The Strauss family are an Austrian musical dynasty originating in Vienna in the early 19th century, whose career began in the Biedermeier and Romantic eras and centred on composing and performing dance music and light classical repertoire such as waltzes, polkas and marches. Their musical style is characterised by elegant melodies, rhythmic lilt and orchestral colour developed for ballrooms and concert halls, and over successive generations their output influenced European social dance practices and the development of salon and light orchestral music.
