Class Notes: April 2011

These are the class notes for April 2011 Tango classes in Berkhamsted.

Previous notes:

3rd April: Turns and more turns

Beginners Class: Giro and linear giro (grapevine)

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).

Beginner class: introducing the giro movement

Move 1: Linear Giro (grapevine)

We did a grapevine exercise - walking in a straight line, for both leaders and followers:
Forward -> pivot -> Side -> pivot -> Back -> pivot -> Forward -> etc.

Key points:

  • Step then pivot - as with ochos, these are two distinct movements. Don't try to do both at the same time.
  • Dissociation - keep shoulders facing the same direction. Facing the mirror helps :)
  • Collect at each step - always collect at the end of every step.
  • Don't change weight during collection.

We then worked on this movement partnered-up, and we added a "normal giro" movement at each "end" of the grapevine.

More

Improver class: Walking turns and boleos

During the improver's class, we looked at a anti-clockwise walking turn movement, then spent a little time examining boleo movements.

Move 1: Walking turn

  1. Leaders step forwards on left, walking to the right of the follower (on the follower's left), followers step back on right.
  2. Leaders pivot 90 degrees anti-clockwise, then sidestep on right. Followers pivot on right then sidestep on left to keep level with leader.
  3. Leaders pivot 90 degrees anti-clockwise, then backstep on left, followers forward on right (leaders and followers offset)
  4. Leaders backstep on right (moving to inline with follower), followers forward on left.
  5. Leaders pivot 90 degrees anti-clockwise and sidestep on left, followers pivot and sidestep on right to keep level with leader.
  6. Leaders pivot 90 degrees anti-clockwise and step forwards on right, followers pivot and step back.
  7. Move into line - facing the same direction as you started.

Move 2: Linear boleos

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. Step to the (leader's) left, leader stepping further than follower
  2. Take one or more forward steps, then bring the follower's upper body to a halt, as she starts to move her free leg back
  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.

Move 3: Pivotting Boleos

Using the free leg movement we worked on in the beginner class, we then worked on a particular movement using that technique - a boleo, followed by a barrida.

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.

10th April: Free leg movement

The main theme for the classes was "Free leg movement".

We did some revision of the embrace, and a couple of tracks reverse-role dancing (women as leaders, men as followers), then moved onto working on this technique and a couple of steps associated with it.

Beginner class: "swinging" and linear boleos

After warming up, we spent some time working on leading free leg movements.

Followers did some "leg-swinging" exercises, standing on the mats and getting used to feeling our legs swing, in as "free" a matter as possible. We then got the leaders to start to try to influence this "swing" - feeling the way the follower's legs moved, and trying to enhance / damp down this movement.

The idea of this exercise is:

  • To get the followers used to free leg movements,
  • To get the leaders used to being able to effectively lead and change these movements.

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

Using the free leg movement we worked on in the beginner class, we then worked on a particular movement using that technique - a boleo, followed by a barrida.

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.

Here's an example video of this type of movement:

(See the Boleo description for more example videos)

Improver class: using free leg movements with wraps

Movement: Lunge and wrap

We deconstructed and worked on the routine we initially covered in the first section of the "Tango Nuevo" workshop at the end of March - as described in the workshop notes here.

Key points

  • The lunge-and-wrap and the boleo-to-cross are similar-looking movement, but the lead is different for each one.
  • Practice being able to do both movements individually.

Movement: Enganche from sidestep

  1. Man leads the lady to take a sidestep to the left, and takes a sidestep also.
    Note: the lady follows this lead, sidesteps and (attempts to) bring her leg together to collect. She must not pay attention to what the man is doing with his legs.
  2. After the lady transfers weight to her right leg, but before she collects, man places his right leg through the lady's legs (close to her right leg).
    Note: The man must dissociate here: his chest does not really move, but his hips and legs should rotate anti-clockwise.
  3. The lady, when she tries to collect to finish off the sidestep, will now automatically hook her left leg behind the man's right leg.
  4. The man can now pivot the lady anti-clockwise.
  5. The lady's left leg, as she pivots, can come free with the pivot.
    Note: the man can give this movement extra energy, by straightening his outstretched leg.
  6. The man leads the lady to take a back step.

Key points

  • leaders: Correct timing of the "leg through the legs" is essential.
  • Followers: don't anticipate this movement. All you're doing is a sidestep, a pivot, and a back step. Ignore what the man does with his legs; follow his chest.

17th April: Pivots and displacements

Beginners Class: ochos

We spent some time working on ochos, dissociation, and walking technique - specifically, follower movement walking backwards.

Key points:

  • The follower's travelling leg should "glide" backwards, don't lift it too high.
  • Move the leg back first, by itself, when you feel the impulse from the leader - don't move the body. That principle applies to every step.

We then 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: Sacadas

Move 1: Sacada from ochos

We extended the "mirror ochos" exercise, to sacada the follower by stepping into the follower's body, rather than stepping sideways. Taking this as a routine, you would have the following as an example:

  1. Lead the lady into a forward ocho to the man's right.
  2. Sacada the woman's back foot with the man's right foot, stepping forward onto that right foot.
  3. Over-pivot the woman clockwise, whilst pivotting yourself
  4. Lead her into a forward step to your left, whilst taking a sidestep to your left to match.
  5. And repeat.

Basically, from the woman's point of view, she's doing two forward ochos, one of which is overturned.

Key points

  • Dissociation is key to a lot of the dramatic "shapes"
  • It's also the key to making effective pivot-based movements - that is, most Tango Nuevo movements

Move 2: Sacada from crossed position

We finished off with a sacada from a crossed walking position:

  1. Man steps left, woman steps right
  2. Man changes weight onto right foot - woman does not change weight
  3. Man steps forward onto left, woman steps back onto left (walking in crossed)
  4. Man steps forward onto right, woman steps back onto right:
    • Man must walk "into the body" of the woman, after she transfers her weight back onto her right leg, but before she collects with her left leg.
    • Man's right leg displaces ("sacada"s) her left leg back.
    • To achieve this displacement, there needs to be thigh-to-thigh contact.
  5. Woman's leg displaced - either back or around, depending on whether rotation is supplied.
  6. Man continues to walk forward in crossed.

Key points:

  • Mind the woman's toes!
  • Contact at the thigh - if the thigh is in the right place, the foot placement will sort itself out

24th April: No class