The follow going into a back ocho away from you to your left; perform an outside secada with your right foot as simultaneously: a) your intention sends her away b) your right hand on her shoulder blade pushes her down and twists to her left c) you also lower your height by [...]
Archive for June, 2008
Simple carries and lunges…
Posted in Notes on June 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Angelic
Posted in Notes on June 28, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
A private lesson with Angel Coria at Carina’s studio really busted my chops in the best way; I have had to reflect on it for a day or so.
Four main points to good dancing from him:
1. Posture, which gives us (2).
2. Lead
3. Musicality.
4. Improvisation, which comes out of a good comfort [...]
More ganchos..
Posted in ganchos on June 24, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
A session with A. at Cococabana leaves me reeling; and I feel like a young child learning to walk as I see possible gancho permutations. It seems that what I have learned thus far is something like “gancho training wheels” the way that the basic eight count steps are “tango training wheels.”.
Here’s one thing [...]
ganchos, sort of
Posted in ganchos on June 20, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
With Jake at McGinty’s:
When doing rock stops within ochos for the purpose of turning, make sure with the back step to your left that you bring your left into a collecting position to give her space. To the right, make sure there is a strong lead with your right shoulder.
Successfully deploying gancho leads! [...]
Sigh, II
Posted in Notes on June 17, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Drills: (Performing a glacis first) practice spins, enrosques, and planeos until you can do them on-axis with either left or right foot, a full 360 degrees; without using your arms or legs (only the hips) for inertia. Make sure you get your weight out there on the pivoting foot.
Use the planeo [...]
Sigh…
Posted in Observations on June 10, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Sometimes a guest instructor comes through — one of these types from BsAs with the energy of a salsero hyped up on lattes and the elegance of a maestro de tango out of some black and white film from the Golden Age past.. He’ll have you doing incredible stuff, which you will actually get, [...]
Ochos again
Posted in Notes on June 6, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
At McGinty’s, the new venue for the Eastern Market crowd, I commiserated with a fellow struggler about how being in a foul mood (which I was not in) helps your best tango come out; perhaps it has to do with shutting off your rational side.
With Jake: Hesitation and rock steps within ochos, both [...]
Four Figures
Posted in Notes on June 5, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
1) Practice a basic eight count with this twist: Perform a barrida with the right foot and rotate your frame such that the follow is perpendicular to the line of dance; causing her to have to step with her left over the sweeping foot and pivoting into a cross position. [...]
Mare Tranquillium (Tranquil Sea)
Posted in Poetry, Reaction on June 2, 2008 | 3 Comments »
In your arms there a moment, a space
of time, no longer than a beat, or song;
this peaceful sea. In no other place
is it quite the same. A place to belong;
of simple friendship for boys and girls
making merry, as we were meant to.
Simple steps and pauses, and twirls
in place. Each one cares, and [...]
