Class Notes: March 2011

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

Previous notes:

6th March: Timing variations

Beginners Class: Halves, singles and doubles

Playing a slow track, we practiced walking at:

  • Half-time (one step every two beats)
  • Single-time (one step every beat)
  • Double-time (two steps each beat)

Once we had that working, we then worked on using all three variations within a dance.

Key points:

  • Your average speed of movement around the floor) should stay pretty much constant - double-time steps should be half the size of single time ones.
  • 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: Giros amd more time variations

Step: giros

We revised basic technique for the Giro step.

We examined the different tempo possibilities for a giro step - taking the non-pivoting parts of the full giro sequence at double-time.

Leaders: Simply rotate at a constant speed.

Followers: If you're walking at double-time, you should make each step half the size, to avoid "overtaking" your leader.

Step: weight-changes and rocksteps in double-time

We covered double-time movements, for both weight changes (side to side) and rocksteps (forward and back).

Note: both weight changes and rocksteps can be done in single time, and often are. However, both steps lend themselves to double-time movements quite nicely.

Key points:

  • Keep it small - small subtle movements are much easier to control in double-time.
  • Don't "rock" for weight changes or even rocksteps - don't use your shoulders to shift your partner over from one side to another.
  • Move to the music - when there's an appropriate fast piece of music, use double-time for that.

13th March: No class!

20th March: Paradas, Pasadas, Sandwiches

For this, we looked at the "Parada" (stop or block) movement in the beginner class, and developed a couple of example routines from that movement and a sandwich in the improver's class.

Beginners Class: Parada and pasada

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.

Sequence: Parada with Pasada

  1. Leader sidestep left, follower sidestep right
  2. Leader steps forward onto right foot, follower back onto left; leader places his right foot next to the follower's left foot, blocking her from collecting (leader does not collect either).
  3. Leader transfers weight back, follower transfers forwards - no foot movement
  4. Leader leads follower into a pasada, stepping over the leader's front (right) foot to the leader's right.
  5. Leader moves the foot back, brings the follower into an ocho to face, and transfers weight to right foot
  6. Walk on :)

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

Variation

A variation of this is to 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.

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.

Improver's Class: Sandwiches

A "sandwich" refers to any situation in which one partner's foot is placed in between the other partner's feet. Sandwiches often accompany blocks. A sandwich is another example of how you can use a parada step.

Sequence: Sandwich into a giro

For demonstration, we did a sandwich move within a sequence:

  1. Leader sidesteps left, changes weight, then leads a back ocho (to the leader's left), taking another sidestep left.
  2. Leader leads another back ocho (to the leader's right). After the follower transfers weight, but before the follower collects, the leader's right foot extends to the outside of the follower's left foot, blocking it.
  3. The leader then steps around the follower anti-clockwise, bringing his left foot to the other side of the follower's left foot - "trapping" it between his two feet, creating a "V" shape.
  4. The leader then steps back on the right foot, opening up a space to the right.
  5. The follower can then step forward to the leader's right, stepping over the follower's left foot
  6. There are two variations we looked at from here:
    • If the leader continues rotating to the right, this forward step turns into the first step of a clockwise giro sequence - sidestep (to leader's right), then backstep and so on.
    • If the leader does not continue to rotate, he can pivot instead and lead the follower into a forward ocho to the leader's left.

Key points:

  • Timing of the "trapping" is crucial.
  • Sandwiches should be "shallow" - if you go too "deep", it's more difficult to move around.

More

27th March: Tango Nuevo - Style and Musicality workshop

Workshop notes to be provided.