Last week I talked about historical accuracy in historical romances so before I stand in my glasshouse to throw stones, I want to talk about The Waltz.
I feature it in the opening chapter of Moonstone Obsession in 1790 and, as mentioned in the previous post, I did have a dear beta reader ask whether that was strictly historically accurate. Well, I have found a reference to the Waltz being introduced to England in 1790 and considering the great cross-pollination of culture between England and Europe, I see no reason why it might not have been danced in very fashionable events in London at the time.
One of the most popular ball room dances today, The Waltz was highly controversial, rather decadent dance that, depending on who you asked, was rather obscene.
Like twerking.
Twerking – not to be confused with the Waltz
Or perhaps not.
The waltz had its origins in Europe and dates back to the 13th Century and owes much to vivacious and informal country dances in contrast the very formal processional style of dances favoured by the aristocracy.
It can be argued that the Waltz evolved from a medieval dance step called Volta – (two steps and a leap) to become the Waltz (Walzen is the German for slide) in the 1520s.
The first tangible waltz tune appeared in 1670 in a popular song, “O du lieber Augustin.” Vienna was the first to reveal the Viennese waltz (Valse) in the Opera “Una Cosa Rara” in 1776. However, it did not become popular until 1788, when it was introduced on the Viennese stage, in an opera called “The Cosarara,” by Vincent Martin.
The waltz was said to be introduced to England in 1790 by Baron Newman (some say 1812). Later it was introduced into France from Germany by the triumphal soldiers of Napoleon I (1769-1821,) after his return from Germany, following his grand encounter at Austerlitz in which three of the greatest armies of Europe, each commanded by an Emperor, were signally defeated on December 2nd, 1805.
So what was the big deal about Waltzing? I mean it’s not like bending over and shaking one’s arse in the air or anything.
The Waltz – Not to be confused with twerking
First of all, it was a closed dance, as in the couple danced close together – close enough for body parts to touch, in fact.
While this seems innocent enough in today’s dance world, at the time it horrified many “proper” folk, such as novelist Sophie von La Roche, who described it as the “shameless, indecent whirling-dance of the Germans” that “…broke all the bounds of good breeding,” in her novel Geshichte des Fräuleins von Sternheim, written in 1771.
The dance was still being described as indecent as late as 1825, but it is clear that once it arrived in England, it quickly spread to the United States as is evidenced by this 1816 dance manual, featuring a spirited defence of the dance form in its preface.
Of course, as dancers know, there is more than one type of waltz – with most of the variations dependent on the tempo of the music. The Viennese Waltz is the fastest at a stunning 174 beats per minute.
As a comparison, Billy Idol’s 80s hit, Dancing With Myself is also 174 bpm – which is great, but can you Waltz to it?
It would be fun to try. PS Gotta love the zombies!