"The secret of tango is in this moment of improvisation that happens between step and step. It is to make the impossible thing possible: to dance silence. This is essential to learn in tango dance, the real dance, that of the silence, of following the melody." Carlos Gavito
In this class, we looked at basic colgadas (hangs) initiated from close embrace.
Step 1: Basic Colgada
We start with a side step to the open side of the embrace and I sandwich her right foot.
To initiate the colgada, I move forward slightly, invading her space. Since we can't both occupy the same space she has to lean back. This is very slight and can be seen at :11 sec.
At the same time I relax my embrace and extend my right arm out while I sit back to counterbalance her weight. Notice at :15 that we are not leaning straight back.. we are more sitting back. Think of the analogy of leaning against a bar stool or that your hips are a table with a stack of books stacked to your shoulders. If you straighten the stack will fall over. We have a slight bend in our knees. At this point, her weight should be only on her right foot and my weight can be more evenly distributed. All of her weight should be supported by the man's right arm. She should not be using her left arm at all and the open side of the embrace should not be engaged at all.
Then I just return to my axis and while bringing her back to her axis.
At 20 sec mark we demonstrate a slight change of embrace with the man's right hand shifting upwards slightly to hold onto her shoulder blade. This provides more stability for the woman.
Step 2: Basic Back Colgada to Alternating Side Colgadas
We start the same as in the move above.
Then I send her around to the close side of the embrace as I shift towards the open side. At this point, her hips will stay under her shoulders as will mine (see 1:00) . I am shifted to my left foot and she has now shifted to her left foot (see 1:30).
Then we mirror this movement on the other side of the embrace.
We ready to exit I lead her to the open side of the embrace and step behind and around myself leading her to take a forward cross step in front of me.
Step 3: Colgada with Shared Axis Turn
We start the same as in the move above
I start the turn by sending my left leg around my partner's right leg, taking weight onto my left and then pulling my right a few inches back to find my partner's toe. Then I switch weight to my right and repeat.
During the move, I think of her axis as being over her left leg. I want to keep her secure and stable over her left leg at all times. If I disturb her axis then she will feel the need to step.
For the women, it is very important for them to remain calm and keep their posture. They must also allow their left leg to be very free, they should not apply any pressure to the man's right foot with their left foot. He needs his right foot to be free to move back and around.
At 1:56 you can see how I am stepping around Lena. My toes are slightly pointed towards one another, inward.
At 1:56/1:57 you can see how I pull my right foot back slightly to find her toe. I do this on every step around.
Step 4: Side Colgada
We start with a side step to the open side of the embrace.
As she takes weight on her right foot, I put my right foot next to her right foot, so that my toe of my right toe is near the heel of her right foot.
With her firmly planted on her right foot, I begin extending my right arm. She wants to stay in my embrace so she goes into colgada.
I then bring my body perpendicular to hers and collect my feet. I also go back to counterbalance her.
To exit, I step back and around myself leading her to forward cross step around me. Notice that she very much steps around me, not out and away from me.
At 2:21, we show that we are completely supported by the man's right arm. Her left arm has no weight, but is there for safety if she were to slip. My right arm is all the way around her right side, so I have a nice grip on her side and she should feel secure.
At 2:37, notice my toes are straight and pointing towards her. My right foot is at her heel and my left foot is at her toe. I am completely beside her. When I step back with my left, I am creating more space for her to step around me.
In this class, we looked at executing a barrida (Sweep) to a front cruzada (Cross) with different exists.
Step 1: Barrida to Cruzada with giro (turn) to the Open Side of the Embrace
We take a side open step to the open side of the embrace. As the man transfers his weight to his left leg, he initiates a barrida with is right foot. To initiate the barrida, he applies a little pressure to her left foot with his right foot and she returns that pressure which allows her to follow his foot past the collection point and to the other side of her foot creating the front cruzada.
Now he transfers his weight slightly to his right foot which leads her to put weight onto her left foot.
Then he transfers his weight slightly to his left and begins turning counter clockwish which leads her to begin a side step around him. As she begins her open side step around him, he performs a low forward sacada with his right leg.
As fully commits to his right and continues the counter clock wise turn which results in a basic giro for her (back side cross).
Step 2: Barrida to Cruzada with Foot Lift duringBarrida and Exit in Cross System to Front Cruzada
During the Barrida, the woman's foot should be symbolically glued to the man's foot, so if he lifts his foot she should go with his foot.
After the Sacada, we are in cross system, so we simply exit to a basic cruzada in cross system.
Step 3: Barrida to Cruzada to Volcada with Gancho
This move seems so simply, but it actually includes many advanced ideas of Tango. It actually includes (in order): Barrida, Front Cruzada, Colgada, Volcada, Gancho, Colgada, Back Cruzada, Volcada.
