"Smooth Tango" Workshop Notes, Saturday 16th July 2011, 1pm - 4pm

Section 1: Core technique revision

Topics

  • Giros
  • Ochos
  • Adornos

Exercises

  • Solo ochos and "Shoulder holding"
  • Pivotting for leaders
  • Chair exercise for followers
  • Elongating pivots
  • Pasadas

Routine

  1. Forward ocho (stepping to leader's right)
  2. Leader puts right leg forward to block the follower's forward (right) foot
  3. Follower pasadas the leader
  4. Into an anti-clockwise giro (forward - side - back - side)

Section 2: Sweeps and sandwiches

Topics

  • Barridas
  • Tomadas
  • Sandwiches

Exercises

  • Barrida as part of a sidestep
  • Tomada as part of a forward ocho
  • Sandwich from a back ocho

Routine

  1. Anti-clockwise giro
  2. Barrida the lady's right leg (into a sidestep) after she has taken the back step part of the giro
  3. Forward ocho to the right with tomada: man catching woman's forward (right) foot with his right foot
  4. Reverse motion - lady pivots clockwise into a back ocho (back on her right)
  5. Sandwich the lady's foot
  6. Man steps back on right and around, leading to a giro clockwise

Section 3: Displacement and free leg movement

Topics

  • Sacadas
  • Boleos

Exercises

  • Swinging the free leg back and forth

Routine

  1. Back ocho into a boleo
  2. Forward ocho (to leader's left)
  3. Forward ocho (to leader's right) - sacada
  4. Rotate partner and sidestep