valse

1 9.9

A dance in three beats like a waltz with a strong first beat

noun
/væls/

: valse

Though at the time I didn't know much about these works, I already loved Chopin and had a recent triumph as a sixth grader performing his "Grande Valse Brillante" in E flat (with lots of clinkers) at a school assembly.
La Valse
Valse Triste
Ravel's La Valse

Examples

At the gala, she gracefully performed a valse that mesmerized all the guests.
The couple practiced their valse for weeks before showcasing it at the dance competition.
Maestro returns forthwith for "La Valse." This piece is complex.

Fiction book (2001)
It played no Tejano music such as polkas, valses, or huapangos and instead specialized in American big band music.

Academic text (1999)
Conjuntos generally played a diverse selection of polkas, valses, redowas, shotises, and mazurkas.

Academic text (1999)
On stage, the cumbia andina ensembles perform the chicha genre as well as rock numbers, salsa, boleros, and even occasionally a valse.

Academic text (1990)
During the ballroom class, students were thrilled to learn the steps of the valse.

Synonyms

waltz

vsvalse

24 3.4

A dance for two people in three beats with graceful turns

is similar to it but does not stress graceful turning movements

vals

vsvalse

6.9

A ballroom dance for two counted in three beats, like a waltz

is similar to it but without the regional music emphasis

Surface Forms

valse singular

valses plural

Etymology

Valse is the French form of waltz, and it comes from an old German verb walzen meaning 'to turn' or 'to roll'. So a valse is a turning dance for couples, and that idea of turning explains its smooth, rotating steps and strong first beat.