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**PLEASE NOTE** 

Our Next "Waltz Week in Vienna" will be scheduled for the Winter of 2014.  If you are not currently on our email list, please sign up now at the bottom of this page (or from our "Contact Us" page) to ensure that you will receive information about the 2014 trip once the details are confirmed. 

If you want to attend a wonderful event this Spring, join our special Caribbean Dance Cruise onboard the beautiful  Celebrity Reflection - the newest ship in the Celebrity fleet, April 13-20, 2013.  Click Here for details and information! 

"Waltz Week in Vienna" is a phenomenal social dance & workshop experience!   

We begin with six days of traditional Viennese and America waltz mixed with a wonderful variety of social ballroom and dance technique classes.  We add to this equation dance party exchanges with other local dance schools, an historic walking city tour, opportunities for mixers & minglers, and a host of other fun social events with a great group of people....

To cap it off, we culminate the week with an elegant grand ball at the beautiful Hofburg Imperial Palace -- a crown jewel in the edifices of Vienna where waltz balls have been a celebrated tradition since the days of Mozart and Strauss!  And if that's not enough to satisfy your thirst for elegance, grandeur, and a chance to be part of history, you'll have the opportunity to attend three other such grand balls during the week! 

 Join us for

Waltz Week in Vienna

TBA 2014

ABOUT THE BALLS: 

There will be opportunities to attend up to four balls during Waltz Week in Vienna, 2012!

THE OFFICIAL "WALTZ WEEK" BALL: 

As a group, plan to get tickets for the KAFFEESIEDER BALL on Friday, Feb 10th.  This will be a delightful finish to our week of classes (please see note and details below).

TWO PRE-CAMP BALLS:

While not officially part of Waltz Week, the BOKU BALL on Friday, Feb 3rd, and the IAEA BALL on Saturday, Feb 4th are great options if you are arriving in Vienna early and would like to experience more than one kind of ball during your time here.  We would be happy to arrange tickets for you to attend (please see note and details below).

ONE POST-CAMP BALL:

If you would like to attend a ball in a different venue than the Hofburg Palace, the JOHANN STRAUSS BALL on Saturday, Feb 11th at the Kursalon would be a lovely option to consider.  Again, we would be happy to arrange tickets for you to attend (please see note and details below).

NOTE:  

Tickets for the balls must be ordered through our website by January 2nd.  This will ensure enough time for our Vienna team to purchase and collect them.  Tickets ordered after January 2nd cannot be guaranteed.  We will do our best to get them for you, but these balls can sell out quickly once the box office opens.  You will be refunded in full for any tickets which you paid for but could not be obtained.  Tickets for all of the Balls can be purchased on our registration page.  (Prices shown below reflect ticket price + internet fee)

Incidentally, the Waltz Week organizers/teachers are planning to attend both the IAEA Ball on Feb 4th and the Kaffeesiederball on Feb 10th.  If you're planning to arrive early and attend the IAEA Ball, we would love to see you there!   Just let us know your plans. 

If you are planning on coming to any of the balls alone, please see the note at the bottom of this page.

THE FOUR BALLS:

 1.   Friday, Feb 3rd: 62nd Ball of the University of Natural Resources (BOKU-Ball) -- A great option if you are arriving the weekend before "Waltz Week"

Location: Hofburg Imperial Palace   
                     1 Heldenplatz, Vienna, Austria

Doors open: 8:00 pm
Traditional Opening Ceremony: 9:00 pm
End of ball: 5:00 am

Dress code: 
Ladies: evening gown, cocktail dress, pantsuit, or traditional national costume
Gentlemen: tailcoat , tuxedo or another dark colored suit (with bow tie or necktie), uniform or traditional national costume

Tickets: € 55 per person (current official prices not yet available.  This is entrance only, no table seat or food/drinks included)

More information: http://ball.boku.ac.at/index.php/englishinformation  Last year's ball page (in German & English) is currently visible.  We will publish the 2012 information when the website is updated. 

 2.  Saturday, Feb 4th: IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) Staff Association Ball -- Another great option if you are arriving the weekend before "Waltz Week"

Location: Hofburg Imperial Palace   
                     1 Heldenplatz, Vienna, Austria

Doors open: 7:00 pm
Traditional Opening Ceremony: 8:30pm
End of ball: 4:30 am

Dress code: 
Ladies: Long evening dress or formal national costume
Gentlemen: Dinner jacket/tuxedo, tuxedo with bow tie or formal national costume

Tickets:  € 60 per person.  This includes reserved table seating; food/drinks.purchased separately.

More information: http://www.stylearts.eu/iaea. 

 

3.   Friday, Feb 10th: The 55th Wiener Kaffeesieder ("Coffee House Owners") Ball  -- This is the official ball event for "Waltz Week" participants.  The theme for this year is "Classic Meets Modernity"

Location: Hofburg Imperial Palace   
                     1 Heldenplatz, Vienna, Austria

Doors open: 7:30 pm
Traditional Opening Ceremony: 9:00 pm
End of ball: 4:30 am

Dress code: 
Ladies: ball gown or floor length evening gown
Gentlemen: evening tails, smoking jacket, or uniform (bow ties only!  No regular ties allowed)

Tickets: € 135 per person (entrance only, no table seat or food/drinks included, however a little gift for the ladies is included)

The Kaffeesieder Ball is considered one of the largest and finest of the Vienna ball season.  More than 5,500 guests attended last year at the Hofburg.

More information: http://www.kaffeesiederball.at/  This is an excellent website with details, pictures, and all of the information you need to prepare for the ball

 

4.   Saturday, Feb 11th: The Johann Strauss Ball (in the Kursalon) -- This is an optional post-Waltz Week Ball:

Location: Kursalon, Wien   
                     Johannesgasse 33, 1010 Vienna, Austria

Doors open: 7:30 pm
Traditional Opening Ceremony: 9:30 pm
End of ball: 5:00 am

Dress code: 
Ladies: evening dress
Gentlemen: dinner jacket, tuxedo, or dark suit

Tickets: € 55 per person (entrance only, no table seat or food/drinks included)

The Kursalon Wien:  Built in 1865 - 1867 in Italian renaissance style, the Kursalon Wien is one of the most exclusive buildings in Vienna. In their day, the Strauss brothers celebrated their greatest successes in this building.  This year, enjoy four magnificent rooms for dancing to classical ballroom, swing, and modern disco. 

More information: http://www.soundofvienna.at/sound/48.0.html?&L=2

Special Note:  Partnering for the Viennese Ball  

     If you are planning to attend a Viennese Ball in Europe as a single person (or as a single couple), you should be aware of a few etiquette points.

       First, at these kinds of events, guests will typically dance only with the partner they came with.  That is to say, unlike some of the social dance parties you might have attended in the United States, at a formal European ball the etiquette of partner exchange is generally not done.  

      For this reason, we highly recommend coming to these balls with a partner in hand.  If you are coming alone and will only be attending the official Waltz Week Ball on Friday, Feb 10th, then of course we will do our very best to partner you with other solo participants from our group and to share partners throughout the evening.  If you plan to attend any of the other balls alone, we highly encourage you to post your intentions on our "Waltz Week in Vienna" Facebook page and see if you can coordinate to meet up with other solo participants there.** 

** Another option for single attendees is that some of the balls may help you arrange for a local taxi dancer to attend as your dance partner.  Just be aware that this can be expensive.  Hiring a dance escort means that you are responsible for all of their costs, including ball ticket, tuxedo/gown rental, transportation, meals/drinks, hiring stipend/fee, etc.  That being said, ball escorts are typically charming people, lovely dancers, and enjoy being there as much as you do.  If anything else, it's a wonderful way to meet a fellow dancer and get to learn more of their local culture and history first hand.  Please contact the local ball committee (click on their web page link) to see if this option is available for that particular ball.

**PLEASE NOTE:  This page contains dated information about the 2012 Balls (from our last camp). We are leaving it up to give you a glimpse into the kinds of events and venues you can look forward to in 2014.  Enjoy!

ABOUT THE BALLS: 

There will be opportunities to attend up to four balls during Waltz Week in Vienna, 2014! 

What dance styles will be taught?  

This week represents a truly wonderful partnership in couple dancing, combining the best of traditional Viennese ball forms with the latest American social dance styles that will leave you well-prepared for any ballroom dance to come. The dance styles taught over the course of the week will cover those that are typically played at the Balls.  These may include, but are not limited to:

• Viennese Waltz
• Rotary Waltz
• Cross-Step Waltz
• Fusion Waltz
• Polka
• Quadrille
• Swing
• Lindy
• Latin (mambo, cha cha)
• Ballroom
• Connection technique and styling 

 Ari & Whitney are teaching three beginning-level workshops for locals on the Saturday before camp starts (topics are: "Blues", "Cross-Step Fusion Waltz", and "Fusion Swing").  Can I participate in those as well?

