Thursday, January 12, 2023

Leader & Follower Sacada Flow & Off-Axis Delights

Instructors: Homer & Cristina Ladas
http://theorganictangoschool.org/
Playwrights Downtown, New York City
January 8, 2023

Demo 1: Heaven by Callum Scott
Demo 2: Poema by Solo Tango Orquesta

 

Our day began with Homer leading the stretching portion as each attendee introduced themselves by stating where they were from and how long they have been learning tango.

 

We began with a game to break down our preconceived notions about the turn.  We got into fingertip hold into sweetheart hold. Leader leads Follower to do the turn/hiro around the Leader. The Leader needs to give the Follower space.  The Follower does a four-point turn, so nearly square, doing Back, Side, Forward, and Side steps. This is a disorientating exercise, to deliberately remove the visual cues so we can listen more to each other rather than using visual cues.

 

Next, we played a sacada game.  

Constraints: No embrace, No Lead or Follow.

 

We started with one person with their feet apart in an open step, although this could also have been pivoted to a forward open step.  This is to create space for the partner.  One partner calls out the steps.  The actor (person doing the sacada) touches one side or the other (left or right) of the receptor (person receiving the sacada) foot.  The receptor lifts the leg that has been sacada’d, which makes the next step into the former actor (now receptor).  The receptor (person who receives the sacada) decides where to go on the next step with no constraints.  Each person needs to create space for the other person to enter.  We did this going back and forth, alternating between who is the actor (performer of the sacada) and who is the receptor (receiver of the sacada).

 

1st Constraint: After initiating the sacada, the actor (person doing the sacada) takes a step around the receptor (person receiving the sacada). At the end, come back and face each other.

 

Note that the receptor’s sacada’d foot/leg does not touch the ground, but goes directly into actor mode to sacada after the partner completes their step around.

 

So it goes one person does a sacada, then steps around with the opposite foot, other person sacadas with their free foot that was just sacada’d, steps around with their opposite foot, etc.

 

Next constraint: Add the open embrace.

 

We then changed to Sugar Bowl Embrace, whereby the Leader puts his hands on his hips and his arms are out strong and bent, like the arms of a sugar bowl.  The Follower holds on to the Leader’s biceps/triceps.  Hips are relatively close to each other, and both Leader and Follower should not look to the ground, but keep their heads lifted. 

 

Leader “hypnotizes” the Follower by doing one side step back and forth.  The Follower follows at the Leader’s pace, with eyes closed.  Leader does sneak attack by touching the side, but rotates his body in the appropriate direction to Lead the Follower to step forward into the Leader in a sacada.

 

In the Follower’s step forward, she should use good walking technique: extend, push off from standing foot, collect, take a long reaching forward step curved around the Leader.

 

The Leader transfers weight and rotates at the same time clockwise, while Follower does right foot forward ocho step.  We also did this to the opposite side (Leader rotates counterclockwise, Follower left foot forward ocho step).

 

The Leader needs to really sense where the Follower is, but sure she is really stacked on her standing leg, so he can really vacuum and feel her free leg.  Follower can take her time.  Leader does long reaching side steps on hypnotizing, so he can sense her points of contact so the Follower is stable.  Leader needs to stack himself really well.  Leader rotates only as much as he needs to, to lead the Follower to step and arrive on her step.  Both Leader and Follower need to turn on their listening skills.

 

Next, we tried doing a few of these sacadas in a row, to wiggle and waggle into the Leader.  Follower needs to be clear and use connection in her hands and with the floor.  Leader should try to create a vacuum sensation.  The Follower is in control with respect to how she arrives with confidence and security to arrive at the sweet spot and connect with the floor and Leader.  The Leader rotates just enough to lead the Follower to do a curved step.

 

We incorporated three things:

(1)   Add the embrace

(2)   Leader steps back to start the process

(3)   Add a leg wrap

 

As the Follower arrives after stepping into the Leader, the Leader leaves his leg there, but gets into Captain Morgan stance and uses his leg to touch the Follower’s right leg. Her opposite left leg, which is free, wraps around as a resolution of the forward ocho, as it’s an invitation to do a forward ocho step.  The Leader brings the Follower to axis so she won’t fall.  The Leader’s Captain Morgan foot is unweighted.

