Waltzing Back Into Life
Vienna-Paris-Lima
Whether Viennese and noble, English and slow, French and accordeon-style or Peruvian and sensual, the waltz entertains today young and old people alike all around the world.
We would like people to watch this film as they listen to an old LP whose tracks, turned into a series of images and interviews connected by a brisk tempo, are played the other way round: from the last one down to the first, in other words from the heart (of the record), the waltz itself, to the edges or periphery, broadening the scope in gradual circles to those revolving around it: young and old waltz lovers and their favourite haunts.
Today, ballroom dance clubs are thriving and are always full. More and more often, young engaged couples wish to start their wedding party with a traditional waltz danced by the bride and her father, followed by the groom. In many European and South American cities, afternoon and evening dances take place in dancing halls or cafés frequented by old age pensioners, legitimate or illegitimate couples, lonely souls and passionate waltzers.
The myth of the waltz has remained untarnished. It is getting even more widespread amongst a population of very diverse social backgrounds, ages and geographic origins. Does this mean a return to tradition? Is it due to a feeling of loneliness urging people to look for a soul mate? Or the mere pleasure of dancing? of moving? of music? or again the desire to have a pleasant hobby to get rid of the daily stress?
We will dance in Vienna as the city celebrates the waltz throughout its many winter balls. In Geneva, with a young couple getting ready for their future wedding. In Paris, we will dance “musette” waltz with Alfred, retired house painter, who goes to dance halls and “guingettes” every single day since 1957. We will follow some of the world’s best dancers in Blackpool, England, “Mecca” of ballroom dancing. In Peru, the waltz mixes dancing and singing altogether ; singer Lucy Acevedo, star of Latino-American nights will teach us the unique tempo of “vals jaranero” as the whole room sings with her – and us too…
As we travel throughout the world to meet waltz enthuasiasts of today, the Waltz will appear as our leading character, the real heroine of this film.
