Level 4 Oct - Dec 2016

Week 5: 21.11.16

We focused on:

• Circular walking 

• Connecting from each other's core's and pelvis / hips and 

• How the pelvic girdle changes when walking forward and back 

Week 4: 14.11.16

We focused on the dramatic music of Osvaldo Pugliese, (for Opera buffs Pugliese is  known as the 'Wagner of Tango'). 'Pugliese is often played later in the evening when the dancers want to dance more slowly, impressionistically and intimately. While being able to dance well to Pugliese's music is the mark of a truly accomplished dancer, his music is very challenging for new dancers.'(Tangology 101)

We concentrated on one of Pugliese's signature songs 'La Yumba'. Recorded in 1946 it showed his respect for the early black musicians of tango...Pugliese took tango to a new level but did not discard its roots in the streets of BA. He stated once that he was inspired to write "La Yumba" by a young black pianist, "I kept my ears open. I remember, around 1930, a young black pianist who used to hang with us. He played by ear in tango dance halls. He was marvelous. We loved this black guy. Me and him used to play, four hands on a keyboard. In Ki-Kongo, where many of the blacks of BA came from, yumba meant "to dance!" Candombe musicians and artists would yell "Oyeye yumba!" (Sing it! Dance it!).' (Tangology 101)

'The term 'yumba' - despite its indigenous origin - was not chosen by Pugliese for its etymology but for its onomatopoeic similarity with the profound gasping from a bandoneón - and the resulting mixture of that sound with other orchestra arrangements.' 

 (Wikipedia)

Here's historic footage of Pugliese (playing piano) and his orchestra:

Week 3: 7.11.16

More focus on musicality - distinguishing and dancing to the 'animals' in the music (song we used for this: 'Poema' by Fransisco Canaro)

Week 2: 31.10.16

Focusing on musicality -  phrasing and ornamenting - in particular to triplets at end of phrases (songs we used for this: Un Tropezon and Tres Esquinas by Angel D'Agostino)

Week 1: 24.10.16

Focusing on follower's technique in particular giros and walking backwards with intention.