A visual reconciliation for tangueros and milongueros
Vals compás :
1 - (2) - (3) - 1 - (2) - (3)
| Vals compás | |
| Vals has repeating 3 count cycles (notated by musicians within "bars") | |
| Vals compás is the "one" beat repeated continuously through the music | |
| Bars typically in pairs with first of each two bars strongest | |
| The "ones" are nearly always stepped on when dancing vals | |
| Example: Tangueros dancing vals with consistent stepping on the compás (after a 1 min 10 sec introduction to the video) |
All tango dancers should be able to adopt the compás as the default for their dance steps
"Common" one-two vals rhythm :
1 - 2 - (3) - 1 - 2 - (3)
| "Common" one-two vals rhythm | |
| A vals rhythm sounding like two fast beats plus a pause (or a short then long beat) | |
| The two steps have the timing as for a leader's change of feet to lead a back ocho | |
| Example: Giro steps by Jenny Gill with Frank Obregon dancing to Canaro's "Corazón de Oro" for phrase at 2 min 47 secs |
"Common" three-one vals rhythm :
1 - (2) - 3 - 1 - (2) - 3
| "Common" three-one vals rhythm | |
| A vals rhythm with a strong "one" after a preparatory beat / step on beat "three" | |
| Can be interpreted as a gallop (or swing music) rhythm | |
| Example: Sebastián Achaval y Roxana Suarez dancing to phrase at 57 secs |
"Common" one-two-three vals rhythm :
1 - 2 - 3 - 1 - 2 - 3
| "Common" one-two-three vals rhythm | |
| A classic triple step 1-2-3 vals rhythm often danced at high speed | |
| Rarely danced socially but often danced by maestros in demonstrations and performances | |
| Most often danced as a series of "running" linear sacadas or parallel zigzags | |
| Example: Sigrid Van Tilbeurgh and Murat Erdemsel dancing to Pedro Laurenz's "Paisaje" for phrase at 56 secs |
"Common" duplet vals rhythm :
1 - (2)& - (3) - 1 - (2)& - (3)
| "Common" duplet vals rhythm | |
| A syncopated vals rhythm with "duplets" (i.e. two even beats on "one" and "two &") | |
| Incorporated by Canaro, Gobbi, Troilo and others in many of their valses | |
| "Flor de Canela" by Troilo, Cardenas y Goyeneche is a classic duplets song (with a series of duplets through the first 12 secs and at many other places throughout), but there appear to be no YouTube videos of anyone dancing to the song | |
| Example: Gianpiero Ya Galdi y Maria Filali dancing to "Tu Amargura" at 1 min 10 secs and 2 min 40 secs |