No, not that Spanish Waltz! This Spanish Waltz is a sixteen-bar sequence dance. According to a short article published September 19, 1918, in The Lima Times-Democrat (Lima, Ohio), it was introduced at the recent meetings of the Ohio and International Associations of Dancing Teachers in Columbus, Ohio. Instructions for the dance seem to have been published in full by the Springfield School of Dancing in The Daily Morning Sun of Springfield, Ohio. I don't have a copy of that publication, but the directions and illustrations were reprinted in The Two Step, Volume XXIX, No. 3, dated March, 1919, with a reference to The Daily Morning Sun publication.
The Spanish Waltz was credited to W. D. Lynch of Akron, Ohio, head of both the Ohio and international associations, who self-interestedly assured readers of The Times-Democrat article that it was one of three new dances that would be popular during the upcoming season, along with the old standbys the one-step, waltz, and foxtrot. The Two-Step, which apparently copied the Springfield article verbatim, included a note that the dance would be taught at a lesson series by a Mr. and Mrs. Goodfellow at the Springfield School of Dancing beginning January 8th, 1919, which would not have been the most useful information by the March issue!
The Two-Step/Daily Morning Sun introduction to the dance was:
A Simplified Ballroom Dance Novelty adapted after the Attractive and Beautiful Spanish Dancing which has been and is yet the rage in the larger eastern cities.
The article in The Times-Democrat described it as follows:
"The Spanish waltz is a simplified version of the Spanish dances seen on the stage with partners facing each other. Any Spanish music, played a trifle fast, may be used. The dance is somewhat complicated."
Standards vary, and I can't speak to what the stage versions were like, but along with being simplified, I would call the Spanish Waltz simple rather than complicated. Judge for yourself!
The starting position is partners facing each other across line of dance, holding hands (gentleman's right, lady's left -- what would be inside hands if they were facing line of dance). The other hand is rests at the waist or upper hip, elbow bent. The starting foot is the gentleman's left/lady's right, also referred to as the outside foot, it being furthest from one's partner when facing line of dance. Seven illustrations were given, referred to as Figures 1-7 and interpolated with the instructions below for easier reference. Click the illustrations to enlarge.
Spanish Waltz (1918 sequence dance) - sixteen bars of fast "Spanish" waltz music
1b Step sideways along line of dance and swing rear foot and joined hands across (Fig 1)
1b Step sideways against line of dance and swing front foot and joined hands outward (Fig 2)
1b Spanish Draw step; see note below (Fig 3)
1b Repeat Spanish Draw step
(both dancers turn to face line of dance)
1b Step forward on outside foot, swinging the inside foot and joined hands forward (Fig 4)
1b Step backward on inside foot, swinging outside foot across, toes pointed down and joined hands swung up to shoulder level (Fig 5)
(drop free hand from waist to hang straight down)
1b Waltz step: forward with outside foot, turning away from partner, side step along line of dance, close with weight, ending back to back with partner (Fig 6)
1b Waltz step: inside foot forward along line of dance, turning toward partner, side step along line of dance, close with weight, ending facing partner (Fig 7)
(assume closed ballroom hold)
8b Waltz
(end facing partner across line of dance and take inside hands to repeat)
Notes
1. The Spanish Draw is a fancy version of a "side step and close". It was described as a step to the side, along line of dance, with the outside foot, pulling the trailing foot slowly along the floor with the toe pointing outward, closing with weight at the end of the measure. Joined hands should be held across in front of the body (toward the outside shoulder) and the dancers bodies are bent toward their trailing feet with heads turned to watch it.
2. The waltz at the end may be eight measures or until the end of the musical strain, if the length is irregular.
3. To be prepared to continue the "box" style waltz of this era, which requires a step backward along line of dance by the gentleman to begin, the dancers would be advised to turn slightly clockwise during the eighth measure as they face each other and assume waltz position so that gentleman can make a true backward step without it turning into a side-step around the lady.
Music
As noted above, any "Spanish" waltz of the period, played "a trifle fast" will do. Ideally, it would have a repeat structure that matches a sixteen-bar dance!
Comments