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

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

Theme: Variations around the promenade

In this class, we saw how to lead and follow a step we call the promenade, which is when the follower walks forward around the leader. It's a sensual move that can be used expressively on a wide range of orchestras. We also saw how to add a little rebound to the promenade to make it even more fun.

Summary video

 

Promenade

Leaders

  • Lead your partner to pivot forward by dissociating to the right. Once you are at a 90 degree angle, start stepping to the side, changing weight every time. This will lead your partner to walk forward in front of you.
  • If you want, you can also do the promenade on the spot, in this case, keep your heels together, and open and close your toes like the hands of a clock to lead your partner around you in a circular motion.
  • To exit the step, wait until your partner steps forward with her left foot (normally this corresponds to an even number of steps). Then, lift her gently, return your torso to neutral to make her face you.

Followers

  • To walk nicely forward around your partner, point the foot of the forward foot as you step and then point the foot of the back leg as you transfer your weight forward.
  • You can do a couple of adornments walking forward. If the music is rhythmical, you can do a little pique, either at the back or next to your supporting leg. If the music is more melodic, you can do a little circle as you step forward.

Both

  • Keep your torso dissociated towards your partner during the whole promenade to keep the connexion.

 

Little step back and forth

Leaders

  • When your partner steps forward with her left leg, block her gently with your extended arm so that she doesn’t complete her transfer of weight.
  • Gently lead her back and forth by opening your torso and if you find it convenient, transferring your weight from one leg to the other.
  • To exit, wait until she steps forward with her left leg, lift gently, block her and return your torso to neutral.

Followers

  • The basic move for followers is to step forward and backward with the left leg. The right leg doesn’t move.
  • This is a fun step where you can do lots of adornments. You can kick with the right leg and if you’re quick enough do a cuatro with the left leg too!

See you soon on the dancefloor,

Nati y Bruno