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.

This month, we are looking at steps inspired by old school milongueros, these couples who danced during the Golden Age of tango and who paved the way. We are encouraging you strongly to watch videos of each of these couples on Youtube. The steps we are showing in class are inspired by these old school milongueros, but if you want to have a better idea of their own individual style, musicality, elegance, you’ll need to watch their videos. We’ll be posting quite a few videos on our blog too, so come back often!

Dimension: Immersion - Theme: Steps inspired by Osvaldo Zotto

In this class, we started by reviewing the classic cross. In the intermediate class, we focused on a step with 2 empujaditas and another with an old-fashioned traditional back boleo.

Summary video

 

Beginners & improvers: The cross

Top tips

  • Leaders: It’s very important to dissociate towards your partner in the side step. It is the signal for her to step shorter than you and also this dissociation is what you need to later lead the cross.
  • Followers: At the cross, make sure you transfer your weight immediately on your front leg. However, do not exit the cross on your own, but wait for the lead.

 

Intermediates & up: Giro with sacadas and empujaditas

Top tips

  • Leaders: The empujadita (a high / thigh sacada) happens because you need to place your foot between the follower’s feet. When you transfer your weight to the front leg, the follower’s leg will automatically be displaced. Try and avoid kicking the follower with your hips or knees to create the empujaditas! Never a good look!
  • Followers: Make sure you take steps of equal size around the leader.

 

Intermediates & up: Giro with old fashioned boleo

Top tips

  • Leaders: When leading the boleo, make sure your weight is 100% on your front leg.
  • Followers: This old fashioned boleo is much easier than the boleos you might be used to: simply tuck your knee behind the supporting leg and pivot your supporting leg.

 

Homework

Top tips

  • Beginners: Practice the cross lead or following on your own.
  • Intermediates: Leaders: Practice the footwork for the giros on your own. Followers: Practice the old-fashioned boleo on your own.