Waltz Mood

elegant, classic, sentimental, classy, sweeping, high romance, 123, English

Beats per bar: 3

Tempo

28-30 bars per minute

Basic Count - 123

Waltz is not difficult to count to because both the steps and the music are grouped in even counts of three. Remember though, that because there are an odd number of counts, you will start dancing each new bar on a different foot. Because of this, it is sometimes helpful to count two bars at a time (123 - 456), to give a sense of completion to each Waltz step.

Music & History

Classic Slow Waltz music is highly romantic and sentimental music in ¾ time. It is usually kind of dreamy and seems to look back longingly to a time of innocence, when people wrote things like "Today while the blossoms still cling to the vine, I'll taste your strawberries, I'll drink your sweet wine." (Was this really a time of innocence?)

Although waltz music is traditionally romantic, it can also be jazzy, playful or mysterious as well.

Popular Waltzes

• Moon River
• Could I Have This Dance -- Anne Murray
• Open Arms -- Journey