Yes, of course!.  The material we are teaching in these workshops will be at a beginning level, and for the most part will not be repeated during Waltz Week.  If you are in Vienna on Saturday, Feb 4th, you are more than welcome to register for one, two, or all three workshops.  It's not just a great way to meet local dancers, but a wonderful way to warm up for the week ahead!  Go to the "Saturday Workshops"page for more information.

__________________________________________________________________

Whitney Evans began her dance training in salsa in 1994.  She currently teaches classes in blues and close-connection in Seattle with Ari where they both run a variety of weekly dance events.  In addition, Whitney is the event co-coordinator for two of the largest dance balls in Seattle -- the "Cornucopia Harvest Ball" and the "New Years Eve Ball" -- which draw several hundred guests each year.

Ari Levitt has been teaching, choreographing and performing dance both nationally and internationally for over 25 years. An award-winning dancer, teacher, innovator, and performer, his breadth of styles include ballroom, waltz, salsa, tango, Latin, lindy hop, swing, balboa, and blues.  He is well-known as one of this country's lead instructors of "fusion waltz" -- a beautiful new dance style which borrows elements from latin and swing and blends them fluidly into the elegant waltz forms that we know and love today. 

For the past four years, Ari has been invited by Richard Powers to teach at Stanford's Waltz Week, introducing innovative new forms of fusion swing and waltz as well as new concepts in blues and close-connection partnering. Last year he and Whitney introduced their first "fusion waltz" and "close-connection partnering" workshops to Vienna. They plan to include more such classes in the upcoming waltz week sessions & pre-camp Saturday workshop. 

As instructors, Ari & Whitney are highly regarded for their fun, energetic, humorous teaching styles which can't help but inspire their students with their own joy and love of dance. Ari's clear, detailed attention to connection and partnership along with his ability to translate even the most complex dance movements into simple, understandable instructions has made him one of the most highly regarded instructors in his field.  

From Left to Right: 

Ari Levitt, Whitney Evans, Sandra Hartbach, Axel Schwarz

2010 - New Year's Workshop in Vienna

 

A)  "WALTZ WEEK" DANCE & WORKSHOP PACKAGES:

• "Very Early-Bird" Registration*:         € 255.00 Euros      (until Nov 15th or first six registrants)  
• "Slightly Early-Bird" Registration**:   € 285.00 Euros      (until Dec 1st or 2nd six registrants)
• Regular Registration:                        € 320.00 Euros      (after Dec 2nd)

 *VERY EARLY-BIRD registration ends NOVEMBER 15th or after the first 6 participants register, whichever comes first.

 

**EARLY-BIRD registration ends DECEMBER 1st or after the next 6 participants register, whichever comes first.

B)  "VIENNESE BALL" TICKETS  (see "Ball" page for details)  Price = cost + internet transaction fees: 

1. Friday, Feb 3rd:  BOKU Ball (optional):                          € 55 Euro (not official)
2. Saturday, Feb 4th:  IAEA Ball (optional):                        € 60 Euro 
3. Friday, Feb 10th:  Koffeesieder Ball (recommended):      € 135 Euro
4. Saturday, Feb 11th:  Johann Strauss Ball (optional):        € 55 Euro

C)  PRE "WALTZ WEEK" SATURDAY WORKSHOP  (see "Saturday Workshop" page for details):

1. Single workshop (1.5 hours + 15 min practice)    € 15 Euro
2. All three workshops  (11am - 5pm)                               € 39 Euro
 

**PLEASE NOTE:  This page is not current.  It shows the pricing for the 2012 Balls and dance camp only. We are leaving it up to give you a general idea of what kinds of costs you might expect for 2014.  

We will post the new 2014 information the moment it is available (the Ball committees have not set the 2014 dates yet) and notify everyone on our email list of the updates.  

If you are not already on our email list, please sign up on either our Home page or Contact page so that we may keep you informed.  Thank you! 

Welcome to "Waltz Week In Vienna, 2012!" 

To register, 

1. Please take a moment to carefully read notes 1&2 below, then in the form that follows,
2. Complete "Step 1" (Contact Information), and click the "Submit" button.
3. Complete "Step 2" (PayPal Checkout).  See Note 2 below if your PayPal Checkout page appears written in German 

**NOTE 1:  Each time you select an item to pay for (ie, the Waltz Week Package), you will be taken to your PayPal checkout cart to verify the item is there.  To select and pay for more than one item (ie, the Waltz Week Package, plus a ball ticket), please do the following:

• After you select the first item from the Waltz Week website (ie, the Waltz Week Package), you will be taken to your PayPal checkout page.  From there, you will need to click on the "Continue Shopping" button to return to the Waltz Week website shopping menu.  
• From the website menu, select the next item that you want to purchase (ie, a Ball ticket) .  Repeat as needed for each new item you want to buy.  You will be able to edit or modify your selections on your PayPal Checkout page before making your final purchase.

**NOTE 2: "Waltz Week in Vienna" is an American-Austrian joint partnership, with payment being handled by the Austrian team.   If your PayPal Checkout page appears to be written in German, close the PayPal Checkout page (click the little red 'x" in the upper right corner of your PayPal page), return to the Waltz Week website's shopping menu page and click on the "View Cart" button on the top right corner of the Part 2 section of that page.  That should fix the problem for the remainder of your checkout. 

 Your PayPal Checkout Page should either have the words "Waltz Week in Vienna" or "Axel Schwarz" written at the top.  After making your purchase, you will receive an email from "Waltz Week in Vienna" confirming your registration.  Please feel free to contact us if you are experiencing any difficulties with registration or if you have any questions.

**NOTE 3:  Tickets for the balls must be ordered through our website by January 2nd to ensure enough time for our Vienna team to purchase and collect them.  Tickets ordered after January 2nd cannot be guaranteed.  We will still do our best to get them for you, but these balls can sell out quickly once the box office opens.  You will be refunded in full for any tickets you paid for but could not be obtained.  Tickets for the BOKU Ball and/or IAEA Ball will either be left for you at the Will Call office at the Hofburg Palace or delivered to your hotel prior to your arrival (we'll arrange this individually with you).  Tickets for the other balls will be given to you on the first day of Waltz Week.

**REMINDER:  All prices are in Euros.  Currency conversion will automatically take place using PayPal.  

As you know, currency exchange rates fluctuate a little each day.  To calculate the most recent exchange rate from Euros to US dollars, go to your Google browser bar and simply type in the amount in Euros followed by the equals sign (ie "255 Euros =") and hit return.  Google will automatically calculate that amount for you in dollars. When I did this on Sept 22nd, €255 Euros was equivalent to $343.00 US dollars.

As Seattle instructors and frequent collaborators, Ari & Jodi are both highly regarded for their fun, energetic, humorous teaching styles which can't help but inspire their students with their own joy and love of dance. Their clear, detailed attention to connection and partnership along with their ability to translate even the most complex dance movements into simple, understandable instructions have made them two of the most highly regarded instructors in their field. 

*Fun Fact*    Ari & Jodi are innovating a new concept in teaching wellness thhrough social dance, and in June of 2014 will be putting on the Northwest's first such themed dance camp. Look for more details later this year at www.rolluptherug.com 

Jodi has always said she is happiest while dancing.  After five years of African dance study & performance, she found herself on the lindy hop floor and it was love at first swivel!  A PNW lindy champion, Jodi had the great honor of partnering and performing with the legendary Frankie Manning & other lindy greats for a decade before she hip-jiggled into the world of Latin dances, traveling to Cuba, Puerto Rico & L.A. to inform her dancing and teaching of Salsa & Bachata.  Next began a love affair with the smooth dances of Waltz, Foxtrot, Rumba & Nightclub Two-Step - her favorite dance forms to choreograph. Currently Blues is in the foreground of her dancing, with Vernacular Jazz and African Dance continuing to inspire rhythm and movement. Her love of movement is matched by her passion for dance history.  An enthusiastic and playful teacher for 15 plus years, great energy is brought to every class Jodi teaches. She loves being a part of people's social dance journey and watching how it transforms their lives.  Learn more about Jodi at www.leftfootboogie.com

Ari has been teaching, choreographing and performing dance both nationally and internationally for over 25 years. An award-winning instructor, innovator, and performer, his breadth of styles include ballroom, waltz, salsa, tango, Latin, lindy hop, swing, balboa, and blues,.  He is well-known as one of this country's leading innovators and instructors of "fusion" dance, including "fusion waltz" -- a beautiful new dance style which borrows elements from latin and swing and blends them fluidly into the elegant waltz forms that we know and love today.  In 2009, Ari introduced the first fusion waltz & swing workshops to Vienna. This year, he and Jodi plan to include more such classes in the upcoming waltz week sessions. 

Ari has been teaching and performing social dance both nationally and internationally for over 25 years, including numerous workshops as special guest instructor to Stanford University, as founder and co-director of “Waltz Week in Vienna”, and as the innovator and director of “New Zealand Dance Adventure”.  In the world of dance, he is highly regarded for both his innovation in the area of “fusion” — a form of social dance which borrows elements from one style and blends them fluidly into another, as well as for his pioneering work in the field of wellness and dance therapy — using dance movement, balance, body awareness, and connection as modalities for diagnosing and treating individuals and couples.   In 2009, Ari introduced the first fusion waltz & swing workshops to Vienna. This year, he and Jodi plan to include more such classes in the upcoming waltz week sessions. 

*Fun Fact*   When off the dance floor, Ari works as a physician and entrepreneur on faculty at Singularity University where he is one of the coordinators of FutureMed, a world-renown program bringing top physicians, innovators, and investors together to explore how rapidly evolving, game-changing technology will impact the future of healthcare.  

**PLEASE NOTE:  This page is not current.  It shows the pricing for the 2012 Balls and dance camp only. We are leaving it up to give you a general idea of what kinds of costs you might expect for 2014.  

We will post the new 2014 information the moment it is available (the Ball committees have not set the 2014 dates yet) and notify everyone on our email list of the updates.  

If you are not already on our email list, please sign up on either our Home page or Contact page so that we may keep you informed.  Thank you! 

PRE-WALTZ WEEK WEEKEND:

Where to Stay:

You can get great discount prices for travel, hotels, and local cultural events using online search engines such as:

• www.TripAdvisor.com
• www.CheapOAir.com
• www.Kayak.com
• www.Priceline.com
• www.Expedia.com
• www.travelocity.com
• www.hotmire.com

There are many, many wonderful hotels, quaint bed & breakfasts, delightful pension's, and more budget-friendly hostels to stay at in Vienna.

We currently have 15 rooms with special pricing reserved at the Pension Suzanne through mid-November.  After then, they will begin releasing rooms as they tend to fill up quickly during the Winter Ball season.  They have asked us not to publish these prices on the website.  If you are interested in booking rooms there, contact us for details about our group discount rate, and then book your stay directly through the Pension.

Pension Suzanne is located directly in downtown Vienna - only 50 meters from the famous Viennese State Opera House and only 12 minutes walking distance to Judenplatz (our dancing location). Each room is furnished in a wonderful old Viennese Style and they all have a private bath or shower, toilet, hairdryer, cable-TV and telephone in the room.  The price for a room includes a buffet breakfast and all taxes.

Walfischgasse 4
1010 Wien
Tel.: +43-(0)1-513 25 07
Fax: +43-(0)1-513 25 00
http://www.pension-suzanne.at/

We are still working on possible packages and arrangements for other hotels.  If you have any questions about lodgings that you would like to post to the group (ie, looking for a room mate to share a room), or if you have any suggestions about places to stay, please feel free use our "Waltz Week in Vienna" facebook page for discussion.

 

A)  "WALTZ WEEK" PRICING::

• "Very Early-Bird" Registration*:         € 240.00 Euros    (until Nov 18th or first six registrants)  
• "Slightly Early-Bird" Registration**:   € 280.00 Euros    (until Dec 1st or 2nd six registrants)
• Regular Registration:                        € 315.00 Euros    (after Dec 2nd)

 *VERY EARLY-BIRD registration ends NOVEMBER 18th or after the first 6 participants register, whichever comes first.

**EARLY-BIRD registration ends DECEMBER 1st or after the next 6 participants register, whichever comes first.

B)  "VIENNESE BALL" TICKETS  (see "Ball" page for details)  Price = cost + internet transaction fees: 

1. Saturday, Feb 14th:  Johan Strauss Ball (optional):      € 55 Euro
2. Thursday, Feb 20th:  Russian Ball (optional):              € 500 Euro  (Must purchase tickets on your own)
3. Friday, Feb 21st:  Koffeesieder Ball (optional):            € 150 Euro
4. Saturday, Feb 22nd: IAEA Ball (recommended):         € 60 Euro 
 

 "The Blue Rose Gentlemen"

Vienna's Premier Dance-Partnering Service:

We are happy to announce that Waltz Week is partnering with Vienna's premier Ball dance-partnering service called "The BlueRose Gentlemen", a group of honorable, very well-trained ballroom dancers & Austrian gentlemen who are offering our female guests their services to accompany them to any of the optional Balls during the week (or even to the "official" Waltz Week Ball if you would prefer to have your own committed dance partner remain with you for the entire evening).

DETAILS & DESCRIPTIONS: 

Details about the BlueRose Gentlemen, their philosophy, their training, and their dance-partnering services can be found on their website:  http://www.bluerose.at/en/index.php and briefly outlined below:

COSTS:

The following prices represent special discounted flat-rates that have been contracted for Waltz Week participants only.  The charges are per gentleman, per Ball (from approximately 8:00pm to 1:00am**):

• 200€ for an "Active BlueRose Gentleman" (those gentlemen listed on their website)
• 270€ for a "Grandseigneur" (40+) (See descriptions below)

**Please note:  The above prices apply to Ball hours from approximately 8pm-1am. If you would like your escort to stay until 3am, a 50€ surcharge will be added to the fee. If you plan to stay later than 3am, an additional gratuity is also recommended (30-50€ optional, depending on the lateness of the hour and your enjoyment of the evening).  Please be sure to communicate your tentative arrival and departure plans with the escort organizer prior to the event.     

The extended late night option (staying after 1am) also only applies to "Active" BlueRose Gentlemen, and not necessarily to the Grandseigneur's (unless approved by the organizer beforehand)   

In addition to the above charges, you would also be expected to cover the costs of:

• The Ball Ticket for your BlueRose Gentleman Escort
• A drink, snack, or food item for your escort (particularly if you are purchasing one for yourself).
• Transportation costs from your hotel to the ball-location and back (The escort will meet you at your hotel and accompany you from there) 

FLEXIBILITY:  The "BlueRose Gentleman" organizers are more than happy to work with you to create your own unique experience for any individual Ball or dance event, and will try to arrange an escort for you that would best suit your needs and budget.  Costs may vary depending on the activity and time frame.  Please contact office@bluerose.at with any specific questions or requests you might have.

BLUEROSE DANCER CLASSIFICATIONS:  A description of the two classes of BlueRose Club members are briefly outlined below.  Further details can be found on their webpage: 

1) Active BlueRose Gentlemen:  These are the men who are presented on the website with photos and details.  Most of them are young adults or students under the age of 30 years. All are veteran Ball attendees and competent ballroom dancers.  They are the active members of the BlueRose club.  All speak English, and are gracious and charming hosts.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Please write to:  office@bluerose.at

You can review their website at: http://www.bluerose.at/en/index.php 

Welcome to

Waltz Week in Vienna

Feb 17-23, 2014

"Waltz Week in Vienna" is the ultimate in elegant dance adventures -- a truly incredible travel, play, & workshop experience! 

The week is specifically designed for dancers who not only want to experience the elegance, beauty, and grandeur of waltz season in Vienna, but who would also love to do so in the company of a fun group of like-minded fellow travel-adventurers!

During Waltz Week, we use Vienna as our veritable playground -- exploring the city's beauty, enjoying unique dining opportunities, attending dance classes together, taking part in exchanges with other local dance schools, attending balls, and much more!    

On Saturday we culminate the week with an elegant grand ball at the beautiful Hofburg Imperial Palace, the crown jewel of Vienna's magnificent edifices where waltz balls have been a celebrated tradition since the days of Mozart and Strauss!  

SPECIAL for 2014:  If you have a second week to spare for additional travel & dance adventure, shift into "swing" mode and join Ari & Jodi Feb 24th - Mar 3rd as we explore the world of swing dance in Prague, then take on Europe's largest swing festival, "Rock That Swing", in Munich.  Not to be missed!

:

 Join us for an incredible  Waltz Week in Vienna!

NOTE:  "Waltz Week in Vienna" takes place every two years.  The next camp will be Mon-Sun, February 1-7, 2016. 

Mark your calendars now, and think about arriving the weekend before Waltz Week (Jan 29-31st) to either attend our Vienna "Snowflake Blues Festival", or to attend some of the Waltz Balls going on prior to Waltz Week. 

Full details and registration information will be posted here soon.  Don't forget to join our mailing list to get the latest updates!  

THE OFFICIAL "WALTZ WEEK" BALL: 

As a group, plan to get tickets for the IAEA BALL on Saturday, Feb 22nd.  This will be a delightful finish to our week of workshops and play (See details below).    PLEASE NOTE:  This Ball sells out quickly, so we need to get your payment in before Dec 20th to guarantee you a spot. 

ONE PRE-CAMP BALL:

While not officially part of Waltz Week, the JOHANN STRAUSS BALL at the Vienna Kursalon on Saturday, Feb 15th, is a great option if you are arriving in Vienna early and would like to experience more than one kind of ball during your time here.  We would be happy to arrange tickets for you to attend (please see note and details below).

TWO ADDITIONAL BALLS DURING WALTZ WEEK:

If you would like to attend an additional ball at the Hofburg Palace during Waltz Week, the RUSSIAN BALL on Thursday, Feb 20th or the KAFEESIEDER (Coffee Makers) BALL on Friday, Feb 21th would be lovely options to consider, particularly if you can't make it to the IAEA Ball on Saturday.  Again, we would be happy to arrange tickets for you to attend (please see note and details below).

     NOTE:  

In order for us to buy tickets for you, tickets for the balls must be ordered through our website by December 20th.  This will ensure enough time for our Vienna team to purchase and collect them.  Tickets ordered after December 20th cannot be guaranteed.  We will do our best to get them for you, but these balls can sell out quickly once the box office opens.  You will be refunded in full for any tickets which you paid for but could not be obtained.  Tickets for most of the Balls listed here can be purchased on our registration page.  (Prices shown below reflect ticket price + internet fee)

NOTE:  

If you are planning on coming to any of the balls without a partner, please see the note at the bottom of this page.

 

 1.   Saturday, Feb 15th: The Johann Strauss Ball at the Vienna Kursalon  -- A great option if you are arriving the weekend before "Waltz Week"

Location: Kursalon, Wien   
                     Johannesgasse 33, 1010 Vienna, Austria

Doors open: 7:30 pm
Traditional Opening Ceremony: 9:00 pm
End of ball: 5:00 am

Dress code: 
          Ladies: evening dress
          Gentlemen: dinner jacket, tuxedo, or dark suit

Tickets: € 55 per person (entrance only, no table seat or food/drinks included)

The Kursalon Wien:  Built in 1865 - 1867 in Italian renaissance style, the Kursalon Wien is one of the most exclusive buildings in Vienna. In their day, the Strauss brothers celebrated their greatest successes in this building.  This year, enjoy four magnificent rooms for dancing to classical ballroom, swing, and modern disco. 

More information: http://www.soundofvienna.at/sound/48.0.html?&L=2

 

2.   Thursday, Feb 20th: The Russian Ball  -- This is a very expensive, but optional Ball you may attend  Thursday at the Hofburg during Waltz Week:

Location: Hofburg Imperial Palace   
                     1 Heldenplatz, Vienna, Austria

Doors open:  Not Listed
Traditional Opening Ceremony:  Not Listed
End of ball:  Not Listed

Dress code: 
Ladies: evening dress
Gentlemen: dinner jacket, tuxedo, or dark suit

Tickets: Start at € 500 per person (Silver Category Tickets, table seating) -- Yes, these are the cheapest available.  You must order your tickets directly through the Russian Ball website (see below).

More Information & Ticket Purchases: http://www.russianball.info/eng/about.php

 

3.   Friday, Feb 21st: The 56th Wiener Kaffeesieder ("Coffee House Owners") Ball  -- A great option if you looking for another Ball to attend during Waltz Week!  

Location: Hofburg Imperial Palace   
                     1 Heldenplatz, Vienna, Austria

Doors open: 7:30 pm
Traditional Opening Ceremony: 9:00 pm
End of ball: 4:30 am

Dress code: 
Ladies: ball gown or floor length evening gown
Gentlemen: evening tails, smoking jacket, or uniform (bow ties only!  No regular ties allowed)

Tickets: € 150 per person (Entrance only plus €12 ball booking fee.  No table, seat, or food/drinks included, however a little gift for the ladies is included)

The Kaffeesieder Ball is considered one of the largest and finest of the Vienna ball season.  More than 5,500 guests attended last year at the Hofburg.

More information: http://www.kaffeesiederball.at/    This is an excellent website with details, pictures, and all of the information you need to prepare for the ball.  Click on the "English" language option on the top right corner of the page

 

 4.  Saturday, Feb 22nd:  IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) Staff Association Ball  -- This is the official ball event for "Waltz Week" participants.  The theme for this year is "Classic Meets Modernity"

Location: Hofburg Imperial Palace   
                     1 Heldenplatz, Vienna, Austria

Doors open: 7:00 pm
Traditional Opening Ceremony: 8:30pm
End of ball: 4:30 am

Dress code: 
Ladies: Long evening dress or formal national costume
Gentlemen: Dinner jacket/tuxedo, tuxedo with bow tie or formal national costume

Tickets:  € 60 per person.  This includes reserved table seating.  Food & drinks are purchased separately.

More information: http://www.stylearts.eu/iaea. 

 

Partnering for the Viennese Ball 

     If you are planning to attend a Viennese Ball in Europe as a single person (or as a single couple), you should be aware of a few etiquette points.

       First, at these kinds of events, guests will typically dance only with the partner they came with.  That is to say, unlike some of the social dance parties you might have attended in the United States, at a formal European ball, the etiquette of partner exchange is generally not done.  

      For this reason, we highly recommend coming to these balls with a partner in hand.  If you are coming alone and will only be attending the official Waltz Week Ball on Saturday, Feb 22th, then of course we will do our very best to partner you with other solo participants from our group and to share partners throughout the evening.  If you plan to attend any of the other balls alone, we highly encourage you to post your intentions on our "Waltz Week in Vienna" Facebook page and see if you can coordinate to meet up with other solo participants there.   

Hired Dance-Partnering Services (Taxi-Dancers)

Another option for single attendees is that some of the balls may help you arrange for a local taxi dancer to attend as your dance partner.  Just be aware that this can be expensive.  Hiring a dance escort means that you are responsible for all of their costs, including ball ticket, tuxedo rental (if needed), transportation, meals/drinks, hiring stipend/fee, etc.  That being said, ball escorts are typically charming people, lovely dancers, and enjoy being there as much as you do.  If anything else, it's a wonderful way to meet a fellow dancer and get to learn more of their local culture and history first hand.  Please contact the local ball committee (click on their web page link) to see if this option is available for that particular ball, or continue reading below....

What dance styles will be taught during the classes?  

The dance styles taught will be selected from among those that are typically played at the Balls.  These may include, but are not limited to:

• Viennese Waltz
• Rotary Waltz
• Cross-Step Waltz
• Fusion Waltz
• Polka
• Quadrille
• Swing
• Lindy
• Latin (mambo, cha cha)
• Ballroom
• Connection technique and styling 

We will try to balance the classes between those taught by Axel & Sandra (Vienna), and those taught by Ari & Jodi (USA), combining the best of traditional Viennese ball forms with the latest American social dance styles that will leave you well-prepared for any ballroom dance to come. 

Where are the classes held?

All classes will be held at the Tanzscule Svabek, Judenplatz 5, 1010 Wien.

More information about this location and how to get there can be found on our "Getting There" page

How large do you expect classes to be?

The number of participants for the Waltz Week workshops will be limited, allowing us to keep the classes more intimate and the instruction personalized. Every effort will be made to maintain equal lead/follow balance.

At what level will classes be taught?

Waltz week dance classes are not for the absolute beginning dancer.  Participants will be expected to know some basic dance steps and partnering skills (ie, be comfortable with beginning level waltz or social dance).  

If this isn't you yet, not to worry! -- you have plenty of time between now and February to sign up at a dance school near you and complete a beginning level waltz or social dance class!

If you have any questions about your level of dance, please let us know. 

What language will classes be taught in?

All classes will be taught in English.  Translation is available for German or Spanish speakers.

Will there be opportunities for private lessons?

Private lessons can be arranged with individual instructors during the week.

Should I come with a partner or can I come alone?

While we highly encourage you to come with a partner, it is not required to participate.  That being said, there are MANY more advantages to attending Waltz Week with a partner (especially if you are planning to dance at any of the Balls) and these are discussed further at the bottom of the Balls page.  

For anyone coming without a partner, we highly encourage you to connect with  fellow interested single party's and participants on our FACEBOOK PAGE "Waltz Week in Vienna" (click on the link to post there, to arrange meet-ups, or to coordinate partnering for the Balls) 

Will there be opportunities for social dancing during the week?

Yes.  There are dance practices at local dance schools on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (separate admission applies).  There will also be opportunities for social swing and salsa dancing at local dance clubs.  More information about these will be available during the first day of workshop orientation.

 PRE-WALTZ WEEK  (Feb 14-17)

Other Waltz Week Options:

Our choice of group activities, dining locations, cultural activities, etc, can be fairly flexible.  Much will be decided by the group on location.  Activities may include, but are not be limited to: 

• Specialty Dance Workshops & Classes   
• Extra Dance Practices, Group Outings
• Exploring Vienna's Famous Kafeehaus's (Click Here to learn more)  
• Museums, Architecture Tour, Hofburg Palace Tour, Opera House Tour
• Group meals at famous local restaurants
• Day trip to Bratislava, Slovakia (an hour by bus)
• Visit Vienna's Thermal Baths
• Visit Regional Hot Springs
• Cultural Events (concerts, theater, etc)
• Lipizzaner Stallion show, or tour (Tickets must be arranged in advance)
• Evening Dance Excursions (swing, salsa, ballroom, etc)
• Day hikes through Vienna's outlying vineyards and lunch at traditional Biergarten (weather dependent)

 POST-WALTZ WEEK (Feb 23-Mar 3):

(Specifics TBA) Tentative Schedule Below

PLEASE NOTE:  This is NOT part of Waltz Week, but rather Ari & Jodi's tentative travel schedule post-Waltz Week.  You are more than welcome to join us on our adventures, but you will need to arrange your own travel, room & board, and cover your own expenses.  We will keep you informed of our own plans as they are finalized.  We will also keep you informed about any great travel deals we come across for any of the above. 

Monday - Thursday (Feb 24 -Feb 27th):    Prague, Czech Republic

• Travel to Prague for More Dance Travel-Adventure Touring with Ari & Jodi
• Evening Swing Dance Workshops & Exchanges with Zig-Zag Dance Studio
• Old City Walking Tour, Castle Walk, Art & Architecture Tour, Historic Art Deco Cafe's & Restaurants, Explore Bohemia!

Axel & Sandra each began dancing ballroom and latin in 1991 in Vienna, and have been on a voyage of discovery and expansion ever since.  In 1993 they joined the Viennese waltz dance formation team at the Elmayer Dance School in Vienna, regularly performing at the Imperial Palace and other ball venues throughout the city.  In 1994 Axel assumed the role of artistic director and choreographer for this group, a position he held for the better part of a decade.

In 2000, Axel and Sandra added tap dance to their reportoire, and were soon encorporating hip-hop, jitterbug and charleston into their choreographies.  As their passion for swing and jazz music deepened, they also branched out into Lindy Hop and Balboa.  This led to further exploration of jazz era dances such as 20's charleston, peabody, shag, and laminu. In 2009, they began teaching lindy hop, balboa, and ballroom classes at the Svabek School in Vienna.

Sandra and Axel are well-known as fun, energetic, and delightful teachers who can't help but infect their students with a love and passion for dancing, as well as a deeper understanding of the music which inspires it. 

As Seattle instructors and frequent collaborators, Ari & Jodi are both highly regarded for their fun, energetic, humorous teaching styles which can't help but inspire their students with their own joy and love of dance. Their clear, detailed attention to connection and partnership along with their ability to translate even the most complex dance movements into simple, understandable instructions have made them two of the most highly regarded instructors in their field. 

Jodi has always said she is happiest while dancing.  After five years of African dance study & performance, she found herself on the lindy hop floor and it was love at first swivel!  A PNW lindy champion, Jodi had the great honor of partnering and performing with the legendary Frankie Manning & other lindy greats for a decade before she hip-jiggled into the world of Latin dances, traveling to Cuba, Puerto Rico & L.A. to inform her dancing and teaching of Salsa & Bachata.  Next began a love affair with the smooth dances of Waltz, Foxtrot, Rumba & Nightclub Two-Step - her favorite dance forms to choreograph. Currently Blues is in the foreground of her dancing, with Vernacular Jazz and African Dance continuing to inspire rhythm and movement. Her love of movement is matched by her passion for dance history.  An enthusiastic and playful teacher for 15 plus years, great energy is brought to every class Jodi teaches. She loves being a part of people's social dance journey and watching how it transforms their lives.  Learn more about Jodi at www.leftfootboogie.com

Ari has been teaching, choreographing, and performing social dance both nationally and internationally for over 25 years, including numerous workshops as special guest instructor to Stanford University, as founder and co-director of “Waltz Week in Vienna”, and as the founder and director of “New Zealand Dance Adventure”. 

An award-winning dancer and performer, Ari's breadth of styles include swing, waltz, salsa, tango, Latin, lindy hop, ballroom, balboa, blues, WCS, and NC2S.  In addition, Ari is well-known as one of this country's leading innovators and instructors of "fusion" dance — a form of social dance which borrows elements from one style and blends them fluidly into another, as well as for his pioneering work in the field of wellness and dance therapy — using dance movement, balance, body awareness, and connection as modalities for diagnosing and treating individuals and couples.  In 2009, Ari introduced the first fusion waltz & swing workshops to Vienna & Europe. This year, he and Jodi plan to include more such classes in their upcoming waltz week sessions. 

*Fun Fact*   When off the dance floor, Ari works as a physician and entrepreneur on faculty at Singularity University where he is one of the coordinators of FutureMed, a world-renown program bringing top physicians, innovators, and investors together to explore how rapidly evolving, game-changing technology will impact the future of healthcare.  

 *Fun Fact*    Ari & Jodi are innovating a new workshop concept in teaching wellness through social dance, and in June of 2014 will be putting on the Northwest's first such themed dance camp. Look for more details later this year at www.rolluptherug.com 

COST:  "Waltz Week in Vienna"

• INCLUDES: seven fabulous days of classes**, group activities, socials, walking tours of Vienna, down time for exploring, and adventure yet to be named..... 
• DOES NOT INCLUDE: costs for transportation, meals, accomodations, outside practices or dances, or ball tickets.  Ball tickets can be purchased on our site, but must be ordered separately. 

**Please note: All on-line transactions will be made in Euros.  This is being done in order to allow our European team immediate access to these funds in order purchase ball tickets and cover local expenses.  For currency conversion information, please refer the note at bottom of this page.

 

 

A)  "WALTZ WEEK" PRICING::  

• "Early-Bird" Registration**:            € 280.00 Euros    (until Dec 15th)
• Regular Registration:                     € 315.00 Euros    (after Dec 16th)

B)  "VIENNESE BALL" TICKETS  (see "Ball" page for details)  Price = cost + internet transaction fees: 

1. Saturday, Feb 14th:  Johan Strauss Ball (optional):      € 55 Euro
2. Thursday, Feb 20th:  Russian Ball (optional):              € 500 Euro  (Must purchase tickets on your own)
3. Friday, Feb 21st:  Koffeesieder Ball (optional):            € 150 Euro
4. Saturday, Feb 22nd: IAEA Ball (recommended):         € 60 Euro 
 

**PLEASE NOTE:  Tickets for the balls must be ordered through our website by December 20th to ensure enough time for our Vienna team to purchase and collect them.  

Tickets ordered after December 20th cannot be guaranteed.  We will still do our best to get them for you, but these balls can sell out quickly once the box office opens.  You will be refunded in full for any tickets you paid for but could not be obtained.  

Tickets for the JOHAN STRAUSS BALL will either be left for you at the Will Call office at the Hofburg Palace or delivered to your hotel prior to your arrival (we'll arrange this individually with you).  Tickets for the other balls will be given to you on the first day of Waltz Week.

**REMINDER:  All prices are in Euros.  Currency conversion will automatically take place using PayPal.  

As you know, currency exchange rates fluctuate a little each day.  To calculate the most recent exchange rate from Euros to US dollars, go to your Google browser bar and simply type in the amount in Euros followed by the equals sign (ie "240 Euros =") and hit return.  Google will automatically calculate that amount for you in dollars. When I did this on Oct 5th, €240 Euros was equivalent to $325.00 US dollars

Welcome to "Waltz Week In Vienna, 2012!" 

To Register: 

1. Please take a moment to carefully read notes 1&2 below, then in the form that follows,
2. Complete "Step 1" (Contact Information), and click the "Submit" button.
3. Complete "Step 2" (PayPal Checkout).  See Note 2 below if your PayPal Checkout page appears written in German 

**NOTE 1:  Each time you select an item to pay for (ie, the Waltz Week Package), you will be taken to your PayPal checkout cart to verify the item is there.  To select and pay for more than one item (ie, the Waltz Week Package, plus a ball ticket), please do the following:

• After you select the first item from the Waltz Week website (ie, the Waltz Week Package), you will be taken to your PayPal checkout page.  From there, you will need to click on the "Continue Shopping" button to return to the Waltz Week website shopping menu.  
• From the Waltz Week website menu you just returned to, select the next item that you want to purchase (ie, a Ball ticket) .  Repeat as needed for each new item you want to buy.  You will be able to edit or modify your selections on your PayPal Checkout page before making your final purchase.

**NOTE 2: "Waltz Week in Vienna" is an American-Austrian joint partnership, with payment being handled by the Austrian team.   If your PayPal Checkout page appears to be written in German, close the PayPal Checkout page (click the little red 'x" in the upper right corner of your PayPal page), return to the Waltz Week website's shopping menu page and click on the "View Cart" button on the top right corner of the Part 2 section of that page.  That should fix the problem for the remainder of your checkout. 

 Your PayPal Checkout Page should either have the words "Waltz Week in Vienna" or "Axel Schwarz" written at the top.  After making your purchase, you will receive an email from "Waltz Week in Vienna" confirming your registration.  Please feel free to contact us if you are experiencing any difficulties with registration or if you have any questions.

**NOTE 3:  Tickets for the balls must be ordered through our website by December 20th to ensure enough time for our Vienna team to purchase and collect them.  Tickets ordered after December 20th cannot be guaranteed.  We will still do our best to get them for you, but these balls can sell out quickly once the box office opens.  You will be refunded in full for any tickets you paid for but could not be obtained.  Tickets for the JOHAN STRAUSS BALL will either be left for you at the Will Call office at the Hofburg Palace or delivered to your hotel prior to your arrival (we'll arrange this individually with you).  Tickets for the other balls will be given to you on the first day of Waltz Week.

**REMINDER:  All prices are in Euros.  Currency conversion will automatically take place using PayPal.  

**As you know, currency exchange rates fluctuate a little each day.  To calculate the most recent exchange rate from Euros to US dollars, go to your Google browser bar and simply type in the amount in Euros followed by the equals sign (ie "240 Euros =") and hit return.  Google will automatically calculate that amount for you in dollars. When I did this on Oct 5th, €240 Euros was equivalent to $329.00 US dollars.

How To Search & Book Flights & Hotels:

You can get great discount prices for travel, hotels, and local cultural events using online search engines, particularly if you book your flight and hotel together.  You can shop and compare at:  

• www.tripadvisor.com
• www.CheapOAir.com
• www.Kayak.com
• www.Priceline.com
• www.Expedia.com 
• www.travelocity.com
• www.hotwire.com
• insanelycheapflights.com

The Tanzschule Svabek (located at Judenplatz 5, 1010 Wien) will be our main meeting area for classes and workshops (if you are looking for a hotel within walking distance).  It is situated in the heart of the Old City, with easy access to the subway. See the map below.

A)   All classes will be held at the Tanzschule Svabek, located in the heart of Old Vienna.  The address is:

Tanzschule Svabek
Judenplatz 5
1010 Vienna, Austria

• Location on Google Maps:
• Website of the studio: http://www.svabek.at/ 

 B)   Airport transportation:   More information is available at the Vienna Airport Site

- by Train (City Railway):

• Current schedule** shows trains leaving every 30 mins, starting from 4:54 am to 0:18 am;
• Current price: One-way ticket € 3.60 Euro
• Journey time: 24 mins (downtown - Wien Mitte)

**schedule and prices will be updated withing the next 2 months

- by Bus:

• Current schedule** shows busses leaving every 30 mins, starting from 6:20 am to 0:50 am;
• Current price: One−way ticket € 6.00 Euro, return ticket 11.00 Euro
• Journey time: 20 mins (downtown - Schwedenplatz)

**schedule and prices will be updated withing the next 2 months

- by Express Train (City Airport Train - CAT)

• Current schedule shows CATs leaving every 30 mins, from 6:05 am to 11:35 am;
• Current price: One−way ticket € 10.00 Euro
• Journey time: 16 mins (downtown - Wien Mitte)

- by Taxi/Cab

• Various taxi cabs are available
• Average price: starting from about Euro 31,- one-way; Group taxis are available upon request
• Journey time: average 20-35 mins (downtown - depending on the target location and the traffic)

C)   City transportation:  There are various options for tickets on the Vienna Public Transport System depending on whether you want a single-use ticket or a multiple-use ticket which can be used over several days::

-Single-trip ticket:

• € 2.10 per person (ticket-office/machine pre-sale)
• € 2.20 per person (if bought in busses or trams)

-One Week ticket: 

•  € 15.80 per person, valid for one person from Monday 12 am - Monday 9 am the following week (ticket-office/machine pre-sale only).  The ticket is transferable, so whoever is holding it can use it.

-Eight Day Climate ticket:

•  € 28.80 (ticket-office/machine pre-sale only), valid for any eight days, not necessarily eight consecutive days. It is a rover ticket, which means you can travel all around Vienna.  You can also use the ticket for several people travelling together. Simply punch one strip for each person in the group.

-Other options: 

• 24-hour ticket, 72-hour ticket are also available. 

 

CLICK HERE to go to the Website for Public Transportation in Vienna (If the site is not in English, be sure to click on the tiny "English" button in the grey strip on the upper right corner of the page)

 D)   City Sites & Tours Transportation:

There are numerous ways to explore Vienna! -- by foot, by bicycle, by bus, or by boat.  There are tours for city sights, local countryside excursions, or specific venues.  These are available for a few hours, half a day, all day or night, or for several days.

• A good resource for tours you can arrange on your own is at Vienna City Tours: 
• For a simple self-guided tour of the city, check out the "Hop-On-Hop-Off" Bus.   
• For Tickets to Concerts, Shows, Cultural Events, Museums, Palace Tours, etc, go to www.ViennaConcerts.com
• For Tickets to the Spanish Riding School (Home of the world-famous Lipizzaner Stallions), Click Here

 E)   Cultural Activities, Self-Guided Walks, Exploring Vienna, Getting Started, and MORE!

A terrific resource for exploring Vienna on your own, for learning more about what this beautiful city has to offer, for connecting to local customs & culture, and for wonderful & informative travel tips to get you started on your adventure is the website:  www.vienna-unwrapped.com.  Here you can find a wide variety of pages expounding on such topics as: 

• Tips For Getting Started
• The Viennese Balls (Good things to know...)
• Self Guided Walks
• Great Restaurants
• Great Coffee Houses
• Getting Tickets to the Opera
• Museums & Historical Sites
• The Spanish Riding School (Lipizzaner Stallions)
• Things To Do in February
• Shopping Tips
• Boat Trips
• Day Trips
• Local Culture
• Local History
• Learn About Austrian Food

                                            .....and MORE!

This is a great site -- informative, well-organized , and very easy to navigate.  Be sure to check it out!

Where to Stay:

There are many, many wonderful hotels, quaint bed & breakfasts, delightful pension's, and more budget-friendly hostels to stay at in Vienna.  Past participants have stayed at the following hotels, and have recommended them to future Waltz Week attendees:

A.  Pension Suzanne:  http://goo.gl/maps/2C8tC
Located on the edge of the Old City, next to the famous Viennese State Opera House and about 15 minutes walking distance to Tanzschule Svabek.  Double rooms for a week, per night range from EUR 100,- for a standard room, 109,- for a larger double room to 119,- for a small suite (per room per night, including breakfast)

Walfischgasse 4, 1010 Wien
Tel.: +43-(0)1-513 25 07
Fax: +43-(0)1-513 25 00
http://www.pension-suzanne.at/

B.  Hotel Wandl:  http://goo.gl/maps/4E62o
Single room standard prive per night: EUR 120,-, double room standard per night: EUR 160,- including breakfast, a better offer is available for people staying a whole week...

Petersplatz 9a, 1010 Wien
TEL:  +43-1-534 55-0
FAXL  +43-1-534 55-77
www.hotel-wandl.com

C.  Graben Hotel Wien:   http://goo.gl/maps/Io0ib
Single rooms from approx. EUR 100,- per night, double rooms start around EUR 120,- per night, depending on the length of the stay, including breakfast.

Dorotheergasse 3, A-1010 Vienna
Tel. +43 1 512 15 31-0
www.kremslehnerhotels.at/de/hotel-graben-wien

D.  OTHER OPTIONS:  There are dozens of other hotels and "pensionen" in the inner city, including some major hotel chains (e.g. the Mariott, Hilton, Best Western etc.).  All of these can easily be found on the various websites listed above (ie, tripadvisor.com) which can offer rates far below those that we could arrange. 

 I recently found a nice listing HERE of hotels in the area. 

A Google map search centered around the Tanzschule Svabek at 5 Judenplatz, 1010 Vienna showed the following hotels within a 10-15 min walking distance as well:

• Gustl Bauermore
  Drahtgasse 2, 1010 Vienna, Austria
  TEL:  +43 1 5335889
  www.gustlbauer.at

• Best Western "Hotel Das Tigramore"
  Tiefer Graben 14, 1010 Vienna, Austria
  TEL:  +43 1 53396410
  www.hotel-tigra.at

• Hotel Steigenberger ‎
  Herrengasse 10, 1010 Vienna, Austria
  TEL:  +43 1 534040
  www.steigenberger.at

**PLEASE NOTE:  

If you are looking for a roommate or have any other questions about lodging that you would like to post to the group, or if you have any suggestions about tickets, places to stay, or great deals you found that you would like to share, please feel free use our

 "Waltz Week in Vienna"

Facebook page for postings and discussions.

 Your Starter Kit To Vienna:

For Information on Cultural Activities, Self-Guided Walks, Exploring Vienna, Getting Started, and MORE...

Check out "Vienna-Unwrapped" 

A terrific resource for exploring Vienna on your own, for learning more about what this beautiful city has to offer, for connecting to local customs & culture, and for wonderful & informative travel tips to get you started on your adventure in Vienna is the website:  www.vienna-unwrapped.com.  Here you can find a wide variety of pages expounding on such topics as: 

• Tips For Getting Started
• The Viennese Balls (Good things to know...)
• Self Guided Walks
• Great Restaurants
• Great Coffee Houses
• Getting Tickets to the Opera
• Museums & Historical Sites
• The Spanish Riding School (Lipizzaner Stallions)
• Things To Do in February
• Shopping Tips
• Boat Trips
• Day Trips
• Local Culture
• Local History
• Learn About Austrian Food

                                            .....and MORE!

This is a great site -- informative, well-organized , and very easy to navigate.  Be sure to check it out!

1.  City Tours:

There are numerous ways to explore Vienna -- by foot, by bicycle, by bus, or by boat.  There are tours for city sights, local countryside excursions, or specific venues.  These are available for a few hours, half a day, all day or night, or for several days.

• A good resource for tours you can arrange on your own is at Vienna City Tours: 
• For a simple self-guided tour of the city, check out the "Hop-On-Hop-Off" Bus:   

2.  Self-Tour with the "Hop-On-Hop-Off" bus

See Vienna at your own relaxed pace with Vienna's Hop-On-Hop-Off bus tour. Get on and off at any of their 15 stops, as often as you wish. Commentaries are in German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese and Russian. Tickets first used after 3 p.m. are valid the whole next day.  Buses run from 10am-5pm. 

What to Wear:

General:

• Vienna is magical in the winter, but it can also be pretty cold. There may be some sunshine, but chances are high for icy winds, rain or even snow.
• Average temperatures for January: -1°C (30°F) and for February 2°C (36°F). So be prepared to take warm winter clothes with you, especially if you plan to have an extended walk around the city, and don't forget to take comfortable and warm shoes with you.

Workshop/Classes:

• Comfortable and practical clothing. You may want to bring a small towel. Deodorant is always appreciated! You may also want to bring a small water bottle and/or light snacks as needed.
• The right shoes are important: We suggest choosing standard dancing shoes or shoes with leather soles for the waltz classes. Ladies - think about wearing comfortable shoes that are nice to your feet. Please avoid rubber soles and staining black soles during classes.  Please also plan to bring your dance shoes separate from your street shoes (This will help avoid tracking dirt or mud onto the dance floor).  If it's wet out, think about bringing an extra pair of socks to change into in case yours get wet.

Evenings/Practices:

We suggest avoiding jeans and too informal clothing for practices.

Balls:
Each ball posts it's own dress code.  If you are attending one of the four "Waltz Week" balls, please refer to the dress code for that ball on our balls page.  In general, however, we would suggest the following:

Ladies:

• We suggest wearing a long evening dress.  While certain balls may specifically request  'floor-length', most of the dresses you'll see at the balls will fall below the knees. We also suggest wearing nylons or stockings, as you may not wish to have bare feet under a long evening dress.
• While the shoes should fit the gown, think about favoring medium-heel shoes that give you a comfortable feeling and are well broken in, as you will be wearing them for several hours while dancing and moving around.   

Gentlemen:

• If you have a tailcoat and are eager to wear it on a special event - voilà.
• If you don't - black dinner jacket/tuxedo or tuxedo with bow tie are fine too.
• Black patent-leather shoes are never wrong.  

Rentals, Purchases, Accessories*:

Vienna has numerous shops for tuxedo or gown purchases or rentals, or for buying shoes, gloves, scarves, hats, ties, or other such accessories.  The shopping is wonderful, but please remember to allow yourself plenty of time for any needed tailoring.  Many hotels also offer in-house tailoring, cleaning, polishing or ironing services if needed.  

*Personal Editorial Note:  You should be warned that formal attire rentals or purchases can be quite expensive in Vienna.  You may be better served by purchasing new or second hand accouterments in your home town and bringing them with you.  

 

A)  "WALTZ WEEK" PRICING::  

• Very "Early-Bird" Registration**:              € 325.00 Euros    (Now through Nov 1st)
• "Early-Bird" Registration**:                       € 355.00 Euros    (Nov 2nd - Dec 15th)
• "Regular Bird" Registration:                      € 375.00 Euros    (After Dec 16th)

B)  "VIENNESE BALL" TICKETS  (see "Ball" page for details)  REMEMBER, our group Ball event will the Sat Feb 6th "Lawyers" Ball, so be sure to get a ticket for that.  PLEASE NOTE - The price on the Payment Page will be the ticket price (shown below) + internet transaction fees.  

1. Saturday, Jan 30th:  Physicians Ball (optional):               € 120 Euro
2. Thursday, Feb 4th:  Opera Ball (optional):                       € 290 Euro (Must purchase these on your own)
3. Friday, Feb 5th:  Koffeesieder Ball (optional):                   € 135 Euro
4. Friday, Feb 5th:  Bon Bon Ball (optional):                         € 95 Euro
5. Saturday, Feb 6th: LAYWERS Ball (recommended):      € 135 Euro 
 

 PRE-WALTZ WEEK  (Jan 29-31, 2016)

NOTE:  This is still a tentative schedule.  Details will be updated and posted as they are confirmed

Other Waltz Week Options:

Our choice of group activities, dining locations, cultural activities, etc, can be fairly flexible.  Much will be decided by the group on location.  Activities may include, but are not be limited to: 

• Specialty Dance Workshops & Classes   
• Extra Dance Practices, Group Outings
• Exploring Vienna's Famous Kafeehaus's (Click Here to learn more)  
• Museums, Architecture Tour, Hofburg Palace Tour, Opera House Tour
• Group meals at famous local restaurants
• Day trip to Bratislava, Slovakia (an hour by bus)
• Visit Vienna's Thermal Baths
• Visit Regional Hot Springs
• Cultural Events (concerts, theater, etc)
• Lipizzaner Stallion show, or tour (Tickets must be arranged in advance)
• Evening Dance Excursions (swing, salsa, ballroom, etc)
• Day hikes through Vienna's outlying vineyards and lunch at traditional Biergarten (weather dependent)

 POST-WALTZ WEEK (Feb 8-22):

(Specifics TBA) Tentative Schedule Below

PLEASE NOTE:  This is NOT part of Waltz Week, but rather Ari's tentative travel schedule post-Waltz Week.  You are more than welcome to join Ari on his dance adventures, but you will need to arrange your own travel, room & board, and cover your own expenses.  We will keep you informed of our own plans as they are finalized.  We will also keep you informed about any great travel deals we come across for any of the above. 

Monday - Thursday (Feb 8-11):    Prague, Czech Republic

• Travel to Prague for More Dance Travel-Adventure Touring with Ari
• Evening Swing Dance Workshops & Exchanges with Zig-Zag Dance Studio
• Old City Walking Tour, Castle Walk, Art & Architecture Tour, Historic Art Deco Cafe's & Restaurants, Explore Bohemia!

 Prior to Waltz Week  (Outside of Vienna):

PLEASE NOTE:  This is NOT part of Waltz Week, but rather Ari's travel schedule pre-Waltz Week.  You are more than welcome to join Ari on his dance adventures, but you will need to arrange your own travel, room & board, and cover your own expenses.    

Saturday - Monday (Jan 23-25):    Munich, Germany

• Munich "Roll Up The Rug" Workshop Weekend  (CLICK HERE and scroll down the page for more info & registration)

SATURDAY SESSIONS (BALLROOM INFLUENCED DANCE):
       •  "Intro to Night Club 2-Step"
       •  "Intro to Cross-Step Waltz“
       •  "Fantastic Mr. Foxtrot“

SUNDAY SESSIONS (SWING/BLUES DANCES):
       •  "Swinging Outside the Box with a Fox!"
       •  "Fun with Ballroomin‘ Blues"
       •  "The Magic & Art of Freestyle Fusion Fugue-ing" 

• Evening Swing Dance
• Old City Walking Tour, Hoffbrau Haus, Cafe's & Restaurants, Explore Bavaria!

Other Waltz Week Options:

Our choice of group activities, dining locations, cultural activities, etc, can be fairly flexible.  Much will be decided by the group on location.  Activities may include, but are not be limited to: 

• Specialty Dance Workshops & Classes   
• Extra Dance Practices, Group Outings
• Attending Other Local Dances  (Click Here for a schedule of options)
• Exploring Vienna's Famous Kafeehaus's (Click Here to learn more)  
• Museums, Architecture Tour, Hofburg Palace Tour, Opera House Tour
• Group meals at famous local restaurants
• Day trip to Bratislava, Slovakia (an hour by bus)
• Visit Vienna's Thermal Baths
• Visit Regional Hot Springs
• Cultural Events (concerts, theater, etc)
• Lipizzaner Stallion show, or tour (Tickets must be arranged in advance)
• Evening Dance Excursions (swing, salsa, ballroom, etc)  Click Here for a schedule of options
• Day hikes through Vienna's outlying vineyards and lunch at traditional Biergarten (weather dependent)

 POST-WALTZ WEEK (Feb 8-22):

(Specifics TBA) Tentative Schedule Below

PLEASE NOTE:  This is NOT part of Waltz Week, but rather Ari's tentative travel schedule post-Waltz Week.  You are more than welcome to join Ari on his dance adventures, but you will need to arrange your own travel, room & board, and cover your own expenses.  We will keep you informed of our own plans as they are finalized.  We will also keep you informed about any great travel deals we come across for any of the above. 

Monday - Thursday (Feb 8-11):    Prague, Czech Republic

• Travel to Prague for More Dance Travel-Adventure Touring with Ari
• Evening Swing Dance Workshops & Exchanges with Zig-Zag Dance Studio
• Old City Walking Tour, Castle Walk, Art & Architecture Tour, Historic Art Deco Cafe's & Restaurants, Explore Bohemia!

 **PLEASE NOTE** 

Our Next "Waltz Week in Vienna" will be scheduled for the Winter of 2019.  If you are not currently on our email list, please sign up on our "Contact Us" page to ensure that you will receive information about the 2019 trip once the details are confirmed.

Waltz Week in Vienna is the ultimate in elegant dance adventures -- a

 truly incredible travel, play, & workshop experience! 

The week is specifically designed for dancers who not only want to experience the elegance, beauty, and

 grandeur of waltz season in Vienna, but who would also love to do so in the company of a fun group of

 like-minded fellow travel-adventurers!

During Waltz Week, we use Vienna as our veritable playground -- exploring the city's beauty,

 enjoying unique dining opportunities, attending dance classes together, taking part in exchanges with

 other local dance schools, attending balls, and much more!   

On Saturday we culminate the week with an elegant grand ball at the beautiful Homburg Imperial

 Palace, the crown jewel of Vienna's magnificent edifices where waltz balls have been a celebrated

 tradition since the days of Mozart and Strauss!  

SPECIAL for 2016:  Waltz Week runs from Mon-Sun.  If you have an opportunity to come to Vienna

 the weekend before camp starts, you can join us for "Snowflake Blues" running Fri-Sun, Jan 29-31.

  Likewise, if you have a second week to spare for additional travel & dance adventure after Waltz Week,

 consider shifting into "swing" mode and joining Ari from Feb 8-14th as he explores the world of swing

 dance in Prague, as well as in other great European cities (TBA).  Not to be missed!

:

 Join us for an incredible  Waltz Week in Vienna!

 NOTE:  "Waltz Week in Vienna" takes place every two years.  The next camp will be

  Winter of 2019 (Dates TBD in 2018). 

Mark your calendars now, and think about arriving the weekend before Waltz Week to

 either attend our Vienna "Snowflake Blues Festival", or to attend some of the

 Waltz Balls going on prior to Waltz Week.  

  Don't forget to join our mailing list to get the latest updates!  

**PLEASE NOTE** 

Our next "Waltz Week in Vienna" will be taking place Feb 17-23, 2019.  Mark your calendars and make your travel arrangements as needed.  Official registration will open in the Fall (late Sept or Oct).  We will update the website appropriately and notify you by email if you are on our mailing list

If you are not on our email list, please sign up on our "Contact Us" page to ensure that you will receive information about the 2019 trip once the details are confirmed.

Please note that this website is also not entirely current for 2019.  We are still gathering information on the costs for the balls, etc, and will post any updates as soon as soon they are available.

Also, while Waltz Week will officially end on Sat, Feb 23rd, you may be interested in extending your stay to visit Europe (we may be doing a midweek workshop in Prague between Feb 24-27th, TBA ) and attending the "Rock That Swing" Festival in Munich  from Feb 28-Mar 3, 2019 -- it's the biggest swing event in Europe, a fantastic experience, and well worth attending. 

 Join us for

Waltz Week in Vienna

Feb 17-23, 2019

**PLEASE NOTE** 

"Waltz Week in Vienna" will be taking place Feb 17-23, 2019.  Mark your calendars and make your travel arrangements as needed.  Official registration will open in the Fall (late Sept or Oct).  We will update the website appropriately and notify you by email if you are on our mailing list

 UPDATES:  [Posted Jan 27, 2019]

1)  In order to maintain an even balance of leads & follows, we are currently putting all single follows on a waiting list.  If you are a single follow, please continue to register and we will notify you ASAP as soon as a spot become available.  

2)  All leads and lead/follow pairs will continue to be accepted right away.

Leads PLEASE sign up!  We need you to take follows off of our waiting list 

 UPDATES:  [Posted Jan 29, 2019]

We've just learned that tickets to the Koffeeseiderball at the Hofburg Palace on Friday have sold out.  There is a good possibility that some tickets might be available online from folks who will cancel, but there are no guarantees.  Unfortunately these are popular events and tickets sell out fast after the new year.

 Our Next "Waltz Week in Vienna" will be scheduled once the Balls open after the COVID lockdown.  If you are not currently on our email list, please sign up on our "Contact Us" page to ensure that you will receive information about our next trip once things have opened up.

     Please note that this website is not current.  It shows the schedule, itinerary & pricing for the 2019 Balls and dance camp only.  We are leaving it up to give you a general idea of what kinds of programing & costs you might expect for future events.  We will post the new schedule and information as soon as it is available.  We will notify everyone on our email list of the updates.  

Waltz Week in Vienna is the ultimate in elegant dance adventures -- a

 truly incredible travel, play, & workshop experience! 

The week is specifically designed for dancers who not only want to experience the elegance, beauty, and grandeur of waltz season in Vienna, but who would also love to do so in the company of a fun group of like-minded fellow travel-adventurers!

During Waltz Week, we use Vienna as our veritable playground -- exploring the city's beauty, enjoying unique dining opportunities, attending dance classes together, taking part in exchanges with other local dance schools, attending balls, and much more! 

  

 On Friday we culminate the week with an elegant grand ball at the beautiful Hofburg Imperial Palace, the crown jewel of Vienna's magnificent edifices where waltz balls have been a celebrated tradition since the days of Mozart and Strauss!

  

SPECIAL for 2019:  Waltz Week runs from Sun-Sat, Feb 17-23, 2019.  If you have an opportunity to come to Vienna the weekend before camp starts, you can join us for "Snowflake Blues" running Fri-Sun, Feb 15-17.  Likewise, if you have a second week to spare for additional travel & dance adventure after Waltz Week, consider shifting into "swing" mode and joining Ari midweek in Prague,  (likely between Feb 25-27, TBA), and then in Munich from from Feb 28-Mar 3rd for  "Rock That Swing", Europe's largest swing dance festival -- Not to be missed! 

UPDATE (Jan 29th, 2019)

We have just learned that the Kaffeeseider ball on Feb 22nd has been sold out and tickets to the ball are no longer available on the official website.  If you would still like to go and you have not already registered and paid for your ticket through our site, you will be responsible for finding your own ticket.  It is possible that people will be selling their tickets online as the date gets closer and they have to cancel, but there are no guarantees. 

You might want to try to place a ticket request with the Vienna Concert Ticket Group and they would contact you if any tickets are turned in. 

We also understand that the Johan Strauss Ball at the Kursalon has been sold out.  However, it may be possible to put yourself on a list for any tickets are turned in.  Christine just got two tickets this way, but she had to wait a week.  The site is:  https://www.viennaticketoffice.com/

2.   Friday, Feb 24th: The Akidemiker Ball at the Hofburg Palace -- This is another lovely option for a Ball to attend on the Saturday prior to Waltz Week, particularly since it will be in a completely different venue.  The Theme of this years ball is "A night in Venice". The website is in English and very informative.  It says,   

"On 16th of February 2019, Kursalon will open its doors for the 13th annual Johann Strauss Ball. This time, the glittering ball night is inspired by the world famous Operetta “A night in Venice“ by Johann Strauss jr. The glamourous ball opening will be directed by the classical Orchestra “Alt Wien” and accompanied by one of Vienna’s famous dancing schools. The theme “A night in Venice” will appear throughout the highlights of the evening. Enjoy an elegant Gala dinner before the opening or have a glass of sparkling wine at one of the many bars. Let yourself be guided through the night with the music of our live orchestra, band and DJ in the 4 sumptuous halls of the historic Kursalon building and be part of an unforgettable ball night in Vienna."

Location:   Johannesgasse 33, 1010 Wien, Austria        

Doors open:  6:00pm for dinner guests
Traditional Opening Ceremony:  9:00pm
End of ball:  4:00am

Dress code: 
          Ladies: floor length evening dress
          Gentlemen: smoking jacket, tuxedo

   There are 3 Ticket Options:: 

    1)  ENTRANCE TICKET:   49 €

Includes entrance fee (without reserved seat and without dinner)  

     2)  SILVER PACKAGE:  130 €

Includes: Entrance ticket,

Reserved seat in the side hall (Schubert or Lehar Hall),

3-course gala dinner,

Drinks during dinner (sparkling wine, white wine, red wine, beer and 

nonalcoholic drinks)

     3)  GOLDEN PACKAGE:  170 €

Includes:  Entrance ticket,

Reserved seat in the main hall (Strauss Hall),

3-course gala dinner,

Drinks during dinner (sparkling wine, white wine, red wine, beer and 

nonalcoholic drinks)

For details, ticket purchase, and information (in English) 

• WEBSITE:  www.johannstraussball.com/en 
• TELEPHONE:   +43 1 512 57 90  
• SNAIL MAIL:  Johannesgasse 33, 1010 Vienna, Austria
• EMAIL:  sound@soundofvienna.at

Menu Options for Group Dinner 

at Restaurant Zum Alten Fase 

(Ziegelofengasse 37, 1050 Wien) 

Monday, Feb 20th, 2023