Every week, you’ll find on our blog class notes and a summary video from our Wednesday Improver / Intermediate group class, our Thursday beginner group class and our weekend milonga group classes.

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

Theme: Milonga

In this class, we looked at the basic rhythm of the milonga (the quick version of tango) and then explored a little turn ending in a cross for the follower.

Summary video

 

The box

Leaders

  • To enter into the box, you need to first lead your partner to take a side step shorter than your’s and walk on her inside lane. Make sure you dissociate towards her when changing lanes.
  • When walking on the inside lane, continue walking forward and avoid taking diagonal steps to the left. Crab-like walk is not very tango-like! 🙂
  • When you go sideways to close the box, make sure you face your partner again at the end and therefore reposition your body at neutral, i.e. without dissociation.
  • At the corner, to indicate the change of weight clearly, you need to gently tilt your partner to amplify the move of your feet. In this step, because you are changing your own weight from your right foot to your left foot, you’ll need to tilt to the left, e.g. raise the right shoulder.
  • At the end of the box, you can either lead another box, or change weight and go forward. You can also do the box in the line of dance or with a slight pivot. The box is a simple and very versatile step! 🙂

Followers

  • Dissociate towards your partner when he’s using the inside lane and come back to face him when he closes the step.
  • For the change of weight, you should feel the leader transfer his own weight from side to side and you should feel a gentle tilt helping you understand the lead.

Both followers and leaders

  • Always pass by neutral when dancing and collect your feet.
  • When changing weight, make sure you transfer your weight fully from one leg to the other. Avoid keeping your axis in the middle of your body and shuffling your feet, as this is not a very clear signal for your partner.
  • When changing weight, collect your feet. Always change weight with your feet neatly together.

 

Traspie

Traspie, which in Spanish means “stumble” is not really a step per se, but rather a rhythm. When we dance the milonga on the beat, it is called “milonga lisa”. When we use half beats, it is called “traspie”. The simplest step to do on traspie is a rebound and change of weight.

Leaders

  • When leading the rebound, you need to partially transfer your weight onto the right leg. Don’t transfer your weight fully or your partner will complete her step and collect. To get the right timing, push the floor away with your left foot as soon as it touches the floor. The rebound is on the half beat.
  • After the rebound, collect and change your weight immediately, using the “tilt” technique.
  • When you exit the step and take your first step forward, you’ll need to walk on the inside lane for one step and then go back to facing your partner and walk in lane.

Followers

  • For the rebound, try and remain light on your feet and avoid transferring your whole weight to the side.
  • After the rebound, collect your feet nicely to transfer your weight.

 

Little turn ending in a cross

Leaders

  • To lead the follower’s side step, you need to bring your foot to the back and at the same time open your shoulders to the left. Both actions need to happen together, hence creating space for the follower. This move feels like the rotating doors in office building: as one partner goes in one direction, the other goes in the other.
  • To lead the cross, you need to sharply bring your shoulders back to neutral. If you continue opening your torso to the left, the follower will take a forward step instead of crossing on her back leg.

Followers

  • Take a side step around your partner and not away from him, as this will pull him off axis.
  • The lead should be for you to complete your side step and once you are on the right leg, to cross forward with the left leg. The lead is a bit similar to that of the cross of an ocho cortado.
  • Make sure your cross tidily, with both legs parallel and both feet facing the same direction. Make sure you transfer your weight onto the front leg immediately at the cross but wait until the leader marks the exit to step out of the cross. Avoid extending your leg and stepping on your own.

See you soon on the dancefloor,

Nati y Bruno