Valssi is the Finnish waltz: a smooth, turning couple dance in 3/4 time and one of the most-danced dances at Finland's summer pavilions and weddings.
The waltz spread from Austria and Germany across Europe in the early 1800s and reached Finland during the same century. Finnish musicians soon composed waltzes of their own, from accordion dance tunes to concert music — Jean Sibelius' “Valse triste” is one of the most famous waltzes ever written. At the summer dance pavilions (lavatanssit) the valssi is still one of the core dances, alongside the tango, humppa and foxtrot, and the first dance at many Finnish weddings is a waltz. Its gentle turning and steady one-two-three make it a natural first dance for beginners.