The first two steps are the same as above, a barrida to a front cruzada
But as I lead the front cruzada, I actually invade her space very slightly to send her into a very very slight colgada (Off-Axis Hang) as I bring her bring her around in a circular counter clockwise motion back forward into a Volcada. I keep the circular motion going until I get a gancho.
After the gancho, I reverse the circular motion to go clockwise and send her back past her axis to a very slight colgada. Again I keep the circular motion going and then bring her forward again to get a back cruzada.
I keep bringing her forward after the back cruzada into another slight volcada... just enough to free her left foot.
Synopsis: In this class, we focused on Arrepentida with a Cross Over Step. This is a very musical move and is very helpful for changing directions if you need to in order to avoid a collision with another couple.
Video Demonstration:
Figures:
Figure 1: Arrepentida with a Cross Over Step In Demo at :28 of Video Demo
In Slow motion at 2:36 of Video Demo
Step 1: The man takes a Side Step with his left and does a quick weight change to his right (double time). The woman takes a Side Step with her right. They are now in cross system.
Step 2: The man then takes a Forward Open Step with his left to the open side of the embrace and leads the woman to take a Back Cross Step with her left. His upper body is turned slightly clockwise to her.
Step 3: The man then takes a Forward Cross Step with his right to the open side of the embrace but does not complete that step, rather he rebounds off of his right as he steps back and counter-clockwise with his left. This results in a change of direction of about 180 degrees. Then he crosses his Right foot in front of his left. The woman takes a Back Open Step and then rebounds off of her right foot and takes an Open Side Step around the man with her right foot.
Step 4: The man changes weight to his right foot which is now crossed in front of his left. Both the man and woman collect.
Step 5: Repeat Step 2
Step 6: Repeat Step 3
Step 7: Repeat Step 4
Step 8: Repeat Step 2
Step 9: The man takes a Forward Cross Step with his Right and leads the woman to take a Back Open Step with her right and to perform a Forward Cruzada and to change weight to her left. The couple is back in Parallel System.
Tip: There are double times (quick-quick-slow) for the man on steps 1, 3 and 5. There is a double time for the woman at step 9.
Tip: On step 3, the man needs to contain the woman and give a lot of energy to the rebound and to bring her around in the change of direction. He does going slightly down in his right leg to get more energy from the floor for the rebound. He also makes sure not to collapse his embrace. he needs to keep his embrace solid so that she does not get behind him.
Tip: On step 3, the woman should feel the man lower in the rebound and that should be an indication of a large step coming. She will need to take a large side step around the man in order to stay in front of him.
Synopsis: This class focuses on a Turn to the Open Side of the Embrace starting from Cross System on the Close Side of the Embrace. As embellisments, we looked at a forward circular boleo for the woman and back cruzadas for the man when getting into and out of cross system.
Video Demonstration:
Figures:
Figure 1: Turn to the open side of embrace from cross system on the close side of the embrace with back cruzadas for the man and a forward circular boleo for the woman In Slow motion at 2:44 of Video Demo
Step 1: The man takes an open step to the side with his left leg and the woman takes an open step with her right leg. She collects while he crosses his right foot behind his left (cruzada) and changes weight. At this point, he is on his right and she is on her right so they are in cross system.
Step 2: He then takes a forward cross step to the close side of the embrace and she takes an open back step.
Step 3: He takes an open side step while she takes a back cross step. On this step, the leader relaxes the embrace and brings her perpendicular to him. The man's right shoulder and her left shoulder are connected but they do not have contact on the open side of the embrace and are at a 90 degree angle to one another. At this point, he can make slight contact with his upper right thigh to her upper right thigh and lead her to perform a boleo.
Step 4: He steps back with his left but keeps weight on both feet as he begins to turn his embrace counter-clockwise.
Step 5: As he pivots around counter-clockwise, the woman will feel slightly left behind at this point and so will take large steps around him to try to get back in front of him. To start she will take a long forward step around him with her left and he will end with his weight on his left foot.
Step 6: The woman will continue to try and get back in front of him by taking a large open side step with her right. The leader will bring his right foot behind his left and change weight.
Step 7: Same as Step 2 above.
Step 8: Same as step 3 above, but now he brings her back in front of him. They are still in cross sytem so he can exit in cross system or switch weight to return to parallel.
Tip: On step 2, the man should pivot his upper body slightly counter-clockwise to make room for stepping to the close-side of the embrace. Tip: On step 3, the man needs to open the embrace and bring her to a 90 degree angle to him and contain her in front of him by blocking her with his right arm. He is not applying pressure with that arm but merely creating a stopping place for her so that she stays slightly in front of him.
