Argentine Tango 2
10.06, 11.06
Pre-Intermediate Tango
Walking
In tango, you walk 'in a line'.
- Put another way, your feet both go in a single 'track', instead of each foot having its own 'track'.
When you walk forward on your left foot, your left foot crosses in front of your right foot.
- Put another (gratuitously-suggestive) way, there should be no light visible between your thighs.
- Similarly, when you walk backward on your left foot, you 'hide' your left foot behind your right foot.
You have several stylistic options for where to point your left foot.
- You can leave it pointing forward.
You can point it slightly 'out' (in this case, left).
- This is the best option w/r/t maintaining your balance.
- You shouldn't point it way out (like a ballerina/o), or you'll end up wandering off in that direction.
- Never lock your knees -- always keep them 'soft'.
- Before you take a forward step, telegraph the lead a bit by shifting your weight towards the front of your weight-bearing foot.
Every forward step has several phases. (Let's assume you're stepping forward on your left foot.)
Prepare.
- Move your left foot forward.
- Remember that pointing it out (that is, to the left) gives you a bit more balance.
- Keep it flat to the floor.
- Keep it in the line.
- Keep moving it forward until you can't keep it flat to the floor any more.
Transfer weight.
- This is when you shift your weight forward, on to that left foot.
- Ideally, this will scoot your left foot forward by a distance equal to what it traveled in step 1.
This requires you to push forward with your right foot...
- ... lifting your right heel off the floor.
- Make sure your left foot 'lands' such that your left knee is soft and your left toe is aimed out.
- You should not bob up & down!
Collect your weight.
- This is where you bring your right foot together with your left foot.
- Keep that right foot flat to the floor, to what extent you can.
- Remember to keep your thighs together.
- Note that your right foot will become the forward-moving foot in your next 'Prepare' phase.
Stepping backwards is mostly the same, only in reverse. There are some differences when stepping back (say, on your left foot)....
- When pre-leading, you shift your weight slightly backwards on your weight-bearing foot.
In the 'Prepare' phase, you stop moving the left foot back when moving it any further would require sticking out your posterior and generally bending in a funny way.
- Note that the left heel will come up off the floor before that point -- that's actually okay.
In the weight transfer, your right foot won't "peel off the floor" as it does when moving forwards -- the toe stays down.
- Again, make sure you scoot backwards a roughly equal distance to what you moved in the preparation.
- Also, make sure you land right -- soft knee, toe aimed out.
Rotating Your Upper Body
Note that this motion should come from your center.
- Not your head. Not your shoulders. Not your arms.
It should also be isolated
That is: move your torso without moving your hips, your legs, or your head.
- (You especially have trouble with the 'head' part.)
- As you rotate your upper body, you might transfer your weight, or you might not.
The Harrowing Combination: Walking AND Rotating Your Upper Body
The idea here is contrary motion
That is, while you put your right foot forward, you take your right shoulder back.
- (If you find yourself lapsing into anything even vaguely "Hokey-Pokey"-like, abort.)
Using it in a Small Routine
We'll do a variation on our old standby...
- One side-step to the left.
- Step outside with the right foot.
- Take a second step outside with the left foot. (Follow crosses.)
- Bring right foot together & transfer weight.
Instead, this time we'll include upper-body turns.
- At this point, the turn will clearly precede the step.
- (Make absolutely sure you don't turn your head with your body -- keep facing the follow's direction.)
- Make sure you're leading the turn -- the follow will want to turn with you.
The revised plan...
- One side-step to the left.
Step outside with the right foot.
- But before that, rotate your right shoulder back.
- Take a second step outside with the left foot. (Follow crosses.)
- Bring right foot together & transfer weight.
And a second variation...
- One side-step to the left.
Step outside with the right foot.
- But before that, rotate your right shoulder back.
Take a second step inside with the left foot. (Follow does not cross.)
But before that, rotate your left shoulder back.
- This should create some space between you and the follow, space that you can step inside.
Also, place your left foot right in next to her left foot.
- This makes a follow-cross especially impossible.
Continue by doing whatever you feel like doing.
- (That is, you don't have to collect & transfer weight, as with the cross.)
Ochos
Going forward....
