What should tango vals look and feel like?

[Steve Pastor]

Sorry. I probably shouldn't have thrown that term in there.

It is a term that was used in one of the many books I've been looking at that refers to the variable, rather than strictly on the beat each and every beat, timing the is characteristic of swing.

I like to be able to supply a reference for things I write, but right now this one eludes me.
While at lunch I dredged up "arrasta" from my tango subconscious as an example of where the musicians vary the playing of notes, thus facilitating the dancers doing the same. Not sure if this is exactly what I am talking about, though.

 

[bordertangoman]

like this?

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trying again and sticking with tango vals

 

[JohnEm]

trying again and sticking with tango vals

You can't be being serious. It's skilful of course. But . . .
How can this be any sort of example of Vals for social dancing?

 

[bordertangoman]

You can't be being serious. It's skilful of course. But . . .
How can this be any sort of example of Vals for social dancing?

Yes I am serious if tango dancers had a tenth of the feel of these circular musical movements then they would be dancing vals... as it is...as I said in my original post....

the equivalent of "it dont mean a thing if it aint got that swing."

 

[Dave Bailey]

But surely most Vals is danced on the first beat of three only,

By default, yes, I believe that's the convention. Although other beats can be used also.

Ghost has written a Tango Vals introduction, from there, there's a couple of examples of videos from Detlef and Melina. It's interesting that in one of those examples, there's an emphasis on rotation, but in the other, the emphasis is on timing changes.

So I'm not sure I'd call a Vals inherently rotation-based. But I don't know enough about it to have a strong opinion.

 

[dchester]

trying again and sticking with tango vals

Yeah, that's the way I'd dance the vals if the milonga wasn't very crowded (and I had the talent to do it).

 

[bordertangoman]

By default, yes, I believe that's the convention. Although other beats can be used also.

So I'm not sure I'd call a Vals inherently rotation-based. But I don't know enough about it to have a strong opinion.

I think rotation conveys the feeling of the music better; if one looks at a waltz
two variations; Michael and Beatrice
slow
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This is in contrast to the other video showing smooth dance , where the action is on the upper body, here the action is mostly in the feet.
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[opendoor]

... if tango dancers had a tenth of the feel of these circular musical movements then they would be dancing vals...

.. btm, I don´t think that the circular flow only is important. The rhythmical interpretation is as vital. I mean that stepping on every quarter note, but not in the vw manner, I mean something that goes into the 6/8 signature direction of the vals criollo.

But, uncontradicted: the tango lesson choreo is really nice: the stepping varies, sometimes P. takes only 2 steps per measure, than passages follow with the accent on the first, on the second, or on the third beat: as short as it is 0:40-0:50 is a real treasure. And so complex. Once I watched it perhaps 100 times to figure out the alteraciónes, escapadas, and rebotes!

[YT]5HwJWagV6Go[/YT]

 

[bordertangoman]

.. btm, I don´t think that the circular flow only is important. The rhythmical interpretation is as vital. I mean that stepping on every quarter note, but not in the vw manner, I mean something that goes into the 6/8 signature direction of the vals criollo.

But, uncontradicted: the tango lesson choreo is really nice: the stepping varies, sometimes P. takes only 2 steps per measure, than passages follow with the accent on the first, on the second, or on the third beat: as short as it is 0:40-0:50 is a real treasure. And so complex. Once I watched it perhaps 100 times to figure out the alteraciónes, escapadas, and rebotes!

[YT]we2l1XRQL60[/YT]

only 100 times! its not enough!

 

[opendoor]

right !

 

[JohnEm]

Yes I am serious if tango dancers had a tenth of the feel of these circular musical movements then they would be dancing vals... as it is...as I said in my original post....

the equivalent of "it dont mean a thing if it aint got that swing."

For feel, timing, movement & rotation we're not on opposite sides here.

But I don't see what you've added by posting an obvious demonstration/show
Vals which cannot be (should not even space permitting despite what dchester posted)
danced on a milonga floor.

 

[mshedgehog]

I don't know that I have an opinion about how vals 'should' be danced, but I very much like this one, which is a bit different from any posted so far. That doesn't mean I don't like others, but I find the particular choice of steps just beautiful.

 

[Peaches]

trying again and sticking with tango vals

My god, that was beautiful.

I see almost nothing there that can't be used on a milonga floor. Yes, the movements would (possibly, depending on the crowdedness of the venue) need to be toned down a bit. But they didn't have to think about that because they had the floor to themselves, and there's nothing wrong with using the space that you've got when you've got it. Keep the feet on the floor a bit more, shrink the movements to fit, and follow LOD and you've got a gorgeous social milonga. If only more people had that sort of musicality.

 

[bordertangoman]

My god, that was beautiful.

I see almost nothing there that can't be used on a milonga floor. Yes, the movements would (possibly, depending on the crowdedness of the venue) need to be toned down a bit. But they didn't have to think about that because they had the floor to themselves, and there's nothing wrong with using the space that you've got when you've got it. Keep the feet on the floor a bit more, shrink the movements to fit, and follow LOD and you've got a gorgeous social milonga. If only more people had that sort of musicality.

Thank you ; at the Tango Feast milonga this weekend; there was a vals tanda and everyone was moving around the room at the same speed; it was quite wonderful to be part of.
And I got complimented on my turns and musicality.

 

[Peaches]

I was actually thinking about this thread yesterday. I was at a piano recital, and two of the pieces played were waltzes. The performer introduced them by talking about how the pieces display just an overwhelming joy at the feeling of movement and motion and energy. Seems apt for AT vals, as well.