 

We also tried it on the other side:  Follower left foot forward sacada of Leader’s left foot into a Follower’s right leg wrap of Leader’s left leg, directly to pivot A LOT clockwise as the wrapping leg rebounds back around, to do a Follower right foot back sacada of the Leader’s trialing right foot.  The Leader rotates after the Follower’s leg wrap to lead the Follower to pivot a lot, and then she steps with her right foot back sacada of the Leader’s right leg.

 

After the leg rap, the Leader’s Captain Morgan leg steps back a little to allow room for the Follower to do an overturned pivot into her back sacada. As long as he steps back a little and the Follower’s spine is vertical, she has a lot of room for her hips to rotate.

 

BREAK (video demo below)


 


 

The topic of the next session focused on the idea of adding the leg wraps and off-axis positions, using the simple Hurricane idea.

 

At the Follower’s leg wrap, the Leader can (1) pull his leg back, or (2) step around the Follower so that Follower is in calesita.  

 

The Leader uses the Follower calesita (Hurricane) as a navigation technique at the milonga to get to where he needs to go.  

 

The Leader’s feet turn in, and then the opposite foot turns out, so going from sickled foot to open foot, as he goes around the Follower on her weighted standing leg.  The Leader should try to get to the Follower’s heel at his turned-in step.  

 

To get into this position, we started in open embrace, then Leader’s left foot steps into the Follower’s weighted right foot to start it.  The Leader’s right foot steps turned in, left foot steps turned out, etc., around and around the Follower, who remains suspended on her weighted right foot.

 

The Follower needs to engage her left hand and really connect with the Leader’s back.  The Follower’s hips are back, with her chest over her hips.  The Follower should keep her free leg a little behind so the Leader doesn’t run into it.

 

There is a transition from close to open embrace so Follower can get into hips under position.

 

We can go directly from wrap into an opposite direction Hurricane.

 

There is colgada motion in this as the Follower’s axis is slightly back as her body goes out in centrifugal force, as the Leader counterbalances the Follower’s off-axis position.  So there is counterweighting of the centrifugal forces that are happening.  It’s a spinning counterweight, functional colgada.  

 

If, after her wrap, her hips are a little back, it sets up for the Hurricane colgada.  Leader should keep the Follower back has he steps around her weighted foot.

 

This class went by fast and concluded with some more remarks to clean up our technique and a demo video.

 


 

Notes courtesy of Anne at http://scoutingtour.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Pivot or No Pivot Back Ocho

Song: Cara Sucia by Carlos DiSarli
Instructors: Homer & Cristina Ladas
http://theorganictangoschool.org/
The Beat, Berkeley, CA
September 3, 2018




Theme for the Month: Opposites Attract
Topic for the Evening: Pivot versus No-Pivot Back Ocho

In our class, we were to do no pivot back ocho to pivoted ocho to extreme, with test in between to transition.

Warm Up #1: Hook behind and try to walk forward.
Secret: Lift heel by bending the knee, which creates space for our hooks to go deeper. 
Make feet so that they make a letter A or arrowhead
Hold arms out as if holding a giant fishbowl.
Thighs should be in "I have to pee" tightness (or holding a quarter).
Big toe stays on the floor.
Be compact and tight.
Do not pivot, just hook your foot one behind the other.

Warm-Up Exercise 2: Full open back ocho.
In partnership in fingertip embrace, a little offset to each other
Both dancers do ochos.
First is a no-pivot step
Then a giant pivot
to finish the step
back cross step
swivel/pivot while collecting the step

In this warm-up exercise we were to do regular ochos (hence the pivot).
Outside leg reaches back cross
we transfer the weight
then pivot
We were to do it together, enjoying the moment of the spiral together at the same time.
We were to have "ice" in the steps, but "fire" in the hips.

No-Pivot Ocho Review
back cross step behind without pivoting
in stepping back, cross over the line by opening the hip
Keep big toe on the ground.
Hold quarter at top of pelvis in "I have to pee" 

In regular ochos, the Leader's spine pivots to lead the Follower to pivot in her ochos.
In no-pivot ochos, the Leader's spine stays square with no rotation.  Leader keeps spine still and quiet, controlling his oblique muscles to prevent any contrabody motion.

In sugarbowl embrace, be really subtle in your leading and following as we drilled the no pivot, walking back ocho.
Leader begins with a sneak attack weight change on his left, then left again rollerblading.  
He does not rotate his spine at all.
Follower collects quickly but reaches slowly.

