Wondering what is the waltz
The walzer -
The waltz has its origins in the walzer, a dance for couples that emerged around 1750 in peasant villages in Germany's Bavaria and Austria's Tyrol and Styria regions.
The ländler -
The dance later evolved into the ländler, which was popular in Bavaria, Austria, German Switzerland, and Slovenia at the end of the 18th century.
The waltz makes it to America -
By 1820, the dance had made its way over to the United States.
'The Blue Danube' -
'The Blue Danube,' or 'An der schönen, blauen Donau,' is a waltz written by Johann Strauss I in 1866.
Vienna Opera Ball -
The Vienna Opera Ball is a glitzy society event that takes place annually in the building of the Vienna State Opera.
Dress code -
The Vienna Ball Opera dress code is evening dress: white tie and tails for men; strictly floor-length gowns for women.
Opening ceremony -
The highlight of the opening ceremony is the introduction of 180 debutante couples (white opera gloves are still mandatory for female debutantes).
The last dance - The last dance of the debutantes, however, is always 'The Blue Danube,' after which the floor is opened to all guests.
All-area access -
The opera house offers all access to guests, with various other rooms and lounges open with different types of music and dance.
Celebrity guests -
The ball is one of the highlights of the Viennese carnival season and attracts big name celebrities. Pictured is Italian actress Sophia Loren.
'Waltzing Matilda' -
'Waltzing Matilda' is Australia's best-known bush ballad. The original lyrics were written in 1895 by Australian poet Banjo Paterson.
'The Sound of Music' (1965) -
'The Sound of Music' features a scene where Maria (Julie Andrews) and Captain von Trapp (Christopher Plummer) dance a ländler.
Film star moves - Here's French actress Catherine Deneuve twirling the waltz with dancer and socialite Jacques Chazot.
Acting together -
Amy Adams waltzes with Patrick Dempsey during MTV's 'Total Request Live' at the MTV Times Square Studios in New York City on November 2007.
African waltz -
Women dancing a waltz on the grounds of Bafut Palace in Cameroon.
'Waltz of the Snowflakes' -
Snowflakes fall as ballet dancers perform the 'Waltz of the Snowflakes' from Tchaikovsky's 'The Nutcracker.'
African waltz -
Women dancing a waltz on the grounds of Bafut Palace in Cameroon.
Mass waltz -
Middle-school students dance a mass waltz on a playground at Kuiwen Experimental School in Weifang, in China's Shandong Province.