Fencing, I

An introductory lesson in fencing technique focuses, not surprisingly, in the proper stance, posture, and walking for that art. For my practice walk I must remember the “L” and overcome my dance-informed instinct to collect; the “collection” is to return to the “L” with a proper shoulder-width distance. For lunges the [...]

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Theology and the body

This link is to an article by a Catholic sister and tanguera.

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More complexity than I’m handling…

Two parts to this combination figure:
Cause your follow to execute a “frozen” boleo to the back left – it helps to have a posture in which your left foot is already a bit to the left though she is pivoting out of a collected state at the start of this. This is a kind [...]

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Man-tap

Out of back ochos, do a “la caida” like gesture – with tap – with your left going around back before bringing it around to your front as she begins a back step. Her step thus sweeps your left; she steps over; you remember to pivot cleanly on the forward leg – [...]

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Sinuous

The “two hula hoops” exercise. Essentially a contra-rotating boleo in the context of a molineta performed by the lead. Bringing the follow in a “winding” motion across your front to your left, then stepping forward with your right as you cause her to “unwind” her previous motion and go into the [...]

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All my tears

All my tears (be washed away) by Selah. I have previously identified a few works by John Michael Talbot as examples of explicitly Christian music suitable for vals and tango. There I offer something that is beyond suitable and could be called “ideal.” Something worth dancing about.

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Complex figure

Class this evening had me bumping into the limits of my ability to absorb and perform. It was one of those classes where things keep getting added onto a figure until there was everything in there but the kitchen sink. An excellent class with just the right amount of stress…
Walk to [...]

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Perfecting barridas..

Class with Isaac and Sharna tonight refining barrida technique. One cool figure discovered by accident is to do the contra-rotating boleo and then a barrida on the back step.
Drills: Out of back ochos, as the follow rotates counter clockwise, pivot on [...]

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Contra-rotating boleos, III

In back ochos! Instead of backstepping with the follow’s forward step (out of a single boleo), do a pair of boleos (thus causing the backstep to travel in a path congruent to another back ocho). Awesome. Holding the frame is paramount, as is timing. Low cost glamour. [...]

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