll, glide or turn. The true form of waltz, was born in and around the suburbs of Vienna as well as the alpine peasant areas of Austria with waltzes being danced in the Hapsburg court ballrooms. Up until this time, all court dances were stately and very solemn procession style dances and were performed in open position, as opposed to the waltz which was danced in close position and was viewed as scandalous. When the Waltz was first introduced into the ballrooms of the world in the early years of the Nineteenth Century, it was met with outraged indignation, for it was the first dance where the couple danced in a modified Closed Position – with the man’s hand around the waist of the lady.

Beginning about 1830, the waltz became popular by two Austrian composers Lanner and Strauss. They set the standard for the Viennese Waltz, which was a very fast version played at around 55 – 60 measures per minute.

It is not known exactly when the waltz was introduced to the United States but by the middle of the Nineteenth Century was firmly established in United States society. During the later part of the Nineteenth Century Waltz music was written to a slower tempo than the original Viennese Waltz rhythm. Around the close of the Nineteenth Century two modifications of the waltz developed in the United States. The first was the “Boston”, a slower waltz with long gliding steps; there were fewer and slower turns and more forward and backward movement than in the Viennese Waltz. This version eventually led to the development of the English or International Style of waltz which we have today.

The American Style Waltz is similar to the International Style except that the American Style has open dance positions. The second modification was the “Hesitation Waltz”, which involves taking one step to three beats of the measure. Although the “Hesitation Waltz” is no longer danced, some of its step patterns are still in use today.

Waltzes have been used at wedding for a long time and the Bridal Waltz is seen as one of the highlights of weddings. The waltz is also a major part of ballroom dancing competitions with the moves being executed in expert fashion to beautiful music with the ladies wearing fabulous ball gowns and gentlemen in their tuxedos. Even today, the waltz is popular and is danced by young and old alike.

Our Students Love Us!

LOVE this studio!!!! The instructors love to dance and are vested in your becoming a better dancer. No matter what your dance goals are, this is the place to go.

Dawn B.

By Your Side is the best dance studio. The teachers are fantastic dancers and excellent instructors. They strive for excellence, precision, and elegance, and do so with great encouragement and motivation. I always leave dance class feeling wonderful!

Silvia

We worked with Laura to choreograph our wedding dance. We started out with zero moves and no confidence but after four sessions we were tearing up the floor and having the time of our lives.

Zara A.