The waltz developed from the German folk dance called the Landler in the 18th century. It was called the Walzen, meaning "to roll" or "to turn". When first introduced to ballrooms in the early 19th century, it caused outrage as it was the first dance where the couple held each other in a closed position. However, the waltz became popular in Germany and Austria. It greatly increased in popularity due to the compositions of Franz Lanner and Johann Strauss in Vienna in the 1830s, who set the standard for the Viennese waltz.

2. Viennese Waltz
The German "Landler", a folk dance, is supposed to be the forerunner of the Waltz.
During the 18th Century, a dance developed, which was called the walzen,
German for to roll, turn or glide. The Walzen was met with outraged indignation
by the older generation when first introduced into the ballrooms of the world
in the early 19th century because it was the first dance where the couple
danced in a modified closed position-with the man's hand around the waist of the girl.
Regardless, the Waltz became popular through many parts of Germany and Austria.
The Waltz was given a tremendous boost around 1830 by two great Austrian
composers - Franz Lanner and Johann Strauss:
they set the standard for the Viennese waltz.

3. The Blue Danube

4. The Danube Valley

5. The Danube Valley

6. The Danube Valley

7. The Danube, Vienna

8. The Danube, Budapest

9. The Danube, Budapest

10. The Danube, Bratislava

11. Schönbrunn Palace in the background panorama of Vienna - the world capital the waltz

12. King of the waltz - Johann Strauss II

32. The Waltz - A. Zoffoli

33. Victor Gilbert - An Elegant Soiree

34. Albert Gilbert, The Ball

35. Joseph-Marius Avy - The White Ball

36. First Waltz – Vladimir Pervuninsky

37. The Waltz - Vladimir Pervuninsky

38. The Gala - Vladimir Pervuninsky

39. The Gala II - Vladimir Pervuninsky

40. The Waltz - Vladimir Pervuninsky

41. Last Waltz - Vladimir Pervuninsky

42. The Waltz - Vladimir Pervuninsky

43. Vladimir Pervunensky – The Imperial Waltz Pierre-Auguste Renoir - Bal à Bougival

44. Vienesse Waltz - Ekaterina Pozdniakova

45. Waltz - author unknown

46. Waltz - author unknown

47. Waltz - author unknown

48. Waltz – Leonid Afremov

49. Waltz – Leonid Afremov

50. The Waltz - Jane Hall’s, from a series of 12 paintings "The Art of Dance"

51. Waltz of the Peacock - Heather Hurzeler

52. The Waltz - Joanne Bradley

53. Background sound - Johann Strauss (son) "The Blue Danube"
Illustrations - taken from the available web sites
The presentation was made by ​- Anna