Berkhamsted Class Notes, July 2012

These are the class notes for July 2012 Tango classes in Berkhamsted.

8th July: Stability and Boleos

Class 1: Enrosque and axis

We worked on stability and balance within a close embrace.

We did an enrosque movement for the men, as a practice movement for stability, which can be used in the context of leading a giro.

Key points:

  • Keep the weight on the inside of the foot
  • Forwards intention always, pivotting on the ball of the foot (no weight on the heel)

Class 2: boleos

We looked at "boleo" movements, where the free leg swings around as led.

Movement: linear boleo:

This movement is designed to get the leaders used to interrupting a movement, and to get the followers used to having free leg movements.

  1. Take one or more forward steps, to the "inside" of the follower (follower on leader's right hand side)
  2. As the follower starts to move her free leg back to take a back step, bring the follower's upper body to a halt
  3. This will result in the follower's leg "sweeping" back.

Key points

  • Leaders: get the timing of the halt right. You need to lead the follower to start to take a step back, and give her enough time to start to move her leg, before you apply the "emergency stop".
  • Followers: let your free leg be free in its movement. Don't tense up if the leader stops you.

Movement: Pivotting Boleos

We then worked on a particular movement using that technique - a boleo.

We used a practice sequence, as follows:

  1. Leader sidestep left, change weight, pivot follower anti-clockwise, then start to lead a back ocho step
  2. Follower starts to take that step, leader then interrupts the step with an emergency stop; follower's leg sweeps back.
  3. Follower completes the movement, then collects as normal.

This movement can be done on the back step of any ocho - we demonstrated on it on the leader's right side also.

Key points

  • Followers: the movement is exactly the same as with the beginner step - you're simply facing a different direction.
  • Leaders: again, the lead is exactly the same, as is the timing.

15th July: Decorations

Tango decorations ("Adornos") are small embellishments added to steps in tango, to give expression to the dance; to make it look and feel more beautiful. Most decorations are done by the followers, though a few are done by leaders. Decorations should not interrupt the general flow of movement (of either the leader or the follower).

Class 1: Decorations for Backstep and pause

We looked at decorations for the backstep, and for the pause.

In the backstep, we looked at a couple of possible decorations:

  • "Hello toe"; arching the toe back (heel in toe out)
  • "Scrape-y heel"; keeping the toe lifted and scraping the heel backwards

For a pause, we looked at some more decorations:

  • "Espresso Rose": little circular movements of the foot, with the movement coming from the knee.
  • Golpecitos: taps to the music

Key points:

  • Keep the movements small, and light
  • Don't interrupt the flow of movement

Class 2: Decorations for men and Forward ochos

We firstly looked at decorations for men (leaders), including:

  • Back hook: adorning the forward step
  • Golpecito (tap): during a pause

We then looked at some decoration movements for forward ochos:

  • Pique (tap) step: done with the free leg whilst bringing it to collect
  • Double-tap: same thing, but with two taps, either in place or whilst the leg is travelling
  • Back boleo - moving the free leg out further back to start, then bringing out forward

Key points:

  • Keep the upper legs clamped together down to the knee, using the adductor (upper inner thigh) muscles
  • Hips and feet always point in the same direction

22nd July: PracticaStability and Boleos

This date is a practice session.