The Imperial Waltz

{1906}

Introduction

The Imperial Waltz is an easy Waltz sequence dance composed by J. Powell in 1906.

It was also popular during the Old Time Dancing revival in England in the mid-20th century.

The Position

Both facing LOD, holding inside hands.

The Dance

Part I - Outward Rollaway and Point (4 bars): An outward waltz rollaway along LOD, Lead turning left and Follow turning right (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). Then step forward with outside foot along LOD (1), and point forward with inside foot along LOD (4).

Part II - Inward Rollaway and Point (4 bars): An inward waltz rollaway along LOD, Lead turning right and Follow turning left (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). Then step forward with inside foot along LOD (1), and point forward with outside foot along LOD (4).

Part III - Forward and Back (4 bars): Three steps forward along LOD (1, 2, 3), opening out away from partner, and balance forward on inside foot (4), closing outside foot to it without weight. Then three steps back against LOD (1, 2, 3), closing up to partner, and balance side against LOD with inside foot (4), closing outside foot to it without weight.

Part IV - Waltz (4 bars): Two full turns of right-turning waltz (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 / 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6).

Repeat from the beginning.

The Music

Waltz music, at 138 to 144 bpm.

The original music is the "Imperial Waltz" by Heinrich Hucke.

Sydney Thompson also recommends the "Skater's Waltz" by Émile Waldteufel.

Sources

Sydney Thompson. (1950). The Theory & Practice of Old Time Dancing. London.
Michael Gwynne. (1953). Old Time and Sequence Dancing (Revised Edition). London.

For more dance descriptions, see our three books on dancing:
The Book of Mixers: 100 Easy-Teach Dances for Getting Acquainted (2022) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge,
Cross-Step Waltz: A Dancer's Guide (2019) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge, and
Waltzing: A Manual for Dancing and Living (2013) by Richard Powers and Nick Enge.

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