Level 2 Oct - Dec 2018

Good habits for tango dancers
  • 'Steel vs spaghetti': Your standing leg is like steel - dynamic, strong and grounded, your free leg is like spaghetti: light and loose without tension.
  • Your free leg hip is stable yet loose and lower than your base leg hip (this removes tension from your free leg)
  • 'Collection' - Thigh or ankle (as you prefer) connection as you walk
  • Push off the floor as you walk - to make your walk more dynamic. 
  • Never lock your knees: You standing leg knee is softly flexed (not locked) - this gives you better contact with the floor.
  • Always find your axis - 'it's your beauty and your power'
  • Walk in the line of your hips - Imagine your hips are at the centre of 2 crossing lines: one going forward / back and the other - left /right. The first line is the guide for forward and back steps, the second line guides side steps.
Please see at the bottom of this page...
- Exercises and Drills to practice in between classes, in addition to moves taught each week.
- Spotify music lists and other music resources

Week 7: Starting December 3
We reviewed and integrated all content from Weeks 1 - 7, in preparation for dancing at our End of Term Celebration! No new moves were introduced. Continued emphasis on navigation and connection.

Week 6: Starting November 26
Consolidation and linking of all moves with strong emphasis on musicality:
  • Parallel Cross
  • Giro
  • Ochos
  • Sandwich (from Back Ocho)
  • Medialuna (from Back Ocho)
  • Giro (from Cross)
  • Change of Direction 4 Step Turn
Timing for Giro and Medialuna
Make sure to step / lead double time for side step after back step, i.e.:
(follower's steps)

Giro:
  • Forward '1'
  • Side '3'
  • Back '1'
  • Side '2' (double time)
  • Forward '3' to leader's right
  • Forward  to leader's left '1' (single time) or '3' (half time)  - to complete Forward Ocho
The '1' - '2' - '3' timing for Back - Side - Forward gives a good flow to the Giro.

Medialuna
Same as the last 3 steps of the Giro:
  • Back '1'
  • Side '2' (double time)
  • Forward '3' to leader's right
  • Forward  to leader's left '1' (single time) or '3' (half time) 
Week 5: Starting November 19
We linked the Sandwich and Giro together as follows:

Sandwich - Giro to Right


Giro to Right ending in Sandwich

Week 4: Starting November 12
1) Introduced:
  • Giro to Right from Parallel Cross
Postural points:
  • The follower's steps remain circular without distorting the embrace.
  • That requires both the Leader and Follower to keep the embrace stable and connected.
Musical points:
Follower's steps: (numbers refer to the count in the bar)
Both Leader and Follower need to be actively engaged with the music and  leading / stepping on the beat as follows...

1:  Forward Step Right leg 
3:  Side Step Left leg 
1:  Back step Right leg 
2:  Side Step Left leg 
(Ended with Forward Ocho...)
3:  Forward Step Right leg 
4:  Pivot Right leg
1:  Forward Step to Leader's Left Left leg 

Note:
1 - 2: (bolded) are double time steps
The count for Forward Ocho here is in single time. It could also be in half time as follows:
3 - 4:  Forward Step 
1 - 2:  Pivot 
3:  Forward Step to Leader's Left 

Giro to Right from Parallel Cross


2) Reviewed:
  • Sandwich
  • Medialuna
Week 3: Starting November 5
1) Reviewed:
  • Giro code of walking
  • Flexible embrace
  • Back Ochos from Side Step
  • Medialuna
  • Sandwich
  • Change of Direction step (4 step turn)
2) Linked the above moves with attention to navigation 

Week 2: Starting October 29
1) Introduced: 
  • Giro code of walking
  • Medialuna 
A Medialuna consists of three steps circular (Follower's Back, Side and Forward steps) in the same direction. The version of Medialuna introduced is to the (Leader's) right starting with a Back (cross) Step. 

Leaders, the Medialuna, like the Sandwich, creates a 180 degree turn. To return to the right line of dance lead another 180 degree move such as:
  • another Medialuna / Sandwich
  • Change of Direction step (4 step turn)

Medialuna


2) Review of Sandwich from Back Ocho
3) Improvisation using 
  • Sandwich
  • Medialuna, Ochos
  • Parallel Cross
  • Change of Direction Step
  • Walking
Week 1: Starting October 22
Introduction of Back Ocho from side step ('Salida'):

Back Ocho from Salida


Introduction of Sandwich from Back Ocho:

Improvising with Sandwich


Tango Music - for practicing 
Spotify 
Check out Sophia's spotify lists:
Tango (Trad) Best for practicing musicality - walking to single, double and half time.
Tango (Neo) contemporary songs (good for practicing technique)

Link to 250 songs
The following link will download a fabulous collection of 250 of the most popular songs (tango, vals and milonga) played in milongas around the world! Focus for now only on the tangos. Also focus on instrumental songs as opposed to vocals as these are easier to find the beat. Di Sarli is one of the better orchestras to start with:
http://www.muraterdemsel.com/250TANGO.zip 

This link goes to a zip file (little less than a 1 GB file). 

Here's a link to help you better understand tango music for dancing. 


Homework (for every week)
In addition to reviewing moves from classes make sure to do these drills. Done regularly they will do wonders to your tango!

Can't get motivated?  Then watch this video.

Lapiz Walk

Pivoting Walk