We drilled, with Leader alternating between both pivoted ochos and no-pivot ochos.

Leader should be crystal clear with what he does with his body in leading a pivoted or no-pivot ocho.

Leader turns his spine earlier than you would think for pivoted ochos, so Follower can prepare to do an ocho.

Leader leads the hook behind from the no pivot ocho on the open side of the embrace (the easy side).
Follower does cross behind and then hook; there is no pivot in this action.  

Leader steps with his left foot, and then his right foot stops midweight.  Leader changes the embrace by adding extra compression.

Be clear and timing is key.

Leader: when rollerblading, do not put all your weight on your right foot, otherwise Follower will do more of an open cross rather than a tight cross
(Cross variations can be tight, deep, or shallow, but in our class we want them to be tight.)
Leaders: Try to contain the weight inside.

Many leaders commented that it's hard to feel where the weight is when the Follower is in the cross.
To help, Follower should really settle: do not be too "up" or "light"

Putting it all together...
No pivot ocho
hook behind (this is the transition)
Big pivoted ocho (could be Follower's left foot back sacada of Leader's left foot on the open side of the embrace).
In going from the no-pivot ocho to a big pivoted ocho, the embrace opens up in transition, so that the Leader invites / provides room for the Follower to do a big back step (Follower's left foot back sacada).
Focusing on the transition/opening up of the embrace:
Leader's right arm opens up after the Follower settles on her right foot.
Follower's left hand opens up in her embrace in response to Leader opening up. 
Follower needs to be fully vertical and not tiled when she pivots in her big back ocho.
Leader goes into Captain Morgan stance a little to create space for the Follower's left foot back sacada, which also gives him more rotational ability.

Maestros concluded with a class quiz and with Homer demo'ing with two students to Carlos Di Sarli's Cara Sucia.
 
Notes courtesy of Anne at http://scoutingtour.blogspot.com
 

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Rhythmic Milonga Traspie

Song: Cacareando by Orquesta Tipica Victor
Instructors: Homer & Cristina Ladas
http://theorganictangoschool.org/
The Beat, Berkeley, CA
July 16, 2018




Theme for the Month: Rhythm and Musicality
Today's Subject: Rhythmic Milonga Traspie

Our class focus is doing the Traspie on the "2"

We began with an individual exercise, walking forward to the strong beat of a very slow milonga, listening for the accompaniment that sounds like  "San Fran Cis Co" rhythm.  Our song was Canaro's Milonga Sentimental.

Then we walked backward to the same song, again on the strong beat.

There are four accents in "San Fran Cis Co".  We were to walk on the two strong syllables: "San" and "Cis".  "San" is on the 1 and "Cis" is on the 2

We could walk, change weight, do a side step, or do grapevines, but we were only to step on the 1 "San" and 2 "Cis".

We did this to a different slower version of Milonga Sentimental, by Adolfo Carabelli.

Next, we explored how to switch from Left Foot to Right Foot when stepping on the "San" or "Cis".  There are two ways: (1) we can pause, or (2) we can take an extra step (doing it in double time, QQS).  If doing the double time, it should be done around the 2, "Cis".

We tried to change the "San" from one foot to the other by doing double time or by pausing.  We tried this to 1 minute of Carabelli's Milonga Sentimental and then 1 minute of Canaro's Milonga Criolla.

For the rhythmic double time, Fran Cis Co San, are the walking beats.  In partnership, we were to walk, stepping on "San" and "Cis" and switching from open side to close side.  1-2 and 1.

Partners need to know when they are stepping on the "1" or the "2".  1 is "San" and 2 is "Cis".

Leader has to communicate the weight change.  We drilled this to Carabelli's Milonga Sentimental, and then Canaro's version.

We were to think about the two walking beats, 1 or 2, "San" or "Cis".   To change where the 1 is, we have to do a double time on the 2, so "2 and 1". 

1 and 2 have different values.  1 is more down and grounded with more density. 2 is lighter and just swims through.  Use that knowledge to change the quality of movement to enhance the communication.  Both dancers need to appreciate the different values of 1 and 2.

Milonga has an earthy quality.

Next, we drilled to a small micro pattern.

Side step
2 and 1, repeating it, whereby for the first 2 and 1, there is a sensation of going down, and then the next 2 and 1 goes back up.  So we change from going down to going up in just the side steps.  We drilled this to the faster song, Canaro's Milonga Sentimental.

