Confused about the new Waltz

[4everchan]

The American Waltz (the one I linked above) is used in novice competition. More likely "intermediate novice" (US intermediate) these days. It specifies 3/4 time, but it's counted in 6. I included it as an example of how the standard expectations of a "slow waltz" do not apply to all dances that fall into the dance category known as waltz.

If you count it in 6, it's not a "waltz". we can see in the video you posted that this is a piece in 6/8. They even talk about how the turns happen on 1 and 4. Typical 6/8 metric of two beats per measure. So the subdivisions are being counter as full beats but you can still hear the compound meter. I understand why you showed up this example and it's great to illustrate that what musicians or even just the normal person who has listened to waltzes before and can identify its typical pattern, will not hear waltzes though in here, but for skating purposes, this is what is called a waltz

So yes, it's okay. Waltzes in skating are not necessarily waltzes . However, in the example you gave, the skating looked like it was truly doing waltz moves with the big sweeping 3 turns and leg extensions. It was beautiful. I am okay with this but I certainly wish that more teams would do a bit better in 1) giving us a waltz beat that we can recognize 2) giving us better characterization of the waltz.

So far, I am confused, disappointed, and cannot get invested in most of the RDs I have seen.

 

[gkelly]

If you count it in 6, it's not a "waltz".

It's not a slow waltz. At 198 beats/minute, it is twice as fast as a typical slow waltz.

It does fall within the category of "Viennese waltz" which does not always have all the characteristics that you claim all waltzes must have.

Are you a ballroom dancer, or just a concert musician?

we can see in the video you posted that this is a piece in 6/8.

And yet the music itself is notated in 3/4

So yes, it's okay. Waltzes in skating are not necessarily waltzes .

They're certainly not all slow waltzes

However, in the example you gave, the skating looked like it was truly doing waltz moves with the big sweeping 3 turns and leg extensions.

And yet the big sweeping three turns by nature require 3 beats on the entry edge and three beats on the exit edge. Waltz threes that obey the 1 2 3 1 2 3 counting do not have that big sweeping look.
E.g.: in the European Waltz, the three turn happens on count 3, as opposed to count 4 in the American Waltz, and then there is an immediate change of foot on the next beat.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

It was beautiful. I am okay with this

This is a STANDARD ice dance that has been around probably for over a century
All teams who skate the American Waltz pattern dance are supposed to skate it that way. It's not a matter of the teams choosing anything.

In this year's junior pattern dance, all teams must skate the steps of the Westminster Waltz, so they will use timing that works with those required steps.
Regardless of how the composer chose to notate it.

 

[4everchan]

It's not a slow waltz. At 198 beats/minute, it is twice as fast as a typical slow waltz.

It does fall within the category of "Viennese waltz" which does not always have all the characteristics that you claim all waltzes must have.

Are you a ballroom dancer, or just a concert musician?

"Just" a concert musician to use your words

I know there are fast waltzes. But they are still with the 3/4 feeling . If you understand compound meter, then you can tell if it's 3/4 or 6/8 just by listening. And sure, people can notate things wrongly. If you tell me that the example you've provided is written in 3/4, then I can tell you it is wrongly written because it is a clear 6/8 pattern. It's not about the speed of the waltz, it's about the downbeat and the lift. Yes, some waltzes are shaped differently but they all have a downbeat and a lift. In the example provided, it doesn't create that feeling.

I'm aware these are set patterns and I still thought they danced it beautifully. I'd prefer seeing this than what has been done this year so far. People relate to what they comprehend. If I'm told that teams must dance a waltz, I expect that. If I don't get it, then, I'm confused
Simple right?

 

[dorispulaski]

This whole discussion reminds me of a famous quote by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe:

Chinua Achebe Quote: “Whatever music you beat on your drum there is somebody who can dance to it.”

“Whatever music you beat on your drum there is somebody who can dance to it.” — Quote by Chinua Achebe

quotefancy.com

Whatever music you beat on your drum there is somebody who can dance to it.”

— Chinua Achebe