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: Interactions - Theme: Pasadas & paradas II

Paradas and pasadas are steps where the follower (in general), is interrupted in her movement by the leader and needs to step around or step over the leader's leg. We continued on last week's theme with a pasada from the corte, which we then continued with a lateral cross or a back cross sandwich.

Summary video



 

Beginners & improvers: Pasada from the corte followed by a parada

Top tips

  • Leaders: To lead the parada, you need to move your right shoulder away from your partner. This should make her step around your foot and to the side.
  • Followers: At the pasada, try and go around your partner’s foot rather than over and then directly into a side step.

 

Intermediates: Lateral cross from the parada

Top tips

  • Leaders: Simply step forward to invade the follower’s space, which will create the cross.
  • Followers: Try and transfer your weight at the cross at the same time as he transfers his weight forward. The transfer of weight is synchronised.

 

Intermediates: Back cross sandwich and pasada

Top tips

  • Leaders: To lead the back cross, send your partner into a diagonal as she comes out of the rebound.
  • Followers: In this pasada, the best way out is to let your foot pass to the other side of your supporting leg and then your knee.

 

Homework

Top tips

  • Leaders: For pasadas and paradas, you need to use the lifting technique. On your own or with a partner, practice gently lifting with the right hand (the movement should be upward and not forward). Then with your torso, you need to invite your partner to her next direction. After she has started moving, you can release the lift. You should basically be miming with your embrace what you want your partner’s leg to do: up / move / down. This is a useful skill to have.
  • Followers: For any pasada / parada, you need to practice pointing your foot before you lift it off the floor. Also try and have your knee away from him when you lift. Try practising this on your own.

 

See you soon on the dancefloor,

Nati y Bruno