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: Speed - Theme: Changes of speed - Rebounds and cadencias

In this class, we played with changes of speed. We applied it to the backward ochos by adding little rebounds to this simple step rhythmical and playful. We also focused on cadencias, these littles steps that play with the pendulum technique and that are just, so salón.

Summary video



 

Beginners & improvers: Backward ochos with rebounds

Top tips

  • Leader: You need to lead the pivot for the backward ocho incrementally. Lead a small pivot using a small amount of dissociation, then a rebound, another small pivot, etc. You can repeat the rebounds as many times as you want – just listen to the music!
  • Follower: In the rebounds, try and not put too much weight on the back leg so that you can move to the beat.

 

Intermediates & up: Cadencia with side step for the follower

Top tips

  • Leader: In this step, you need to first lead a change of weight and then a side step. It is a bit counter-intuitive at first but then the lead comes easily with some practice. Try and avoid dissociating as this might make the follower pivot or cross.
  • Follower: In the side step, you’ll need to use the pendulum technique, e.g. try and keep your head with the leader as your feet move from side to side.

 

Intermediates & up: Cadencia together

Top tips

  • Leaders: For this lead, it is easier if you step strongly on your last step before the cadencia.
  • Both: Try and keep a natural movement for the legs, following the pendulum technique we saw in class.

 

Intermediates & up: Vaiven

Top tips

  • Both: The step to the side is with the legs bent whilst the two small steps side to side are with the legs straight.

 

Homework

Top tips

  • Beginners: Practice rebounds on your own in all three directions – forward, back, side.
  • Intermediates and up: Practice pendulum technique in front of a mirror. Whilst keeping the tip of your head at the same spot, move your feet from side to side and let your legs move freely.