Next, we drilled to a more complicated pattern to Carabelli's Milonga Sentimental

Open side of the embrace is on 2
1                      Leader left foot forward;Follower right foot back.
2 and               Leader right foot forward; Follower left foot back
1                      Leader left foot forward cross hook (Leader makes a "J" shape with his foot tracing the floor); Follower right foot back cross hook behind left foot.
2 and               Leader right foot straight back step, taking Follower with him; Follower left foot forward step
1                      Leader Left foot forward cross hook; Follower right foot back cross hook behind left foot
WALK             Leader Right foot forward, step; Follower left foot back step
TO                   Leader Left foot forward step; Follower right foot forward step
THE CROSS   Leader Right foot collect; Follower left foot front cross tuck against her right foot

Leader's chest starts square to the Follower, and then when he takes his first step, his chest gets angled to the partner as Leader does the "J" with his hooking forward foot. He should keep this angle and contain it.

Follower should always try to be in front of the Leader and mirror whatever alignment his spine and hips are doing, this makes it easier when the Leader levels out his shoulders to really understand that they are trying to create a cross.

Maestros concluded with a class quiz and demo to Orquesta Tipica Victor's Cacareando.

Notes courtesy of Anne at http://scoutingtour.blogspot.com

Saturday, July 14, 2018

Vals Phrasing and Rhythm

Instructors: Homer & Cristina Ladas
http://theorganictangoschool.org/

The Beat, Berkeley, CA
July 12, 2018


The topic for the month is rhythm and musicality, and today the focus was Vals.

We began with exercises to get ready to dance.

Roll our necks in one direction one way for a few turns.
Roll our necks in the other direction for a few turns.

Turn head to the left. Hold for a second or two.
Turn head to the right. Hold for a second or two.
Take our head and pull it to one side with one hand, raising your opposite arm.
Take our head and pull it to the opposite side with the opposite hand, raising our arm.

Roll shoulders back.
Roll elbows back.
Roll whole arms back.

Roll shoulders forward.
Roll elbows forward
Roll whole arms forward.

Hold giant fishbowl. Turn to one side.  Then turn to the other side.

Rotate hips.
Change direction.

Put heels together.
Circle knees.
Change direction.

Keep sternum and belly button together.
Stir the pot.
Take hips with you.
It's a small movement.

Rotate both wrists and one ankle.
Change direction.
Lift the knee high, with thigh parallel to floor, stir the pot with it.
Change direction.

Do the other leg, with both wrists and one ankle first
Knee up, thigh is parallel to floor.
Squeeze the inner thighs together for stability.
Stir the pot with the knee up.
Change direction

We began our class with the phrasing exercise, Vals Chacarera, where in Chacarera formation of two lines of dancers facing each other all in one line, arms up and eyes making contact with each other, we took four steps forward and four steps back, similar to the Avanzado and Regreso initial steps of the Chacarera. The 4 forward steps were done in 4 beats, and the 4 back steps were done in 4 beats. During this game, maestro played a very regular vals so we could clearly hear the musical phrasing and sentence. It was basically:


4 forward
4 back
Comma
4 forward
4 back
Period

At the Period (end of a sentence/phrase) is where the dancers, both Leader and Follower should do various accents/do fancy things in their dancing.

Next exercise:
In partnership, we began with walking to the comma, then wait. Then walk to the end of the sentence, then wait, to hear if there is an opportunity in the music to embellish.  This was an exercise to improve our listening and to help us be more creative.  The music will guide you to pick a phrase of music and let the embellishment happen.

4 walk
4 walk
Comma (wait)
4 walk
4 walk (embellish if you hear there’s an opportunity in the music).

The music for this exercise was Alfredo de Angeles’s A Magaldi.

In Vals, usually the first minute is instrumental with no lyrics.  Then the vocals come in and tie into the melody.  The first minute of a vals will explain a lot about the intention of the song.

In partnership, we were to walk, pausing in the middle of the phrase, hitting the end of the phrase and getting ready for the next phrase.  We were to embellish at the end of the phrase and be ready to start at the beginning of the next phrase.

There are fills and transitions at the end of each phrase.

Followers: to help identify the middle of the phrase, use your breath to help indicate the phrase.

We changed roles, walking to a well behaved vals that has vocals.

We changed roles again, dancing to an alt song to look at the rhythms.

