Late 19th century; earliest use found in Globe (Atchison, Kansas). So called on account of the tune to which the dance was performed, ‘Coming Through the Rye’.
Definition of rye waltz in US English:
rye waltz
noun
North American
A dance combining three-four and two-four time.
Origin
Late 19th century; earliest use found in Globe (Atchison, Kansas). So called on account of the tune to which the dance was performed, ‘Coming Through the Rye’.