Class Notes: July 2011
These are the class notes for July 2011 Tango classes in Berkhamsted.
- 3rd July: Ochos and Boleos
- 10th July: Giros and decorations
- 17th July: Boleos (again) and enganches
- 24th July: Social dancing techniques
Previous notes:
3rd July: Ochos and Boleos
The main theme of this class was "free leg movement".
Beginner class: Ochos and pivotting Boleos
We started off with ochos, working on getting these movements larger in an open embrace, developing flexibility and dissociation technique.
We then practiced reversing pivots at the end point of each ocho step, to work on getting the leg moving freely.
Using that free leg movement, we then worked on a particular movement using that technique - a boleo.
We used a practice sequence, as follows:
- Leader sidestep left, pivot follower anti-clockwise, then start to lead the follower into a back ocho step
- Follower starts to take that step, leader then interrupts the step with an "emergency stop and reverse"; follower's leg sweeps back.
- Follower completes the movement, then collects as normal.
This movement can be done on the back step of any ocho.
Improver class: 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.
We spent some time working on leading free leg movements.
Followers did some "leg-swinging" exercises, standing perpendicular to the leader 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.
We then did a practice sequence as follows:
- Step to the (leader's) left, leader stepping further than follower
- 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
- 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.
10th July: Giros and decorations
Beginner class: Giro technique revision
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).
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 (90 degrees) -> Side -> pivot (270 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.
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.
We briefly discussed using giros in combination with other steps, mixing and matching.
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, 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.
Improver class: Decorative movements
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
We then extended this "mirroring" to giros, with both partners doing the same pattern, both walking around a central point (using a shared axis of rotation).
We finished off with a "man pasada" exercise - basically, an inversion of this "follower pasada" exercise, with the man doing the stepping-over.
17th July: Boleos (again), enganches and aranas
Beginner class: Boleos again
We revised back boleos and free leg movement, then we spent some time working on forward boleos (from forward ochos) - giving more momentum to the forward pivots, which the follower can then use to bring her leg around, crossing in front.
Key points:
- Followers, again, keep the leg movement free - don't move the leg, just let the leg be moved.
- Leaders, provide the extra energy starting with the previous step, not the actual pivot movement
Improver class: enganches / aranas
We worked on "leg wrapping" for the improver's class, using two similar movements.
Move 1: Enganche from sidestep:
- 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. - 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. - 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.
- The man can now pivot the lady anti-clockwise.
- 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. - 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.
- Followers: for "extra decoration", let your leg slid up the man's leg as you pivot.
Move 2: Arana, from the back step of a giro.
The "arana" or "spider" movement:
- Man leads lady into the back-step part of a clockwise giro, but stops her before she collects her left foot
Note: this works best if the lady steps around the man, so it's the "back-step part of a clockwise giro" rather than a back ocho. - The lady is standing with her left foot forward, but her weight on her back (right) foot
- The man then hooks his right leg around the lady's left leg
- The man steps onto the right leg - this creates a displacement which rotates the woman's upper body in an anti-clockwise direction.
- Lady pivots, then backsteps with her left foot.
Key points:
- Similar principle to the enganche movement, but it's more tricky to do
- Take it slowly!
- Followers, again, the longer you can leave your free leg wrapped around the man, the better
24th July: Social dancing techniques
Beginners Class: Social dancing techniques
A very brief overview of "Dos and don'ts" list for social dancing:
Advice for leaders:
- Obey the line of dance.
- Don't overtake, it's not a race.
- Ask for dances courteously.
- Above all else, protect your partner.
Advice for followers:
- Be careful with your heels, they can be dangerous weapons.
- Accept or reject dances courteously.
Advice for all:
- Remember the "3-dance" rule - "tandas" are groups of dances separated by interlude music ("Cortinas").
- "Thank you" means "Goodbye".
- Respect the other dancers on the floor.
Dancing small
Dancing in a social atmosphere requires additional skills, expecially for the leader. The best way to develop those skills is to attend milongas.
Exercise
Exercise 1: confined space navigation
We blocked off most of the dance floor, forcing the class to dance in a very small area
The aim of this exercise is to get the feeling of dancing very close to other couples, to work on the awareness of other dancers on the dance floor.
Exercise 2: navigate around obstacles
Placing a number of obstacles (gym balls :) ) on the dance floor, we worked on navigating around them.
The aim of this exercise is to simulate the obstacles encountered normally when dancing, to work on the navigational skills needed to get around these obstacles.
More
Improver class: cross variations
We worked on the cross, and variations, as used to navigate around the room. We worked on the cross from a back step and a side step.
Followers, if your free leg is relaxed, this should happen naturally when 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"
- Followers: similarly, don't turn to the side, but keep facing your partner when you cross.
- Leaders: start leading the cross from the step before the cross step - make this step small, to give the follower space to cross.
- Followers: don't anticipate a cross. Wait for it to be led.