Vals rhythm is 1-2-3, 1-2-3 (boom chick boom or boom, chick boom -- 1-2-1 or 1-3-1)

In partnership with one person leading and the other person following, we were to just change weight and not step, trying to train our ears and lead to either the 1-3-1 or 1-2-1 for this particular alt song.

We then did  a solo walking exercise to Rupa and the April Fishes' Wishful Thinking, going forward and then backwards on the boom only first, and then the boom chick boom.

Then we tried in partnership to walking on boom only or boom chick boom (1-2-1).  For the more advanced dancers, they could try leading the boom, chick boom (1-3-1), doing a weight change or rock step to convey the rhythm.

The alt songs we drilled to generally had well behaved sentence structures, though some sentences had an extra fill or beat to them. This regular form remains very common and still being used. (1-2-1 or 1-3-1)

The way the Leader tries to project acceleration is to stay very horizontal, and be almost aggressive in the acceleration, but have control in the stop.

Try not to change height when doing the syncopation.

The faster the vals is, the more we dance on just the boom, and we may syncopate just 3 or so times during the entire song.

Other songs we drilled to and that were played in the beginning of the practica so that we could work on what we learned in class:

Hijo de la Luna by Montserrat Caballe
La Valse de Amalie
Gramafon
Welcome to My Planet by Lori B on the Hurricane Child Album
Mademoiselle Noir
Charlotte Mittnacht (The Fabulous Destiny of...) by Devotchka


Notes courtesy of Anne at http://scoutingtour.blogspot.com

Tango Music Concepts

Instructor: Homer Ladas
http://theorganictangoschool.org/
Athletic Playground, Emeryville, CA
July 7, 2018


I arrived to class late, as I was a first-time student at Athletic Playground, so had to spend a few minutes filling out their registration form and paying my fee.

Class began in barefeet with socks, shifting on the beat, walking back and forth, or to the side on the beat.

In an individual exercise, we were to only step on the beat, and not pause.  We could do grapevine feet, though we were to avoid crashing into people.

Next, we played a game, "D'Arienzo Surprise". To D’Arienzo’s Nada Mas, we worked on the concept of surprise. Everyone was to walk around the room, in any/all directions, always stepping on the strong beat to accent it in our walk, with energy going into the floor. Every once in a while, we were to surprise someone by touching them appropriately with both our hands at two points on their body (arms, shoulders, hips), always staying on the strong beat.

The purpose of this game was to get us used to the element of surprise as a musical tool, coordinating our dancing with the music. Every strong beat is a potential surprise. The Follower needs to feel safe and comfortable before she is surprised.

Next, we played a game of "tag" where one person is "It" and they would sneak up on someone and give them a shock by touching them with both hands at their shoulders.  We began with two people "It".  The goal was not to be the person who was "it" at the end, though it was OK to be tagged "it" duiring the song.  We were to do this all the while stepping on the strong beat, locking onto the walking beat.

For our next exercise, in partnership in open embrace, we were to step on the strong beat only, walking mostly, but we could do other steps suck as simple side steps and collecting (weight changes).  To convey the rhythmic intensity, you don't need to change the speed, you can change direction to convey it.  Step together, weight change, then step in opposite direction.  Forward/Backward, Side (weight change in between).   We drilled this to No Mientas, stepping on the strong beat.

We added touch steps, where we reach our leg, pull back, transfer almost no weight, but have pressure on the foot.  Reach back, stop on ball of foot, reaching to the side with the big toe on inside of the foot.
On the forward step, our foot can land flat or we can land on the ball of our foot.

We should have good reach in our back step.  Put pressure, then pull back to fake out your partner to create some interesting moves.  Keep your heels together.  The Leader tilts at his ankles to initiate the step.

Our next drill/exercise was in hand-to-hand hold, we were to feel each others' weight change and lead the touch step.

Our next drill/exercise was in open embrace, where Follower could have closed eyes to increase sensitivity.  We were to change direction/fake them out. 

Mastering weight changes.

To put this all in the picture, we drilled to Mil Pasos, doing walking, full weight changes, and touch steps.

DO NOT EVER BLAME YOUR PARTNER. It's your job to work with it and figure out a solution if things aren't going as you lead them.

Final concept is the idea of contrast.

Tango songs usually follow the structure of:
1 minute instrumental
singer
1 minute instrumental
singer

When the singer comes on, we go in slow motion.  During the instrumental part, we can go back to dancing rhythmically to add more dimension to the dance.

