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: Axis- Theme: Volcadas

Volcadas are one of the most classic out-of-axis tango steps where the follower leans forward and puts her weight on to the leader. This is a step where the follower needs to trust her partner with her weight.

Summary video



 

Beginners/Improvers: Pendulum

Top tips

  • Leaders: To lead the pendulum, make sure you change lane first. Then, the lead is a combination of a lift from the embrace and a sudden stop.
  • Followers: For this step to happen, your free leg should truly be free. If it is too contracted, then it won’t be able to move freely. To make the move nice, make sure you engage your foot to keep it pointed.

 

Intermediated & up: Volcadita

Top tips

  • Leaders: To distinguish between the volcadita and a normal cortado, you need to lift the follower as soon as she steps forward. If you take a bigger step backward than for a normal cortado, you’ll have more space to lead her to cross in the volcadita and the step will appear more out-of-axis.
  • Followers: For the volcadita, make sure you engage your core muscles to keep your back straight. Cross your feet tightly and change your weight to exit the cross as normal.

 

Intermediated & up: Volcada

Top tips

  • Leaders: Make sure you keep your axis forward to be able to support the follower’s weight. If you allow your axis to go backwards, you might end up falling backwards.
  • Followers: For any vocada, you need to make sure you anchor yourself by pushing your heel into the floor and pushing your arms down (as if you wanted to get out of a swimming pool). By creating these 2 anchor points, you’ll feel that you protect your back and maintain your posture even when out of axis.

 

Homework

Top tips

  • Leaders: Ideally, try and practice the volcada feeling with someone.
  • Followers: You can practice the volcada on your own, leaning against a wall.