Berkhamsted Class Notes, March 2012

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

18th March: Tempo changes and ocho cortado

Beginner class: Changing tempo

Musicality is simply "dancing to the music". Leaders, you should aim to do this all the time, when dancing. Don't try to do "figures" and musicality. Get the musicality right first, then you can worry about the steps.

We started off by "marching" - walking, in single time, around the room to the music.

Double-timing

We practiced walking in single-time and double-time, and varying between single and double time stepping.

Key points:

  • Your average "speed" should stay pretty much constant - double-time steps should be half-size.
  • So don't lead a double-time movement simply by rushing forwards.
  • Whenever you change tempo - going into and out of double-time, for example - you need to clearly lead that change of tempo. Don't yank your partner around.

Rockstep sequence

We looked at a rockstep-based sequence as an example of a "turning around a corner" movement.

  1. Rockstep forward on left, then back on right, with rotation towards the left
  2. Sidestep on left

The tempo of this is Quick-Quick-Slow (Rocksteps are Quick-Quick, Sidestep is Slow).

Improver class: Ocho Cortado and decorations

Ocho Cortado

This sequence goes as follows (from the leader's point-of-view):

  1. Sidestep left (larger sidestep for leader, as for leading a cross)
  2. Forward step on right
  3. (Double-time) forward rockstep on left
  4. Backstep on left
  5. Turn (open out) to right
  6. (Double-time) lead follower into a side rockstep / pulse sidestep
  7. Lead follower back from rockstep into a cross, transferring weight to the right foot and pivoting to your left as you do so.

Example video

Here's an example of this pattern, in close embrace, and with the instructions in Spanish for added authenticity (subtitled)

Key points

  • When leading the follower into the cross, give her space to cross by moving backwards.
  • Both rocksteps / pulsesteps are double-time, and are not full steps - so don't transfer the whole weight
  • Followers need to keep their shoulders (chest) facing the leader during the cross step.
  • This is a nice way of doing a quarter-turn anti-clockwise - for example, in corners.
  • This is useful in close embrace, and in situations where there's not much space.

Decoration

We looked at some example decorations, for the leader and the follower, to adorn pauses.

A couple of decorations for the leaders:

Decoration 1: amague (hook)

  1. Step to the left
  2. Hook right foot behind left
  3. Step on.

Decoration 2: Golpecito (tap)

  1. Step to the left
  2. Pause
  3. Leaders tap feet :)
  4. Step forward on right

Key points:

  • Keep the taps small and balanced - movement is mainly below the knees.
  • Don't spend too long on them.
  • Followers, do nothing whilst the leader does his decoration.

25th March: Embrace, pulses, Media Luna

Beginner class: Embrace and pulse

We spent some time working on the close embrace, ensuring that we could establish a good, clear and close connection with our partner.

The main concept of this is to focus on the key point that the connection is the most fundamental aspect of the dance - and that the closeness of the embrace is not something to avoid, it's something to, well, embrace...

Key points:

  • Don't hold back, but wrap yourselves into the embrace. Don't "pull" your partner in to the embrace, but "push" against them
  • Walk smoothly - don't stop and start
  • Keep level - don't bob up and down
  • When you stop / start keep the feet together
  • Weight is always on one foot or the other - not both
  • Close embrace dancing is all about variations of simple steps, not about complex movements
  • Leaders: provide a stable and secure embrace for your follower. Don't rush off too early

We then did some variations on a basic sidestep: a "pulse" and a "lunge" movement.

Firstly, to lead "pulse"-type motions: leaders, keeping the feet stable, led the followers to take sideways motions with their free legs; to either side. This is a nice way to "stand in place" during social dancing, marking time to the music.

Key points:

  • Leaders: don't step before the follower - leading with the foot. Don't do this. Lead from the chest - project first with your chest, and wait for the follower to move her feet back before you start to step forward.
  • Followers: don't follow the leader's feet, follow his leader's chest. As soon as you feel the lead, move your free leg. Don't fight it, let the leg move freely.

Secondly, to lead a "lunge" sideways, take a large side step (to the leader's left), then stop the sidestep before the collection point, raising the left arm high.

More information:

Improver class: Media Luna and rockstep

We looked at a "Media Luna" sequence (basically, a half-giro):

  1. Leader sidestep left, follower sidestep right (leader takes a slightly larger sidestep to end up offset)
  2. Leader steps forward onto the right foot, to the outside of the follower - the follower simultaneously steps back left and collects
  3. leader starts to pivot anti-clockwise - follower sidesteps to (her) right and collects
  4. Leader continues to pivot - follower steps forward and collects, continuing walking around the leader.

This gives us a 180-degree anti-clockwise turn.

We then added on a Rockstep sequence:

  1. Rockstep forward on left, then back on right, with rotation towards the left
  2. Sidestep on left

The rockstep section can be added either before or after the media luna sequence.

The whole thing gives us a full 360-degree turn which we can use instead of a giro, which works well in close embrace, and which fits a QQSQQS tempo.