The difference between the regular waltz (also known as the slow waltz) and the Viennese waltz comes down to speed, style, and musical timing:
Tempo:
Slow Waltz: Typically danced at a tempo of 28-30 beats per minute. It’s graceful, with flowing movements and a lot of rise and fall.
Viennese Waltz: Much faster, danced at around 58-60 beats per minute. The movements are more rotational and it’s characterized by continuous turns.
Steps and Movements:
Slow Waltz: Includes a variety of steps like the box step, left and right turns, and more complex patterns that emphasize rise and fall.
Viennese Waltz: Primarily involves continuous left and right turns and change steps. The focus is more on rotation rather than rise and fall.
Music:
Slow Waltz: The music is generally in 3/4 time and has a more romantic, lyrical feel.
Viennese Waltz: Also in 3/4 time, but with a much brisker pace and often more dramatic in nature.
History and Origins:
Slow Waltz: Evolved from the Viennese waltz in the early 20th century, adapting to the slower pace popular in England and the US.
Viennese Waltz: Originates from the 18th-century Austrian dance halls and has maintained its classic, high-speed style.
Whether you feel the pull of the elegant slow waltz or the dizzying charm of the Viennese, both offer a magical experience on the dance floor.
Not to confuse the matter, there are different standards of dance, one being the American style and other the International.
Each withs own unique figures and rules, it can get a bit consfusing at times, however it’s all just a dance.