This dance is reputed to have developed in Boston.
Apparently, the dance masters who were responsible for the evening's program at
society functions gained favor with their socialite clients by imposing as much
restraint as possible on the dances and creating an obviously reserved
interpretation. The Waltz, in particular, became a target of this type of
constraint and what was considered to be a flamboyant expression, at that time,
induced by the blatant rotation of the dance was effectively curbed by taking a
step and hesitating for two beats before proceeding with a conventional Waltz
figure or another hesitation. The dance was introduced to New York society by
Vernon Castle between 1911 and 1914. It was later standardized and taught as a
fundamental social dance for several decades.
