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: The embrace - Theme: Flat giros

In this class, we looked at how we can use dissociation to lead the difference between a side step, a forward ocho and a backward ocho. It might sound obvious, but it's not! We then applied this technique to really cool steps such as the flat giro, the change of front and the change of weight.

Summary video



 

Beginners & improvers: The flat giro

Top tips

  • Leaders: You need to be very clear in your lead, to lead the different steps in this flat giro. For the side step, your torso should be at neutral, for the forward step you need to dissociate to the right and for the backward step, you need to dissociate to the left. This will then enable you to free yourself from the sequence forward-side-back-side to lead the steps in any combination.
  • Followers: Make sure your free leg keeps moving all the time to make the sequence look smooth and fluid.

 

Intermediates: Flat giro with leaders’ footwork

Top tips

  • Leaders: What is difficult in this step is that you will first mark the beat with your right leg as the follower steps to the side, then with your left leg when you do the cross and last with your right leg.
  • Followers: In this step, you should continue doing the same sequence as before. You might feel that the leader is doing some more complex footwork, but this shouldn’t have any impact on your own move.

 

Intermediates: Change of weight

Top tips

  • Leaders: To lead the change of weight, you can try bringing your axis a bit to your heels and extending your arms, this will make the follower want to step slightly outwards, hence change her weight.
  • Followers: As the leader extends his arm, you should mimic his move, and as a result change your weight on the spot. Do not forget to keep your feet together in the change of weight.

 

Intermediates: Change of front

Top tips

  • Leaders: To lead the change of front, overdissociate so that you lead the follower from a backward ocho to a forward ocho directly. Do not mark any pause as the follower might then use the time to change her weight and maintain a strong connection with your right arm so that she doesn’t do another backward ocho.
  • Followers: At the change of front, you will be going forward with the leg away from the leader, which might feel weird, as in ochos, we always go forward with the leg close to him. Be open to new leads and try the little rulo adornment, it’s so cute!

 

 

Homework

Top tips

  • Leaders: Try all versions in random order to practice the precision of the lead.
  • Followers: In all these sequences, you should keep the free leg moving fluidly without stopping at neutral. Try and move by passing by the middle. The pivots should be sharp and quick to get a nice effect.

 

See you soon on the dancefloor,

Nati y Bruno