Book contents
- Vienna
- Vienna
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Musical Examples
- Contributors
- Introduction
- Part IIdentity and Place
- Part IILocal Traditions and Instruments
- 4Music and Dance
- 5Private and Domestic Music-Making
- 6Operetta in Vienna
- 7Capturing the Past in the Present: Viennese Instruments, Sounds and Instrument Makers
- Part IIIInstitutions, Organizations and Venues
- Part IVComposers, Performers and Critics
- Guidelines for Further Reading
- Index
4 - Music and Dance
from Part II - Local Traditions and Instruments
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 February 2026
Book contents
- Vienna
- Vienna
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Musical Examples
- Contributors
- Introduction
- Part IIdentity and Place
- Part IILocal Traditions and Instruments
- 4Music and Dance
- 5Private and Domestic Music-Making
- 6Operetta in Vienna
- 7Capturing the Past in the Present: Viennese Instruments, Sounds and Instrument Makers
- Part IIIInstitutions, Organizations and Venues
- Part IVComposers, Performers and Critics
- Guidelines for Further Reading
- Index
Summary
Vienna’s reputation as the ballroom dancing capital of Europe was already secured by the end of the eighteenth century and continues to this day. This chapter examines the rich history of dance in Vienna from the eighteenth century – the period of the first public ballrooms as well as the emergence of ballet as an independent art form – to the present day. It discusses Viennese ball culture and its iconic dance, the waltz, which is the part of Vienna’s history that has been most influential on wider dance culture, and originated the most recognizably and distinctively ‘Viennese’ musical style.
Keywords
Information
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- ViennaA Musical History, pp. 71 - 88Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2026
Accessibility standard: WCAG 2.1 AA
Why this information is here
This section outlines the accessibility features of this content - including support for screen readers, full keyboard navigation and high-contrast display options. This may not be relevant for you.Accessibility Information
The HTML of this chapter complies with version 2.1 of the
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
(WCAG), covering newer accessibility requirements and improved
user experiences and achieves the intermediate
(AA)
level of WCAG compliance, covering a wider range of accessibility requirements.
Content Navigation
Table of contents navigation
Allows you to navigate directly to chapters, sections, or non‐text items through a linked table of contents, reducing the need for extensive scrolling.
Allows you to navigate directly to chapters, sections, or non‐text items through a linked table of contents, reducing the need for extensive scrolling.
Index navigation
Provides an interactive index, letting you go straight to where a term or subject appears in the text without manual searching.
Provides an interactive index, letting you go straight to where a term or subject appears in the text without manual searching.
Reading Order & Textual Equivalents
Single logical reading order
You will encounter all content (including footnotes, captions, etc.) in a clear, sequential flow, making it easier to follow with assistive tools like screen readers.
You will encounter all content (including footnotes, captions, etc.) in a clear, sequential flow, making it easier to follow with assistive tools like screen readers.
Short alternative textual descriptions
You get concise descriptions (for images, charts, or media clips), ensuring you do not miss crucial information when visual or audio elements are not accessible.
You get concise descriptions (for images, charts, or media clips), ensuring you do not miss crucial information when visual or audio elements are not accessible.
Visual Accessibility
Use of colour is not sole means of conveying information
You will still understand key ideas or prompts without relying solely on colour, which is especially helpful if you have colour vision deficiencies.
You will still understand key ideas or prompts without relying solely on colour, which is especially helpful if you have colour vision deficiencies.
Structural and Technical Features
ARIA roles provided
You gain clarity from ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) roles and attributes, as they help assistive technologies interpret how each part of the content functions.
You gain clarity from ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) roles and attributes, as they help assistive technologies interpret how each part of the content functions.