In Mil Pasos, during the jazz saxophone is when you can go slow.

Class concluded with some delicious home-made vegan popsicles made by the lovely Ms. Kyra.


Notes courtesy of Anne at http://scoutingtour.blogspot.com

Thursday, July 12, 2018

Dancing to Astor Piazzolla

Songs: Oblivion, Milonga Tres, and Libertango by Astor Piazzolla
Instructors: Homer & Cristina Ladas
http://theorganictangoschool.org/
SOMArts, San Francisco
July 11, 2018




In our class, we would explore playing with really slow or really fast movement, creating contrast by using deceleration and acceleration in the context of dancing to Astor Piazzolla.

Astor Piazzolla had a love/hate relationship with tango dancers.  Piazzolla took the emotion / sentiment of tango and made it his own.

He started out in Anibal Troilo's orchestra (whose birthday is today), and who did the song Nueve De Julio (9th of July), which in 2003 was the first Cellspace (and today is the 15th year anniversary of the event).

In our class, we would interpret the music of Piazzolla in three ways.

(1) Slow
Dance very slowly, drilling using simple movements such as walking, side steps and ochos.  No sacadas or boleos.  


We were to focus on how to control things in our body to affect the movement.  What does it mean for us to dance slow?

We tried dancing slow to Oblivion, which is likely the most played Piazzolla song for tango dancers.

How did it feel dancing slow?  It was challenging.

Next, we focused on stretching the steps and doing ochos. 

What does it mean to stretch? Not just our legs and how we create a slow extension and collection.  It's how we use our whole body to create a more taffy-like embrace.  The embrace should be a little softer, more relaxed, but still connected with our partner.  Breathe into the floor.

To experience the feeling of caramel, we were to stand with our feet apart, and then shift weight slowly from one side to the other.  This is the caramel.  It is a wavy, slow, lateral movement. 


We did the same exercise with our feet forward and back to get the same quality, and also tried with the other side, opposite feet forward and back.


Next, we tried swiveling on both feet.

Then we did this in partnership where the Leader stops the Follower midstep, Follower pivots while she is on both feet, one side to the other.  The Follower's upper body goes first, then her hips follow, to do an ocho.  Leader walks around Follower's center where her spine is (between her two feet).  We were to try to be slow, articulating the space between the feet. 

We were to explore/think about what is involved in the gradual transfer of weight; how to make the collection very deliberate and with intention; create details to stretch the movement.  When to slow or stretch the movement.

In the context of the Ocho, we usually drill ochos using the sugarbowl embrace. However, for this exercise, we were to be in regular embrace and do a very exaggerated spinal rotation and active arms in the Leader to lead the Follower to do a big, slow ocho.  The Leader can do an extra step around the Follower to get a little extra pivot in the Follower during her ocho.  Leader and Follower turn their bodies, stretching their backs to rotate more.

(2) Milonga Rhythm
The song for the 2nd way we would dance to Piazzolla was Milonga Del Angel, which is likely the second most popular Piazzolla song in tango.

Milonga rhythm as a musical concept is super effective.  Most of the really slow Piazzola songs have milonga rhythm, as do all of the Piazzola songs with "Milonga" in their titles.

We raised the bass of the 2 tango songs: Oblivion and Milonga Del Angel, so that we could train our ears to hear the milonga rhythm (which was rather faint, but clearly present in both songs).
 
The idea of our drills is to either
(1) Dance really slowly, stretching the movements using simple steps, or
(2) Dance to the milonga rhythm (also using simple steps).

We were to have control in our musical expression, and be very clear.

The song we drilled to was Milonga Tres.

You can hear all these songs on YouTube.

(3) Dancing Faster (3-3-2 Rhythm)
Piazzolla used as a tool in his faster songs the 3-3-2 rhythm, which is very similar to the milonga rhythm, minus 1 accent.

So it is 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2, where in our drill we would just step on the 1.

Libertango has this rhythm, and it was the song we drilled to.

Tango is about contrast, and in our drill, we could either dance really slow, or to the 3-3-2 rhythm.

