I don't VW with anyone except the few men who are very good at it and then I usually request that we just go once or twice around the floor and then stop. Fear of falling is my biggest concern. I have seen women go down hard. Some men strong arm a woman around the floor, thinking they have to hold on tight. Another problem is the music, often it is a polka, not a true VW. In VW, you should think of hitting the 1. With the polka, you feel like you should step on every beat and the dance gets choppy.

jofj, we have a couple of women at our studio who will call in and see what is being taught that particular night. If it is VW, they will not come! They just aren't interested. I wouldn't call it a favorite, but I enjoy the challenge of trying to keep the dance flowing and smooth. What really helped me was making the steps smaller. I was going too long, especially on step 3 coming across my RF with my left. It would disrupt the flow just enough to cause the "deer in the headlights" look in our eyes.

One of the biggest problems that I have with the few women who will try this dance is getting them to take a long enough fifth step on the Reverse Turn when it's their turn to drive.

At one competition we attended, my young partner noticed that only a few of the women crossed their feet properly on this figure.

jj

I absolutely love the International Viennese Waltz. Its my favorite dance. Okay one of my favorites.

I was swirling along the floor the other day with my instructor to a Strauss tune and the problem I have is that my imagination sometimes runs away with me. It is so beautiful, and so reminiscent of times past.

I imagine the Vienna State Opera Ball, and the glorious glittering halls in Vienna where it is still a social dance. I was there in Feb. If you don't love it...go to Vienna. You will undoubtedly change your mind.

If our imaginations can run away with us while dancing the SVW to recorded music, we'd probably lose our minds if we had the opportunity to dance it in front of a full orchestra.



jj

That would be so cool... and men can wear their sabres ... on the right, of course .... no interference on that line of dance. I wonder if anyone knows the history on that. Do you think the men shed the sabres for the Viennese? How could you do that dance with a sabre attached?

I have visited Vienna. My mother and I were even fortunate enough to attend a glorious Strauss concert performed inside a ballroom which was located within the apartments of Maria Theresea (sp?) Picture gold marble pillars, chandeliers dripping with crystals, gilded mirrors, and the history within them all. I could easily imagine a room full of beautiful women and dashing men waltzing around the room. *sigh*

However, to stay on topic a little more, I am a beginning VW student. I don't find the steps or tempo intimidating. My problem is....I get dizzy! I'm hopeful that this will diminish over time. This is my favorite standard dance.

There has been great advice on this site in the past about how to diminish the dizziness on the VW. I believe one of the notes was a pretty simple one, in terms of remembering it is a dance that moves along the line of dance and happens to rotate; not a dance that constantly rotates. It seems when you concentrate on continuing to move around the floor, it cuts down a little on feeling like you are just spinning in one place and, of course, getting dizzy like a kid on a carnival ride. Also, when my wife says she is getting dizzy, we stop by doing side points in place, and then maybe change direction for a short time. We do the same when I start to feel a little disoriented.

dheun. If the steps are done correctly and on the right alignment, which is very exact. With the heads in the right place you will not get dizzy. In a ballroom that is a bit narrow try to avoid doing Reverse Turns on the short sides. Also change from Natural to Reverse with the phrasing which is every eight bars. That should fix your problem. And last of all relax.

SIMPLE? LOL

Where I learned to dance the Viennese Waltz is considered an advanced dance. I can't remember how many hours I have spent learning it and I'm still what I would consider a total incompetent at this dance.

And it is the coolest dance.

so not all hide from it, but many of us are so bad at it that we recognize that private lessons and six months of concentrated effort would be minimal before we could be seen in public in this dance!!! And then only as basic beginners.

But it sure does feel good to sweep around the floor turning smoothly with the music--and I love Strauss.

Ann