For the thorough exploration of the waltz, see the full research post here: https://www.paullettgolden.com/post/the-waltz-a-georgian-era-scandal

During the late Georgian era, the waltz came to England. But it wasn’t the waltz as we know it now with a hand to the shoulder, a hand around the waist, slow and romantic. The waltz was a fast-paced dance involving spinning and twirling, the couple at arm’s length with the gentleman’s right hand overhead to graze the fingertips of his partner’s hand, and the gentleman’s left hand between them, open palmed, fingertips touching to keep his partner from dizziness during the spins.

It's important to have in mind what kind of dancing was popular during the late Georgian era, which was vastly different from what had been popular in earlier years. What is often shown in Jane Austen adaptations is what would have been popular about 100-50 years earlier, however lovely it looks on screen. The popular dances in the 1790s-1820s were lively and fast paced with intricate footwork. Nothing was ever slow, and no one walked any portion of the dance. It was fast, and it was exciting. All music was rather fast-paced, as well, especially the waltz music. Jigs, reels, English country dances, these were all en vogue, and the waltz itself was not dissimilar from these except in minor details, such as being with the same partner rather than with a group or swapping partners throughout the dance--this alone was different enough to be scandalous.

The waltz we are now familiar with would not appear until the end of the 19th and early 20th century. If the Georgian era waltz didn’t involve touching, slow gliding, a hand on the shoulder, or even the romantic tempo, what made it scandalous? A few things, but the main two reasons were (a) partners remained facing for the dance rather than separating and coming together throughout the figures, and (b) dancers circled and twirled about the room rather than promenading down the line in stately fashion.

1790-1810 is considered the “early” period for when we see the waltz making its way into England ballrooms. 1810-1812 is when the height of controversy was. Following that is a time of acceptance between 1813-1819. Since there were so many variations of the dance, it remained on the fringes of acceptability. Some versions, such as the Duke of Kent’s figures, were respectable and reminiscent of an allemande, whereas the German version was considered morally reprehensible. It's important to realize the saucier German version was not seen in English ballrooms until the Regency was essentially at an end. The waltz we would have seen would have been the more respectable variations, but to the dancers at the time, even the respectable variations would have been shockingly intimate.

Extremely important to know is regardless of what type of waltz, an unmarried lady was not likely to dance this even if asked because it would risk her earning a “fast” reputation. A gentleman would never invite an unmarried lady to dance the waltz knowing it could harm her reputation. This offers us great insight. If a man asks an unmarried lady to dance the waltz, he is not a gentleman, and if an unmarried lady accepts, she is not a lady and is on the fast-track to ruin. Either way, neither is respectable and neither will be invited to future balls.

To see a great example of the more controversial version of the waltz, gaining popularity towards the end of the Regency, watch:

For another glimpse of the oh-so-morally-reprehensible German version, enjoy:

Enjoy these resources to get to know the Waltz more:

The Historic Interpreter: The Indecent Foreign Dance the Waltz Arrives in England

Branch Collective: Cheryl A Wilson's The Arrival of the Waltz in England

Regency Dances: The Regency Waltz

English History Authors' Waltzing During English Regency