Class Notes: February 2011

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

Previous notes:


6th February: Introducing Ochos

Beginners Class: Using pivots

We focussed on the pivot movement, leading to "ocho" steps.

Key points
  • Leaders: don't "row" - don't use your arms to pivot your partner, use your chest.
  • Leaders: always lead the pivot first, then the step. Don't try to do both at the same time.
  • Leaders: the step is in the same direction as the pivot.
  • Followers: step, then collect, then pivot. They are separate motions - don't rush into one before the other.
  • Followers: keep your chest facing towards your leader (that's the "dissociation" thing).

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 :)

More information

Some more information about ochos.

Improvers class: Ocho decorations

Adornments (or "Embellishments" or "decorations" - all the same thing) are general actions which make the dancing look and feel better - they're the icing on the cake.

A key point about decorations is exactly that - they're icing, they're not the cake. So these should not ever interfere with the connection or the basic step. If you're not comfortable doing the basic step, then don't do decorations.

Decoration 1: Rulo step

The "rulo" step basically involves the follower increasing the dissociation ("twist") part of the pivot, keeping the chest pivoting to face the partner whilst leaving the legs in place, then "whipping" the free leg around at the end of the pivot movement.

This can create some lovely patterns, and can allow the follower to "resist" a pivot movement, so allowing her to input some ideas and musicality into the movements.

Here's an example of a Rulo as used on a forward ocho:

Decoration 2: Hook step ("Amague" / "Saludo")

For any forward or back step, followers can "hook" their feet into a back or forward cross position, before taking the step.

We worked on this with forwards and back ochos - hooking behind in forward ochos, hooking in front with back ochos.

Here's an example of an Amague as used on a back ocho:


13th February: Introducing 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).

Beginner class: introducing the giro movement

Exercise: 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.

Follower exercise: "walk around chair" (weight)

We grabbed some weights, and used the "walk around a chair" exercise, to practice doing the grapevine movements in a circular pattern.
Forward -> pivot (180 degrees) -> Side -> pivot (180 degrees) -> Back -> Side -> Forward -> etc.

Key points:

  • Dissociation - keep facing the centre of the point you're walking around.
  • Again, collect your legs in between every step.

Leader exercise: Be The Ball...

Leaders, holding a gym ball in front of you, slowly rotate your upper body around a 360-degree turn, letting your feet "catch up" with your chest. Ensure that the upper body is always ahead of the feet in turning.

Key points

  • The rotation is a smooth and continuous motion, not a step-stop-step-stop movement.
  • There's no mandatory footwork - feel free to simply shuffle around - but don't move your feet too much, as you want to try to keep a single rotation point for your follower to walk around.
  • To lead the rotation, open up the shoulders whilst rotating - keep the chest moving ahead of the feet.
  • Keep upright - balls of the feet.

Using Giros in dancing

We then partnered-up and worked on the giro in couples.

The lead is to start rotating around. This can be done from any point, in either direction.

Key points:

  • Followers, don't overtake leaders - take your time on the walks
  • Leaders, wait for the pivot to be done, before leading the step. Don't try to lead both at the same time.
  • Followers, as always, follow each step as it is led. Don't try to anticipate the next step.
  • 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, 4-step patterns - it's perfectly OK to just lead a few steps.
  • You can reverse a giro from a pivot step - turning that pivot into an ocho movement, then reversing the rotation direction.
  • Followers, please don't anticipate that the next step will be part of the giro pattern - it may not be.

More

Improver class: Sacadas

Sacadas from ochos

We looked at did a sacada after a back ocho:

  • Leaders, lead the follower into a back ocho to your right
  • After the follower steps back, but before she collects, step into her body - between her legs - on your right leg
  • This creates rotation, and the follower's free leg naturally moves out of the way
  • Leaders, continue moving forwards, pivot clockwise, then take a sidestep to lead your partner into a forward ocho.

For an example of this type of movement, see (the first part of) this video:

Key points:

  • Leaders, don't kick the woman's leg out of the way, displace it. Step into her body, not around it.
  • Followers, similarly, move your feet as normal when you feel the leg movement from the man - don't move your feet out of the way just because you know you "should" do as part of the sequence. In fact, putting some resistance in your pivot adds a decorative element to it.

Note: sacadas are not essential parts of Tango dancing, so don't panic if you don't get the hang of them immediately. Also, this step is simply an example of a class of steps; it's not something vital to memorize.

More


20th February: "Salon Tango" workshop

See the workshop notes for more details.


27th February: Crosses and crossing

You don't always have to walk "mirrored" (in parallel, or "2-track"). There are several variations you can use - we looked at "3 track" and "4 track" variations.

Beginner class: 3-track and travelling ochos

Stage 1: 3-track walking

"3-track walking" is when you're walking "crossed" - that is, when the leader steps forward on his right foot, the follower steps backwards on her right foot. The technique here is for the leaders to transfer weight, but without leading a transfer for the follower.

Key points:

  • Leaders, it's even more important to ensure your follower moves her leg before you step into that space.
  • Followers: follow the chest, not the legs.

We covered leading travelling ochos, using a sequence of:

  1. Forward step and transfer-weight (ladies simply take a backstep)
  2. Pivot and forward (followers pivot and back)
  3. Transfer weight to get back to 2-track parallel walking

Improver class: 4-track walking and the cross

Stage 1: 4-track walking

The leaders walked the follower in a straight line backwards, but move from one side to the other whilst doing so - going into "4-track" on either side.

Key points

  • Leaders, keep the chest oriented toward the followers, not to the side. But keep your feet facing forwards; so dissociation again.
  • Also, keep a steady sure lead - don't jump about and vary the pace, just because you're moving your feet in a different way.
  • Followers, follow the lead from the chest, don't pay too much attention to what the leader does with his feet.

Stage 2: Leading the cross

We then covered how to lead and follow the cross step ("Cruzada"), from an outside walk and from a "salida" pattern.

Followers, if your free leg is relaxed, you should naturally cross the legs when a cross is led - you shouldn't really need to think about it.

Leaders, to lead a cross step, you need to indicate to the follower what to do; typically, this means you need to:

  • Apply a slight pivot as part of the step as a lead
  • Open up some space between you, for her to put one leg in front of the other

Key points

  • When leading the actual cross, don't pull your partner to the side, simply straighten out your body - "close your chest"
    Note: there are other methods for leading the cross.
  • Followers: similarly, don't turn to the side, but keep your upper body facing your partner when you cross.
  • Followers: don't anticipate a cross, wait for it to be led.

More