Berkhamsted Class Notes, May 2012

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

6th May: Tango Salon workshop

See the Workshop notes for more details.

13th May: Mirrored ochos and decorations

Beginner class: mirrored ochos

We worked on "mirror ochos" - both partners taking forward ochos at the same time, effectively both walking around a single spot.

This is a good exercise for both leaders and followers, as it helps balance and dissociation.

Key points:

  • Don't walk "away" from your partner, think that you're both walking "in a curve" around a circle.
  • When stepping (for both partners) work to keep your chest facing your partner at all times

Improver class: pasadas and decorations

A "parada" is a stop or a block step. Typically this is done by the leader simply placing one of his feet in contact with one of his partner's feet, so "blocking" or stopping his partner's foot from moving. She can then (if led) step over that foot, in a "pasada" movements.

For example, you can do the parada movement from a forward ocho, blocking the follower's forward (right) foot as she steps towards the leader's right. As always, there are many variations possible.

Here's an example of this movement (initially at 00:41 - 00:50):

Key points
  • Don't look down! It's all done by feel.
  • Leaders, don't step on your partner's foot - slide into contact with it.
  • Contact should be slight, but must be present.

We finished with A couple of decorations for the leaders:

Decoration 1: amague (hook)

Example sequence:

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

Decoration 2: Golpecito (tap)

Example sequence:

  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.

20th May: Musical Interpretation

Musicality is siimply "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.

Beginner class: Tempo variations

We worked on pauses, slowing down the movements of the dancing to create more effect, in time with the music. It's a good exercise to think of Tango dancing as being a set of pauses, with some steps added in between.

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

Key points:

  • Putting pauses and changes of tempo into your dancing makes it into "dancing" rather than "marching"
  • Slow movements: lower yourself a little and take larger steps
  • Quick movements: lift yourself and take smaller steps
  • Leaders, listen to the music. Followers, listen to the music but follow your lead.
  • Your average "speed" should stay pretty much constant - double-time steps should be half-size.
  • So you 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.

Improver class: Media Luna and Rockstep

We introduced a couple of example movements which have inherent tempo variations, so allowing you to introduce musicality into your dancing with a few small "pre-built" movements.

We first looked at a Rockstep sequence:

  1. Rockstep forward on left, then back on right (Quick - Quick)
  2. Pivot to the left (Slow)

We then 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.

We then put both together (Media Luna then Rockstep), to give us a full 360-degree turn which we can use instead of a giro, which works well in close embrace, and which fits a Q-Q-S-Q-Q-S tempo.

More information

Here's some useful links on musicality: