Waltz Lessons In Boise
Have you always wanted to try ballroom dancing? Envisioned yourself gliding elegantly across the dance floor? Just looking to add some romance to your daily routine?
Look no further.
At Fred Astaire dance studios, we offer the best Waltz lessons in Boise!
When most people think “ballroom dance,” chances are they’re envisioning the Waltz. This classic dance is defined by long, flowing movements where dancers appear to glide effortlessly around the floor. The use of swaying rise-and-fall motions characterize the smooth, lilting style of the dance.
Seen now as a very traditional dance style, the Waltz is perfect for modern dancers who want to add a touch of elegance to their life. If you’re one of them, stop by our studio and sign up for the best Waltz lessons in Boise!
Get an introduction to the studio
If you want to try this ultra-popular dance style and explore the wide range of other dance lessons we teach, stop by our Boise dance studio during Downtown Boise’s First Thursdays!
Each month we host a free open house with dance demos, a newcomer group class and social dancing. Whether you’re with a date, a group, or just looking to meet new people, you’re sure to have a fun evening out on the town.
Check our Studio Calendar for the next First Thursday Free Open House.
What to Expect at Your First Waltz Lesson
After an introductory lesson — sign up for a $40 intro lesson! — you can join our Beginner Dance Program where you’ll start to learn basic ballroom dance patterns, foot position, directional movements, and more.
Your new skills will grow even faster (and you’ll have a lot of fun) with access to unlimited group classes (including Waltz lessons!) and social dancing parties, where you can practice your moves to a variety of musical styles alongside the rest of your studio dance family.
Our knowledgable instructors are welcoming and passionate about teaching dancers of all levels. They strive to make each class a fun and positive experience.
And once you’ve mastered the basic steps, you’ll feel more confident about hitting the dance floor, whether that’s at a ballroom dance competition, a wedding reception, or your own kitchen!
Get Started In Three Easy Steps!
Step 1
As a beginner, you’ll learn the basic steps and rhythm of the Waltz. Your instructor will help you learn the basic count and show you how to move with the music.
Step 2
Practicing with a partner, you’ll get the hang of leading and following.
Step 3
Before you know it, you’ll be effortlessly counting the music while dancing and having a great time!
Looking for Waltz lessons in Boise? Contact us at (208) 514-0440 and let’s get you dancing!
The History of the Waltz
The Waltz has its origins in the country folk dances of Bavaria, dating back 400 years, and made its debut appearance in English ballrooms in 1812. While we now think of the Waltz as a classic, elegant dance, it caused quite a scandal in the early 19th century. People were shocked by the dance’s stance, where one partner has their hand on the other’s waist.
Despite (or maybe because of) its dangerous reputation, the Waltz spread to the United States where it quickly became popular. By the latter part of the 19th century, composers were beginning to write Waltzes to a slower tempo than the original Viennese style, which is known for its fast pace.
The box step, typical of the American style Waltz, was being taught in the 1880s and an even slower Waltz emerged in the early 1920s.
The result is three distinct tempos: (1) the Viennese Waltz (fast), (2) medium Waltz, and (3) slow Waltz — the last two being American inventions.
All three tempo variations made it all the way to our local, approachable Waltz lessons in Boise!
Different Styles of Waltz
The word “Waltz” conjures an image of the elegance and refinement of classic ballrooms, but the Waltz isn’t actually a single style of dance. It has evolved to accommodate different tastes and trends as it has traveled through time and around the world. Now, the dance has several unique subtypes, each with their own distinctive characteristics.
Viennese Waltz
The Viennese Waltz was born in the early 19th century in Austria and is thought of as the original style of the Waltz.
In the Viennese Waltz, dancers hold each other close and move in revolving patterns with an elegant rise-and-fall motion. This is the fastest Waltz style and is a lot of fun to watch and to dance! It’s enduring popularity makes it a regular on our calendar of Waltz lessons in Boise.
American Style Waltz
The American Style Waltz (or the Boston Waltz) is slower than the Viennese style and offers dancers more flexibility to make the dance their own.
This style has both open and closed dance positions, meaning that dancers can add their own spin to the movements. This can be done through intricate underarm turns and dance patterns. The slower pace of the American Style helps when adding complicated motions to the dance!
The emphasis in American Style Waltz is on dancers’ expressions and connection between dance partners. Despite the intricate movements, this style is still gliding and elegant.
International Style Waltz
The International Style Waltz is sometimes also referred to as English or Modern Waltz. You’ll often see this variation in ballroom competitions where dancers display a high degree of precision.
The International Style features a closed dance position – meaning that dancers face each other, are connected at the hands and arms, and move as a single unit. In this style couples move around the dance floor in a counter-clockwise direction.
This style is flowing but still has the distinctive rise-and-fall motion that makes the Waltz so recognizable.
Country Western Waltz
The Country Western Waltz is a great style for beginners due to its slow tempo and simple steps.
A more compact variation of the Waltz, this style is great for smaller, crowded dance floors and more casual social settings.
As you might have guessed from its name, this style is typically danced to country-western music. It’s a great dance style to have under your belt if you like to attend country music concerts, bars with a cozy dance floor, or social dance parties.
Cajun Waltz
This style is danced to Cajun music and embraces the lively, playful feel of its musical influence.
Originating in Louisiana, the Cajun Waltz also features dance elements influenced by swing dancing and two-step and allows for more improvisation than some of the older Waltz styles.
Not sure which Waltz style to start with?
We can help!
Check out our class calendar to see which Waltz lessons is coming up next on our class list. If you’re interested in a different variation that you don’t see on the calendar, you can ask your instructor to point you in the right direction once you’ve mastered the basics.
The great thing about the Waltz is that there is truly a style variation to suit every taste, whether your dance venue of choice is a country music bar, a ballroom, or both! Regardless of which styles you go on to master, our fantastic instructors can get you started with the best Waltz lessons in Boise!
Planning a Wedding?
The Waltz is a timeless, romantic, and totally achievable choice for your first dance!
Sign up for a wedding dance consultation with our instructors and talk to them about a dance lesson plan that works for you – they would love to help you bring your dream wedding dance to life.
Waltz Video Demo
In this video, watch for the smooth rise-and-fall movement as the dancers glide across the floor.
Feeling inspired to master this timeless, versatile dance style? Get started at our studio and dive into the best Waltz lessons in Boise!
$40 Intro Dance Lesson
The Benefits of Signing up for Waltz Lessons in Boise
Ballroom dance classes can have countless health and social benefits including:
Improved cardio fitness.
Improved balance and posture.
Increased strength and flexibility.
Improved bone density due to weight-bearing exercise.
Improved memory by learning choreography.
Improved coordination (it’s totally normal to feel like you have two left feet at first when you first get started, but you WILL get more coordinated with time and practice).
Stress relief and improved mood due to physical exercise, social interaction, and the fun atmosphere filled with movement and music.
Plus, it’s pretty much impossible to think about the stressful aspects of your day when you’re focused on learning steps and dancing along to feel-good music!
Increased confidence as you master a new skill and expand your social circle.
A sense of community as you spend time in a shared hobby with the rest of our awesome dancers.
Convinced? Grab a friend, your partner, or just bring yourself and your dancing shoes and take the first step in your ballroom dance journey by signing up for Waltz lessons in Boise.