Rock 'n' Roll

            After the low-keyed eloquence of last week’s Vienesse Waltz, my choice for this week will definitely raise your heart rate.

          The founders of the genre Rock ‘n’ Roll were the black communities of the South, in the mid-fifties. The music developed from rhythm and blues, soul, jazz, country and gospel (rockandrollzone.com); and resulted in the emergence of a new dance fashion. According to Ann Dils and Ann Cooper Albright, co-editors of the book Moving History/Dancing Cultures: A Dance History Reader, the dance steps were quite flexible, but there characteristics and forms the dancers had to keep in mind. Dancers “tended to move with a focus inward rather than outward to a partner or to the environment (…) with a sense of energy freely sent in all directions, creating an impression of abandon and literally giving up control.”

          Exactly this illusion of being free and letting loose one’s limbs what makes the experience extraordinary. When people regardless of age and gender stand there kicking with legs and moving all the two hands at the same time, they feel unstoppable, energetic, and unbounded. I personally think that Rock and Roll is even good for mental health. For example, getting out to the dance floor, hearing the music full of life, and being capable of performing the really quick and complex moves of the dance can help raising one’s self-esteem and confidence. However, if you want to pick up a girl, I would advise a bit slower and more romantic dance because all this kicking and lifting would frighten her. Although, if your relationship needs freshening up, a dance course can do the job and it is cheaper than a holiday on the Bahamas.

          In addition to the vitality and flexibility of the dance, it is a really effective workout. Most of all, it is really good for the circulatory system due to the constant and fast steps. Moreover, you have to kick so many times that the muscles on the leg develop easily. Even so, if you try acrobatic Rock ‘n’ Roll where the kicks are higher and more powerful, but that has really different characteristics than the original dance style.

 

  

          At first, the steps are really hard to learn if one does not have any kind of dance experience, and the moves differ from the classic ballroom dances as well. However, I would really encourage everyone to at least attend one class of Rock ‘n’ Roll for the sake of adrenalin rush. Especially the younger generations can appreciate Rock 'n’ Roll, due to the fast, rhythmic music; the exciting steps and turns that characterize this unique dance genre. Those who do not think Rock ‘n’ Roll suits them, visit my blog next week, maybe they will like my next offer.

Viennese Waltz

Viennese Waltz could be called the queen of ballroom dances due to its lightness and beauty. The root of Viennese Waltz was the traditional Austrian dance the ‘Landler’. Its origins are from the 18^th century Austrian countryside inns where due to the looser etiquette the lower society dared to dance in such an embraced position which is now called close hold or “waltz’ position (actfa.com). It was scandalous at first, but slowly it reached the ballrooms of the higher society as well, where thanks to the parquet floor the movements developed into elegance and the steps became faster.  By the musical compositions of Josef Lanner and Johann Strauss Sr., Viennese Waltz gained popularity in the middle of the 19^th century and it is now the national dance of Austria (aboutvienna.org).

   The difference between the English, or else called slow waltz, and the Viennese Waltz is the number of beats per minute. While the slow waltz is danced in 90 beats per minute, the Viennese Waltz danced in approximately two times more; however, they have share the one-two-three count (actfa.com). One may prefer the Viennese Waltz because even if English waltz is more aristocratic, it is too slow and this way it seems halting. On the contrary, Viennese Waltz feels and looks like the dancers were floating in the air across the ballroom. Nevertheless, on account of the speed of the dance it is harder to keep up to the music and to move along with the partner. Another hardship is the constant rotation of the pair, so one can easily get dizzy.  This can be sidestepped by always sticking one’s glance on one point, and the good thing is the partners hold each other tight so there is no need to be afraid of the possibility of falling. Although it is true that the position of the female dancer is uncomfortable because she is leaning backward a bit, but the male partner’s hands are always there to support the lady’s back. Moreover, who has difficulty learning the choreography can be happy because it is just one step and placing your other leg next to the other with a half turn.

What can be the most admirable about Viennese Waltz is that the woman is treated like a princess. She is always in the protection of the man’s arms, she has this beautiful dress that always follows the movement of her body, and she only has to fly across the room like a swan. What makes the performance more spectacular is when the whole ballroom is filled with dancing couples and whirling dresses, and in many cases they gather into a circle and create for example a rose by the girls being in the circle made by the men grabbing each other’s arms and leaning back. In addition to all this, if the music is well chosen it can be marvelous. If the classics like Josef Lanner or the typical songs heard on every prom like “Anastasia-Once Upon a December“ are not satisfactory one can make innovations like dancing to Brian Adams. Due to personal experience I know that it is really breath taking. 

It is true that Viennese Waltz can seem old fashioned for the R&B lovers and for those who would rather dance with their breasts out. In addition to this, waltz of any kind is really not a sexually overheated dance. However, if one is looking for beauty and tranquility Viennese Waltz is a perfect start. Those who like to be appreciated by men and who enjoy feeling light and floating in the lake will love dancing the queen of ballroom dances.