Maestros concluded with a class quiz and short demos to Oblivion for Concept 1 slow; Milonga Tres for Concept 2 milonga rhythm; and Libertango for Concept 3 3-3-2 rhythm


Notes courtesy of Anne at http://scoutingtour.blogspot.com
 

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Touch Steps

Song: A La Gran Muñeca by Francisco Canaro
Instructors: Homer & Cristina Ladas
http://theorganictangoschool.org/
All-Nighter at The Beat, Pre-Milonga Lesson
June 23, 2018




The theme for June has been Ochos, but today we will deviate a little from that, connecting the dots at the end.

In Touch Steps, there are two methods for leading them.  (1) and (2), but sometimes leaders do something in between, like (1.5). In our class, we will try to be very clear and clean in our leading, doing either (1) or (2), NOT (1.5).

We began by drilling really clean side steps.

Reaching, sliding over, Leader's center does a "U".  He can also go extreme, by doing like a "U", but on its side.  Put curve in your step as you reach.

Exercise: Drill side steps, with Leader's center doing a U or a U on its left or right side.

Use the whole width of the foot, and whole length of the foot, especially when arriving, rolling toward the back, middle, and front, using all four corners of the standing foot.
Leader: be really stable.  You need the axis to power the next step.  Have maximum contact with the floor.
Follower: have compression/resistance in her embrace so she can feel the Leader's lead better.

Method 1: Go Down, Axis Remains in Place

Rule: Standing supporting leg bends and goes lower as opposite foot goes out; axis remains in place.

In Method 1, the Leader's side touch step is in the QQS rhythm, out QQS and smoothly back in, or Out QQS and In QQS. 
Drawing in at the touch step is less common, but we should try it in our drills.

Leader goes down as he goes out QQS as his standing leg bends. 
Make the first Q a bit small so you don't run out of leg. 
Have energy and attack.   Follower also attacks floor with pressure so the Leader can feel her.
Last S has a stronger stop energy.
Use the edge of your foot.
Put pressure on the floor, have a little bit of compression in the embrace as the Leader attacks floor.
Embrace creates the stop energy.

Forward and Backward Touch Steps
Using the Method 1 technique, the Leader leads the step as he steps forward and Follower steps back. 
He leads by beginning with a small tilt in his ankle joints.

We drilled the four possibilities:
(1) Leader left foot forward, Follower right foot back.
(2) Leader left foot back, Follower right foot forward
(3) Leader right foot forward, Follower left foot back
(4) Leader right foot back, Follower left foot forward

Follower should have compression/resistance in her embrace so she can feel the lead better.

Talk to each other.  Leader should feel Follower's pressure.  Follower should let Leader know if she doesn't feel the Leader's floor.

Method 1 is nice to do just touch steps forward and backward because you are not going anywhere and it is easy to recover.

Method 1 exits:
(1) return (come back to collection)
(2) Go (to new leg).

Method 2: Stay Up (Don't Go Down); Move Axis

Rule: Remain up as opposite foot goes out; axis moves.

In this method, the Leader creates extra hug, and Follower hugs back.

We were to try in different directions, and first in close embrace as it is easier, and then in open embrace.

In our partnered drill, if the Leader does the embrace in the wrong way/direction, the Follower should let him know.

Someone asked how to make it musical.  Maestros demo'd in class.  Bottom line is you should make it your own, make it personal.

Connecting Touch Steps to the Ocho via a Figure

Can we do touch steps in an ocho?

Here we drilled with two options:

(1) the Leader's right foot forward cross touch step directly into a right foot back cross touch step while Follower did a left foot back cross touch step directly into a left foot forward cross touch step.
(2) the Leader's left foot forward cross touch step directly into a left foot back cross touch step while Follower did a right foot back cross touch step directly into a right foot forward cross touch step.

We do not transfer weight.  Attack the floor with energy.
The standing, supporting foot lifts a little and pivots as the other foot goes from a forward cross touch step to back cross touch step (or back cross touch step to forward cross touch step) to change direction.

Communicating the change of direction: we were to try to make the transition clean.  Leader: use compression, Follower: give extra hug back.

Leader should not use his right hand to communicate the transition. He should use his spine, rotating it, and the standing, supporting leg pivots a little to change direction.

Exit: Leader's side step, together to go back to collect in the up position.,

Doing this from the ocho, with dancers perpendicular to each other:
Leader does side step, Follower does forward step
Leader does forward step, Follower does side step

Maestros concluded with a class quiz and demo to A La Gran Muneca by Francisco Canaro

Notes courtesy of Anne at http://scoutingtour.blogspot.com