Level 3 Oct - Dec 2019

The theme for this term is variations from the Salida
A Salida refers to Leader's side step to the Left.

Week 7: Starting December 2
1. Introduced two combinations to Closed Side of Embrace:
  • Angular Media Luna - ending with Parada or Giro to Right
  • Castigada
Leader leads Follower to over step him - follower takes larger side step than leader

2. Reviewed all moves from previous weeks.

Here is an improvisation using all moves from this term:

Weeks 5 & 6: Starting November 18 and 25
Review of the moves covered in the term:
  • Giros to Left and Right with Entrada / Sacada ending with Sanguchito (same steps leader and follower)
  • Angular Media Luna to Left ending with Giro to Right with Cross System or Parallel entry (Cross System easier) ended with Sanguchito
  • Parada to the left  from Third Position with Parallel and Cross System Cross endings 
  • Parada to the left and right  from Third Position
Week 4: Starting November 11
1. Introduced Giro to Left with Entrada (or Sacada) to second side step - entered from Back cross step. Ending with Sanguchito.
Entrada is between the Follower's legs in side step. Sacada is slightly touching (displacing) Follower's trailing leg (Right leg)

Leader and follower do the same steps at the same time - step for step: Back - Side - Forward - Side.
Leaders make sure you also do a Side step for Sacada or Entrada (not a Forward Step).
Note that the Sandwich is to the Left not to the Right.

The following video also shows a Parallel and Cross System Cross Ending. In Week 4 we did not have time in all venues to work on ending this move with Crosses but we will cover this in Week 5.


2. Reviewed Angular Media Luna to Left from Third Position - ending in Parada to Right - to Cross System or Parallel Cross

Week 3: Starting November 4
1. Introduced Angular Media Luna to Left ending with Giro to Right with Parallel System entry.
This video shows both Parallel and Cross System entry:

2. Reviewed:
  • Reviewed Parada to the left from Third Position with Parallel and Cross System Cross endings (Week 1)
  • Angular Media Luna entered from Third position (Leader's Right leg forward) - Forward Cross Step to Left - resolved with Parada to Right (Week 2)
  • Angular Media Luna to Left ending with Giro to Right with Cross System Entry (Week 2)  
3. Improvised and navigated with above moves.

Week 2: Starting October 28

1. Introduced Angular Media Luna with different endings.

This Media Luna is described as 'Angular' because the traditional Media Luna (from Level 2 syllabus shown in video below) consists of more circular steps:

Here's the variations covered in Week 2:

- Angular Media Luna entered from Third position (Leader's Right leg forward) - Forward Cross Step to Left - resolved with Parada to Right:


- Angular Media Luna entered cross system position (Leader's Left leg forward) - Giro - Sandwich:


2. Reviewed Parada to the left from Third Position (Week 1)
3. Alternated and improvised with all moves from Week 1 and 2

Week 1: Starting October 21
Introduced Parada to the Left from Third Position.
This involved 3 different endings:
  • Cross System Cross
  • Parallel Cross
  • Travelling Ochos to Cross System Cross

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.
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 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: 250 songs download
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.

For reading: