Club 19 Class Notes, January 2012

These are the class notes for January 2012 Tango classes in Club 19, Southgate.

9th January: Getting Started

Beginner class: The embrace and the walk

We spent some time walking in "practice hold" - hands on each others' shoulders. We worked on the posture for leaders and followers: both need to adopt a "forward intention" - the upper body closer to the partner than the legs.

Once we had that working, we moved into a close embrace, walking within that embrace and using the posture we'd learnt during the class.

The sequence of events for leading and taking any step is:

  1. The leader signals his intention by moving his chest (centre) in the direction he wants the follower to go - for example, forwards
  2. The follower extends/moves her free foot in that direction - for example, back
  3. The leader starts his step, extending his leg into the space that the follower has made available
  4. Leader and follower both then transfer their weight onto the extendeded leg

Key points:

  • Followers need to have a solid contact with the leader, from the abdomen to the upper chest.
  • Leaders need to move their chests first, and the followers need to move their legs in relation to the leaders moving their chests

More information:

Improvers class: core movements

We spent some time working on the sidestep and the change of weight, and mixing these steps together to create the dance.

Key points:

  • Think of the rockstep as being like a forwards / back change of weight, rather than a cut-down step.
  • Change of weight: lift and transfer. Sidestep: lower and side.
  • Don't lead changes in tempo with changes in energy - think "lift" and "lower" rather than "push harder / softer"

Finally, we spent a few minutes working on forwards and back ochos - interoducing those pivot-based movements.

More information:

16th January: Ochos

Beginners Class: Using pivots

We focussed on the pivot-and-step movement ("ochos").

Sequence: Leaders, without moving your feet, lead an "inside foot" pivot, then lead a forwards step - this is a forward ocho.

Key points:

For leaders:

  • Don't "row" - don't use your arms to pivot your partner, use your chest.
  • Always lead the pivot first, then the step. Don't try to do both at the same time.
  • The step is in the same direction as the pivot - forward ochos are done with the inside foot (closest to the leader).

For followers:

  • Step, then collect, then pivot. They are separate motions - don't rush into one before the other.
  • Keep your chest facing towards your leader (that's the "dissociation" thing).

More information

Some more information about ochos.

Improvers class: back ochos and "mix and match"

We then looked at "back ochos"

Finally, we looked at mix-and-matching both forwards and back ochos.

There are two simple ways to change from a forward ocho to a back ocho and vice versa.

  • Don't lead the pivot: lead a step, without the pivot, then lead a step in the reverse direction.
  • Reverse the pivot: lead a pivot in the reverse direction, then lead a step in that direction.

Easy :)

Key points:

  • With back ochos, it's best done if the leader takes an accompanying side-step.
  • However, that means, the leader will have to change weight at the start, and also at the end of the ochos, without the follower doing so.
  • Followers, keep your free leg down - don't lift your moving foot up off the floor.

23rd January: Rocksteps, more ochos and a pasada

Beginners class: Rocksteps and pivot steps

We first revised ochos - forwards and backwards ochos, breaking the movements down into "step-collect-pivot" components.

We then looked at ways to navigate around corners:

  • Pivotting walks: to get around corners, leaders simply turn yourselves and the follower will turn with you.
  • Rocksteps: like a forwards / back change of weight, rather than a cut-down step; very small movements.

Key points:

  • Keep the movements natural - natural turns
  • Followers, keep your upper body facing your partner - twist during the step and untwist for the pivot

More information

Improvers class: more ochos and a pasada

We revised mix-and-matching both forwards and back ochos.

There are two simple ways to change from a forward ocho to a back ocho and vice versa.

  • Don't lead the pivot: lead a step, without the pivot, then lead a step in the reverse direction.
  • Reverse the pivot: lead a pivot in the reverse direction, then lead a step in that direction.

Key points:

  • Wait for the follower to finish her pivot before leading her to take a step
  • Followers, keep your upper body facing your partner - twist during the step and untwist for the pivot

More information

Ocho with Pasada (step over)

We finished with a sequence - the woman stepping over the man's outstretched leg.

  1. Lead a forward ocho to the leader's right
  2. Leader slides his right leg out to block the woman's right leg - after she steps onto the right, but before she pivots
  3. Leader leads the follower to pivot clockwise, then to step with her left leg over the leader's right leg

Key points

  • Leaders, you need to let the follower know your foot is in the way - so a gentle foot-to-foot contact is required.
  • Make sure the right leg slides gently along - not steps, slides. You don't want to step on your partner's foot.
  • Followers, the pivot part of the movement is your opportunity to play. It's your choice how to decorate the movements - caress, tap, or simply step over.
  • Both: don't look down.

30th January: Giros and calesitas

Beginner class: Giros

A "Giro" (pronounced "Hero") is a turn. Typically, the leader stands in place, and the follower is led to walk in a circular path around the leader (either clockwise or anticlockwise).

Exercise 1: "walk around partner"

Without reference to the footwork, we got the leaders to lead a turn, and the followers to follow - leaders starting and stopping when they wanted.

Key points:

  • For leaders:
    • Rotate smoothly, by moving the chest first.
  • For followers:
    • Dissociation - keep your upper body facing the leader.
    • Don't overtake leaders - take your time on the walks
  • For both - keep upright, on the ball of the feet

Key points:

  • Giros can be done in either direction - simply by rotating in that direction. Typically, clockwise might feel more difficult than anti-clockwise because of the nature of the embrace.
  • Giros don't have to be full 360-degree turns - it's perfectly OK to just lead a few steps.

Exercise 2: "add footwork"

A standard "giro pattern" is a grapevine, as follows:

  1. Step Forward -> pivot
  2. Step Side -> pivot
  3. Step Back
  4. Step Side
  5. Repeat

For the followers, we worked on this pattern as the footwork for the giro.

Key points:

  • Don't anticipate the pattern.
  • Collect through the feet at each step

More

Improvers class: Calesitas, planeos and variations

The improvers class basically focusses on possibilities where the leader walks around the follower.

Calesita (Carousel)

The Carousel ("Calesita") movement is almost a "reverse giro" movement - the woman stands in the centre, and the man walks around her.

There are some differences though; the woman stays on one foot throughout, and is rotated by the man, and the man simply walks in one direction (i.e. forwards or backwards, no fancy grapevine patterns).

Key points:

  • Men have to walk in a circle. If you don't walk in a perfect circle, you'll pull the woman off balance.
  • Men, keep your chest facing the woman at all times.
  • Women, keep your weight on one foot - the other foot trailing behind.

Planeo

We then extended the carousel movement to the "Glide, or "planeo" - simply by the woman lowering herself a little and extending her trailing foot back, then letting the man continue to guide her around in a circle.

Key points:

  • Men, lead this "lowering" motion, as always, by moving your chest and lowering yourself (softening the knees).
  • Walk in the direction (forwards / backwards) which is most comfortable and stable for you. Some directions are more natural than others.

Note: you can use this "lowering to planeo" action on a normal ocho movement occasionally if you want.