Level 3/4: May - July 2024

Events

Lessons

Welcome to a new term of tango! This term we focus on  musicality, decorations and floor craft.

Lesson 7: Monday 13 May 2024

We reviewed all the material of previous weeks:

• Dancing slowly to melodic music: The focus was on keeping the  steps simple withlots of pausing. The chosen orquestra was Carlos Di Sarli (Lesson 6). On the same theme we introduced the Side Step with Barrida  and Barrida to cross (Lesson 2) and the '2 -Step Cross' (Lesson 1). These moves all suit melodic music.

• Adornos: Adornos that suit rhythmic (staccato) songs and softer (legato) songs (Lesson 5). The main move focused on was the Parada as this move gives lots of opportunities and space for decorating.

• Ochos: variations of Ochos to staccato and legato songs (Lesson 4)

• Dancing to rhythmic / staccato songs: Main moves used were Ocho Cortado with Forward - Side - Back - Step   (Lesson 3).

Lesson 6: Monday 6 May 2024

In Lesson 6 we focused on dancing slowly to melodic music with simple steps and lots of pausing.

We  focused on instrumental songs by Di Sarli such as Baiha Blanca and La Marocha. You will find these in Sophia's Spotify list:  Tango (Trad) or on Youtube if you don't use Spotify.

Check out the video below for a display:

Lesson 5: Monday 29 April 2024

In Lesson 5 we focused on 'Adornos' which is Spanish for Decorations.

We explored sharp punchy (staccato) Adornos to two songs by  Angel D'Agostino :  'Tres Esquinas' and 'Un Tropezon'.

We then explored softer (legato) Adornos to the song 'Alma de Bohemio' - versions by Pedro Laurenz and Ricardo Tanturi. You can find these songs on Sophia's Spotify List:  Tango (Trad) or on Youtube if you don't use Spotify.

Check out the videos below and happy practicing!:

Lesson 4: Monday 22 April 2024

In Lesson 4 we focused on Ochos - in their wide angled form, as taught in our Fundamentals 2 course (entered from Parallel Cross or Side Step), and the elongated form, i.e. Travelling Back Ochos.  The latter is suited to both melodic  but / and particularly rhythmic songs. Wide angled Ochos are not suited to rhythmic songs. 

The combination introduced was: Travelling Back Ochos to Cross System Cross - resolved with the 'Forward - Side - Back Step' . The 'Forward - Side - Back Step' was taught in  Week 3.  

For rhythmic songs refer Lesson 3. For melodic songs refer to Lessons 1 and 2.

Here's the above combination broken down into smaller chuncks:

Lesson 3: Monday 15 April 2024

In Lesson 3 we switched the focus to dancing to rhythmic songs.  The songs we danced to were by Juan D'Arienzo: ''Pensalo Bien", . "Hotel Victoria" "Jueves" and "Paciencia." These songs are in the Tango Trad Spotify playlists. Otherwise, search for these songs on Youtube.

We introduced the 'Ocho Cortado with Forward - Side - Back - Step to resolve which works beautifully for this type of music:

Lesson 2: Monday 8 April 2024

In Lesson 2 we continued to focus on dancing to melodic songs.  The songs we danced to were by Carlos Di Sarli: ''Sonatina", "Verdemar" and "Nuestra Noche". These songs are in the Tango Trad Spotify playlists. Otherwise search for these songs on Youtube.

We introduced the 'Barrida to the Cross from Side Step' which works beautifully for this type of music:

Lesson 1: Monday 25 March 2024

In Lesson 1 we focused on  pausing and dancing half time to melodic songs.  The songs we danced to were by Carlos Di Sarli: 'Bailemos' and 'Tormenta'. Both songs are in the Tango Trad Spotify playlists. Otherwise search for these songs on Youtube.

We introduced the 'Two Step Cross' which works beautifully for this type of music.  We ended this move with a Parada to the left. The video below shows this move as an entry to other moves. For now just focus on the Two Step Cross part of the video.

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)

Vals (Trad)

Milonga (Trad)

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!

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