The Spanish word that commonly describes a quinceañera’s formal opening waltz is vals. In Spanish, vals means waltz, the partner dance traditionally associated with the event’s ceremonial presentation.
The vals may be performed by the quinceañera and her court of honor after an entrance or presentation. The routine is often rehearsed in advance, particularly when several attendants must move in coordinated patterns.
Families choose music in many ways. Some use a classical or traditional waltz, while others select a popular song adapted to triple meter or create a medley that begins with a waltz and later changes style.
Vals is distinct from misa, which means Mass, and padrino, which means godfather or male sponsor. These terms may occur in the same celebration, but they describe different parts or participants in the tradition.