American Waltz
Also known as: Closed Waltz, American Standard Waltz
History & Cultural Context
American Waltz emerged in the United States as dancers adapted International Standard Waltz to American social and competitive preferences. While maintaining the basic waltz rhythm and turning action, American Waltz allows for more separation between partners, less frame rigidity, and greater freedom of styling. The dance developed in the 1920s-1960s as American ballroom diverged from English standardization. American Waltz remains more flexible and accessible than International Standard, making it popular in American social ballrooms and competitions. The rise of American Smooth as a formal category in the 1960s gave American Waltz an official competitive home.
Cultural Significance
American Waltz represents American preferences for flexibility and individual expression contrasted with British standardization. Arthur Murray's dance studios and Fred Astaire's films popularized American Smooth waltz variants in the United States. The formalization of American Smooth competition in the 1960s provided a venue for these looser, more theatrical interpretations.
Peak Popularity
Key Historical Figures
- Natural Turn
- Reverse Turn
- Whisk
- Telemark
- Hover
Notable Codifiers
- American ballroom teachers
- Arthur Murray
- Fred Astaire
Dance Lineage
Watch American Waltz
2015 US National Amateur Dancesport Championships Championship Smooth Final — USDC
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