Waltz Postures

The Waltz of the Regency, was very much about the various postures one would assume. This is a collection of all the images I have been able to find of the waltz of the time.

The waltz had distinct sections, which had different steps and different postures which suited those steps. Image

These were:

  1. The Marche (a brief promenade at the beginning of the waltz)
  2. The Pirouette or Slow Waltz (a turning figure, with a smooth step, a variety of sometimes rather racy postures and strong eye contact
  3. The Sauteuse (the tempo increases and a hop is introduced into the dance)
  4. The Jetté (the tempo increases more and the dance becomes more energetic).