- Put your weight on your right foot.
Step forward and to the right with your left foot.
- It should go at kind of a 45 degree angle.
- The foot itself can point inside slightly.
- At this point, you could hold a sheet of paper between your thighs.
This should rotate your hips to the right.
- This should not rotate your shoulders to the right.
- If anything, your shoulders counter-rotate slightly.
Step forward and to the left with your right foot.
- The same provisos apply.
- Going backward is just the same thing in reverse.
Double-Time
In tango, one has several options w/r/t timing...
- Stepping on the normal andante beat.
- Pausing
Stepping twice per beat
- This is called 'syncopation' or 'double time'
Double-time provides an easy way to avoid collisions.
You step in a direction, and immediately step back.
- This is a kind of rock step; one never fully transfers one's weight to the 'stepping' foot.
An example: rock left-right, then step forward.
- Or rock forward-back, then step left.
A short routine...
- Step left.
- Step outside with the right foot.
Rock-step inside with the left foot.
- Immediately step back.
Step backwards with the left foot.
Lead the follow to step outside with her right foot.
Do this by opening your body out to the right.
- (Or, equivalently, 'counter-rotate your upper body'.)
Rock-step backwards with the right foot.
At this point you go back to being dead-on.
- (No 'opening out' in either direction.)
Note that you are not limited to just this routine.
- For example, you could replace the backwards step with a rock-step.
Calesita (the 'carousel')
- Lead the follow into the cross.
Then turn the follow counterclockwise 360 degrees.
- Step back (and slightly behind) on your left foot.
- Do more of a sidestep on your right foot.
- Repeat as necessary.
Remember: do not take the follow off of her axis!
- She should stay standing straight up and down.
Note that the follow should remain on her left foot throughout.
- This means, after going 'round & 'round, you can step forward on your left foot, and she can step back on her right.
Note that technically, the calesita can start from any position.
- ... and can also go in either direction.
Simple Turns
The steps....
- Start facing backwards.
Step back on your right foot.
- Turn 90 degrees counterclockwise.
Side-step on your left foot.
- Turn 90 degrees counterclockwise.
- Step forward on your right foot.
Step forward on your left foot.
- Turn 90 degrees counterclockwise.
- Turn 90 degrees counterclockwise.
Side-step on your right foot.
- Turn 90 degrees counterclockwise.
- Step back on your left foot.
Note that in the first half, the lead is the axis of the turn.
- Thus, the lead takes small steps; the follow steps around him.
In the second half, the follow is the axis.
- Thus, the follow stays still, and the lead steps around her.
Note that if you take large steps in the first half or small steps in the second half, the follow will end up 'outside'.
- This is okay, and you can use it as a deliberate stylistic variation.
- Also note that you can turn in the opposite (clockwise) direction, too.
- Remember to employ the proper technique for walking (see 'Walking' section).
A Routine With Turns
First, a preliminary routine...
- Side-step left.
- With your right foot, rock-step outside.
- Step back with your right foot.
Side-step left.
- Remember that before you step left, you have to collect your left foot together with your right.
Now, a slightly-more-complicated version...
- Side-step left.
- With your right foot, rock-step outside.
- Step together with your right foot.
Pivot the follow ninety degrees clockwise.
- From your POV, she is now facing left.
Side-step left.
- Take care not to jerk the follow forward.
Pivot the follow ninety degrees counterclockwise.
- From your POV, she is now facing forward.
- As you do this, change weight to your right foot.
Step forward on your left foot.
- She should be able to step back on her right.
- Note that there are many possible variations that are similar to this routine.
Grapevine
Ocho-step with the right foot to the left.
- ... stepping in front.
- Side-step left.
Ocho-step with the right foot to the left.
- ... stepping in back.
- Side-step left.
- Repeat.
Some Technique Notes
- Get your left hand away from you -- off to the left.
Don't pull in with the right hand. At all.
- Never jerk the follow forward with the right hand.
Stand up straight.
- (You tend to overcorrect and lean back.)
- Think about leading first, then sending a foot forwards, then putting your weight on that foot.
Additional Resources
http://www.austintango.comFootnotes
One page links to PSRDanceArgentineTango2:
