Every week, you’ll find on our blog class notes and a summary video from our Wednesday and Sunday tango group classes.

These video and notes are meant to help our students remember what they’ve done in class.

Dimension: Axis- Theme: Single axis turns

Single steps & turns are steps where both partners' axis and the couple's axis all merge together. When dancing tango, we normally have 3 distinct axis: the leader's, the follower's and the couple's. If both partners put their feet together, then all axis merge and it creates beautiful dream-like moves.

Summary video



 

Beginners/Improvers: Little turn with the leader’s foot in a sandwich

Top tips

  • Leaders: As you lead the pivot with your chest, make sure you also pivot your foot, otherwise you’ll be preventing the follower from pivoting.
  • Followers: Keep nicely in your axis during the turn.

 

Beginners/Improvers: Repeat little turns with foot in sandwich

Top tips

  • Leaders: When you go around, you will be in a single-axis position, so you need to go around your partner very closely. If your step around her is too far from her, one of you might lose their balance.
  • Followers: Don’t anticipate the end of the step, just wait and see what the leaders proposes: another turn or the exit. Engage your core muscles to remain light in this step.

 

Intermediates & up: Single axis turn

Top tips

  • Leaders: To make this possible, you need to get to the back of your axis by pushing your bum outwards a little. This should feel like a mini-colgada.
  • Followers: This step can be a bit scary, but allow to go with your axis backwards a bit as a response to the leader’s own motion.

 

Intermediates & up: Invasion

Top tips

  • Leaders: In the invasion, really go forward. Don’t forget to lift your partner before the invasion or she might cross backwards instead!
  • Followers: In this step, you should feel again in a mini-colgada situation. Try and keep your torso straight as it will make your next move easier.

 

Homework

Top tips

  • Leaders: Practice the turn with sandwiched foot on your own: the move from your torso to lead the follower should match the move from your foot enabling her to pivot.
  • Follower: Practice the move from the invasion on your own: make sure your torso remains straight and the big toe of your back leg on the floor.