What makes this dance recognizable? What is typical, distinctive or characteristic?
Three slow count with up and down movements (rise and fall).
Examples
Tree times a lady - The Commodores
Are you lonesome tonight - Elvis Presley
If you do not know me by now - Simply Red
BPM: 28-31
The word literally means turning.
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The Viennese waltz and the resulting derivative and slower Boston Waltz with lady and gentleman walking side by side, and which was introduced already in 1874 from America stood before the First World War at the origin of the slow waltz.
In 1921, The Dancing Times defined the first rule - walk, side, close - to clarify the confusion. Because this fundamental development took place in England, the standard waltz was called English waltz. As distinct from the French (rotating) waltz and the faster Viennese waltz. Instead of constantly turning the British introduced diagonal patterns at their base moves. In the Netherlands and Belgium it is still called the English waltz. In England it is called the "slow waltz".
In the '20s and '30s, he was further developed and created an amazing variety of elegant figures and combinations with gentle circular movements and slow lingering and wavy steps.
Immediately after the First World War more form came in the waltz. In 1926 or 1927, the basis of this dance was changed. This was a big improvement. As a result, they were able to dance multiple variations. Which were finally standardized by the ISTD (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing). This standardized moves are still danced. Around 1926, the dance got the form as we know it today. To appreciate the word "waltz" in its meaning in the program occur of course, many turnings to the waltz. They run through in a smooth movement.
The music on which is danced a waltz has a three-quarter measure, standard is between 28 and 31 beats per minute. Exceptionally also danced slowly, even up to 20 beats per minute. But very difficult to dance.
Typically when dancing is slow and romantic character. Also typical: the rise on count two to a "peak" on count three, which drops again to go to on beat one low and far. This makes the dance "waving".
The steps of this dance are very flamboyant and smooth. They run in a smooth movement further. This is accomplished by going as low as possible at the knees at the forward step over the heel and the backward pass of the ball of the foot, interspersed with high steps over the toes. The lateral steps (chasses) are always taken on the toes (ball of the foot). The entirely dance floor is used during the dance. The second beat, the lateral pass should be made great.
Typically is the complete closure of the feet often standing on the toes.
When danced with several pairs it is as though the dance floor 'waves'.
This movement is called "Pendulum Swing", the state of the pendulum of a clock. This starts high and goes down and the rate is increasing. When the pendulum is down he has his top speed, and when he goes up the speed again decreases. At the top is the dead point and the cycle starts again.
This vertical movement we call the rise and fall. The movement arises from the swing and sway principle. The dancer swings his leg sideways so that the body has a slight curve at the end of the movement. This curve, similar to the so-called "hang off cornering", which ensures that the energy of the motion is accommodated. The energy of motion is partly absorbed by the curve in the body as by the upward movement (rise).
The basic combinations on which the waltz is constructed are called closed change (passes) (left -and right foot closed change) and turn (natural turn and reverse turn). A closed change is one pace forward, one step sideways and slightly forward, and then attach the other foot again. The Dutch name swap pass stems from the fact that after this combination we continue dancing again with the other foot. It has therefore switched the start foot.
The turn is similar to the close change. Now a 3/8 twist is added. The right turn is clockwise and the left turn counterclockwise rotation. A basic combination is formed by 2x the right rotary motion (1x forward and 1x backward, the natural turn) to continue with the closed change with right (right foot closed change). Then you can go for 2x the left turn (1x forward and 1x backward, the reverse turn), and continue with the closed change with left (left foot closed change).
Known basic variations in the waltz are the spin turn, the weave, the whisk and chasse. Other examples are: counter- check, hesitation, fall away.