Tip: On Step 4, he should stay very forward in his upper body and bring her around with his embrace. Since she wants to return to the embrace and get back in front of him she will take a nice large step around him. She will not step away from him. Look at how close her left foot is to his at 2:51 of the video. Tip: On Step 5, at the beginning of step 5 she is still not 100% back in front of him so she continues to take a large open side step. MEN: If she takes small steps on 4 and 5 and is slightly to your right then you might want to stay on your left and exit to the open side of the embrace in parallel system.
Variations:
SIMPLEST VERSION OF THIS MOVE At 23 second mark of Video Figure 2: Same as Figure 1 only the leader does not perform the back cruzadas and they exit simply in parallel system.
Figure 3: Same as Figure 1 only the leader does not perform the back cruzadas, he simply changes weight. At 16 second mark of Video
Synopsis: This class focuses on a Simple Turn to the Open Side of the Embrace with Man's Sacada.
Video Demonstration:
Figures:
Description:
Step 1: The man takes a Forward Cross to the Open Side of the Embrace while leading the woman to take a Back Cross (MFC & WBC) and Leads the Woman to collect. Step 2: He then leads the woman to an Open Step (WOS) with her Right while staying on his Right. Step 3: He then leads her to take a Forward Cross while he steps in with his Left for a Sacada (MFC & WFC). Step 4: He then stays on his Left, leaving his Right floating behind, while pivoting 180 degress and leading her to take an Open Step (WOS). Step 5: He then steps forward with his Right with a Forward Cross (MFC) to the open side of the Embrace while leading her to take a Back Cross (WBC).
Tip: The man takes 3 steps and the woman takes 5 steps. Tip: Many women want to change weight at step 2 instead of taking an open step. Between steps 1 and 2, the women simply collect, no weight change.
Tip: For the women, they want to stay in front of the man, so they user their default Giro/Turn (Molinete) technique to do so. This move uses their basic Giro technique... Their steps are Back, Open, Forward, Open, Back. They default to their basic Giro/Turn technique. Tip: At step 1, the man does not collect his feet but rather shifts his weight over his Right foot which causes the woman to collect her feet. He waits until she has collected before he leads her to Step 2. He also stays with his upper body rotated towards the woman. Tip: To begin step 2, the man rotates his body counter-clockwise staying on his Right foot. The follower wants to stay in front of him, so she defaults to her Giro Technique and takes an Open step. Tip: The man will drops down slightly to ground himself when performing the sacada and should stay there for balance while pivoting 180 degrees to his left. Tip 4: At the point of the Sacada, the man should start sending his upper body to his left away from the follower and then let his lower body catch up on step 5.
Synopsis: This class focuses on using Cross Steps in the rhythm of Vals.
Steps used in this Class:
Step Name / Abbreviation
Man’s Forward Cross MFC
Man’s Open Step MOS
Man’s Back Cross MBC
Woman’s Forward Cross WFC
Woman’s Open Step WOS
Woman’s Back Cross WBC
Video Demonstration:
Figures:
Dual Molinete or Giro 20 Second Mark of Video Demo Description: All in Cross System, MBC & WBC + MOS & WOS + MFC & WFC + MOS & WOS Tip 1: This move is usually repeated twice and works best with a quick quick (Double Time) on the MBC & WBC + MOS & MOS then slow slow on MFC & WFC + MOS & MOS. Tip 2: After the Back Crosses and Forward Crosses both the Man and Woman collect their feet and Change Weight instead of taking real Side steps. Tip 3: This is a very circular move, so the Man and Woman should very much step AROUND the other never stepping away from one another. Tip 4: Do Not skimp on the Forward Crosses, take real forward steps around each other.. not tiny ones. The Man’s Forward Cross can also go deep to get a Sacada.
33 Second Mark of Video Demo Description: MFC & WBC in Parallel System + MOS & WBC in Cross System: Man performs a MFC and the Woman a WBC and the Man collects and changes weight to his Left and pivots the Woman clockwise and perform a MOS & WBC in Cross System, The Man then collects and changes weight to his Left and REPEATS from beginning. TIP 1: The Man always collects and changes weight to his Left on every step. He is always stepping with his Right. TIP 2: The Man always steps with his Right on the downbeat and is double timing every step. The Woman is not changing weight with him, she is just stepping on every downbeat.
Drunken Ochos 12 Second Mark of Video Demo Description: In all Cross System, MOS & WBC + MOS & WBC + MOS & WBC: From Back Ochos in Cross System, as the Man leads the Woman in a WBC to the Open Side of the Embrace, he takes a tiny step forward with his left turning counter clockwise 90 degrees. Then he takes a large Open Side Step (MOS) with his Right as he leads her to a WBC to the Close Side of the Embrace. REPEAT Tip 1: This is all in Cross System and the Man and Woman are both stepping on the downbeat of the music. Tip 2: The turn happens with the Man’s Left foot, his Right foot only goes side ways. Tip 3: The Leader must lead ochos which require the Woman to pivot, not walking or non-pivoting ochos.
