Instructors: Homer & Cristina Ladas
http://theorganictangoschool.org/
April 6, 2013, Yale Tango Fest
Video courtesy of Steven Spura
Exercise 1: Forward
ochos with crossing in front
In partnership using hand-to-hand embrace, we did forward
ochos concluding with our trailing (unweighted)
foot crossing in front of our leading (weighted) foot, either really
tight and snug, or with our trailing leg having a looser, more open
eye-of-the-needle stance. Either way, at
the conclusion of the ocho, the outside of our trailing foot has to be in
contact with the outside of our standing foot.
This entire movement is the basis of our enrosque.
Exercise 2: Step
forward, enrosque, weight change, step back
Building on our first exercise, still in partnership using
hand-to-hand embrace, we were to step forward, do the enrosque, change the
weight, and step back. The goal was to
embellish the forward ocho, to pivot completely, and to cross fully within the
time the Leader gives the Follower to do her forward ocho.
We backed up a little and Maestros quickly conveyed the
concept of crossing in front while walking backward while having little
change/movement in the upper body and being really tight in the footwork and
having an A shape in the feet. And also
crossing behind while walking forward.
It is important that the big toe go first, and then the weight is
transferred to the middle of the foot.
Exercise 3: Adding
sacadas
Follower does 1-2 forward ocho enrosques with no weight
changes. Leader does left foot forward sacada of Follower’s trailing foot.
Leader steps back on Follower’s back step (can be a left foot back sacada if he
has enough disassociation; if choosing this option, he should do his left foot
back sacada on the Follower’s trailing left foot of her right foot side step).
Our goal in drilling this was to figure out the timing: The Leader does a
forward sacada on her forward ocho step trailing foot, and an enrosque on the
Follower’s side step. The Leader’s
enrosque needs to have better A positioning in his feet when he finishes so
that he can get into position to step back.
The movement goes where it needs to go to maintain the relationship
between the dancers.
The Leader needs to be very clear in leading a Forward Ocho
or a Hiro (Turn/Molinete). For the Hiro,
the biggest issue for the Follower enrosque is that the timing to do a good
side step is compromised. In our class,
while the Followers were practicing the enrosque, they should not always assume
it will be a forward Ocho the Leader is leading. If she assumes this during a Hiro, it will
get in the way of her doing a good long, reaching side step.
In all our dancing, we should always maintain good walking
technique and take long, reaching steps around the Leader. When the Follower reaches and transfers the
weight is when the Leader has time to do his enrosque, so she should not cut
short or rush through the movement.
In the Hiro, the Leader does his job, but the Follower has
to do her job as well. The foot arrives
on top of the strong beat, but she should take the whole beat to transfer weight.
The Leader needs to be very clear whether he is leading an
Ocho or a Hiro. The Fundamental
difference between the two:
·
Focus of Ocho: Follower’s axis
·
Focus of Hiro: Leader’s axis
In Sacadas, the Leader is taking the Follower around him
(his axis is the focus).
The Follower needs to be aware in both sides of her embrace
to receive the appropriate energy that the Leader is giving. She needs to be connected to the Leader,
otherwise the message will be lost.
The class was then
split in two groups: Leaders and Followers, where we could practice our
respective gender footwork.
Leaders group
footwork:
1st
partnered exercise with hand-to-hand embrace:
-
Step forward
-
Ocho with Enrosque
-
Step back
2nd
partnered exercise with hand-to-hand embrace:
-
Step forward
-
Hook behind and pivot (this is called a back
enrosque)
-
Unwind
-
Change weight
-
Step back
Followers group
footwork:
1st
partnered exercise with hand-to-hand embrace:
Forward ocho with Follower’s enrosque embellishment of an
outside rulo (curly Q, swirl).
We were to practice this, as one side is easier/more
difficult than the other.
To do this, our foot goes with toes pointed to the floor out
as our hip opens up with the inside of our thigh exposed. Then we draw a quick
little circle with the tip of our toes, after which we bring the leg back in so
that our foot remains tucked against our standing foot at the conclusion of our
pivot.
To add to this embellishment, we can take it into the air
(only during performances or when milonga space allows) by adding a kick / tail
end flick at the end of the rulo.
The floor is the source of power. How the Follower connects with the floor
determines how much power she has in her dance.
Back to the Leaders’
group…
Focus on the sacada:
During the Follower’s Hiro, the Leader should do the forward
sacada on her side step. This puts them
in position so that afterwards they are simultaneously doing back pivots. It’s a “we” feeling at that point, which is
very nice and fun.
There can be different timing to the Leader’s enrosque where
there is the ocho hook in front and simultaneous pivot, or the ocho hook in
front first, and then the pivot afterwards.
Here, we backed up a little and Maestro quickly went over
the washing machine exercise to get more disassociation in the body and to
really focus on moving from the top first, and then down, or moving from the
bottom first, and then up. This exercise
can be done on either weighted leg, and in either direction. Our homework is to
practice all the options to work this movement into our muscle memory.
In close embrace Hiros, the Follower’s back cross step is
truncated (so more like a little tuck than a big back cross step). For Leader’s
technique, he should keep his upper body going, creating disassociation to keep
the spiral movement going.
Then the two groups got back together and we drilled for a
few songs.
Maestros concluded with a class review and a demo to Esta Noche de Luna by Ariel
Ardit y su Orquesta Típica.
Notes courtesy of Anne at http://scoutingtour.blogspot.com
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