Vals on 2

Mar 11 2010

Does anyone dance Vals on 2? I mean, emphasis on the second beat as opposed to the first as it is normally danced to.

Is it a practice exercise you do?

Does it feel good at all to followers?

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    7 responses so far

    1. onesteptanguero
      on 13 Apr 2010 at 6:40 am

      The question is
      does any do it?

      Do you?
      How does it feel?

      Have you asked a follower?

      But to change the question: emphasis on “2″ could mean so much, like dancing 1,2,* – which emphasizes the 2, much more than stepping on *,2,*. But doesn’t 1,*,3 also emphasize the 2?

      Ballroom Waltz emphasizes the 2 in a completely different way.

      There’s no answer, besides to the question of “how does it feel” and “do you want it to feel that way, now?”.

      Oh, and try *,2,3 when the music offers it.

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      Tango Padawan Reply:
      April 15th, 2010 at 3:37 am

      I was just curious if people have played with this type of stuff. All the classes I’ve been to, they normally emphasize the cross using a certain rhythm or emphasizing the one in a vals. Rarely do they more than lightly encourage trying out different interpretations or go a bit into what different feelings it can make more prominent.

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    2. Mari
      on 13 Apr 2010 at 2:49 pm

      I’ve done it in classes and as an exercise, but I’ve never experienced a leader lead it socially that I recall. However, it may have been led and it felt natural, so I didn’t notice. Usually, if it feels natural to you (as my leader) and you’re not having to force it, then it will feel natural to me. If it feels like an exercise to you – then likewise, it will feel that way to me. Which is okay for practica, less so for milongas.

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      Tango Padawan Reply:
      April 15th, 2010 at 3:38 am

      True, but most things we all (now naturally) do started out as exercises.. :-)

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    3. Johanna
      on 27 May 2010 at 12:42 am

      The only person I know that routinely practices “off-the-beat” rhythms is Chicho. I took a class with him once and almost nobody was able to get it. But I don’t recall if we ever tried it with vals.

      Like Mari said, if I’ve done it, I wasn’t aware of it, although recent adventures with visiting milongueros who played with the off beat might have qualified. Either way, I really enjoy it when the lead plays with the rhythm, so I’m sure I’d be entertained.

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      Tango Padawan Reply:
      June 8th, 2010 at 5:14 pm

      That’s nice to hear Johanna. I’ve been in a class where Tomas Howlin was pushing people to try out out of the beat stuff, but that was not the whole point, it was just a tip or something to keep in the back of our minds.

      My musicality ideas still change a lot, which I’ve been thinking, may be good a thing. :-)

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    4. Johanna
      on 08 Jun 2010 at 8:21 pm

      Staying flexible with rhythms will ensure you have a long and creative tango life, Padawan :-)

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