Learning Tango

[Lynn]

Originally Posted by JonD

Well, now that you mention it .......... Sorry, I didn't mean it to sound as if it was my inspiration!

I'm sure I wasn't the first to think of it either, Johnah probably already had been planning to do something.

A friend sent me a link yesterday to a tango holiday - but at £1499 its well out of my current holiday price range!

[David Bailey]

Originally Posted by Lynn

I'm sure I wasn't the first to think of it either, Johnah probably already had been planning to do something.

Yes - I may be guilty of solipsism here, but it seems like AT has become much more popular over the past year or so around here, lots of people seem to be learning it at the moment. So it makes sense to cater for them.

Which is a Good Thing of course

[JonD]

Originally Posted by Lynn

A friend sent me a link yesterday to a tango holiday - but at £1499 its well out of my current holiday price range!

Eeek! For that money it has got to be in Buenos Aires and probably in the Dandi Royal. You can do a trip there much more cheaply if you put it together yourself. Flights Madrid-BsAs-Madrid are around £400, you can probably find decent hostel accommodation for about £15 a night and food is really cheap. If you want more information on places to stay, or want some contact details at the Dandi, then let me know. Mind you, I'd hate to go to BsAs on my own - much more fun and less traumatic with someone or as part of a group.

The best value holiday I've found is Tango Valley - it's just brilliant at €410 for the week and the most amazing experience. Pure heaven. Travel costs shouldn't be too horrendous either - unless you live in Belfast from where you can't fly direct to anywhere closer than Nice! Still, French trains are quite cheap or you could do Belfast-Bristol-Toulouse.

[Lynn]

Originally Posted by JonD

Eeek! For that money it has got to be in Buenos Aires and probably in the Dandi Royal. You can do a trip there much more cheaply if you put it together yourself...

Yes, it was Buenos Aires, I didn't look at it too closely though as no way I could even think about it. I quite like putting holidays together myself though, so would consider that option, but not for this year, I would need to actually go to the AT classes first and learn something!

Originally Posted by JonD

I'd hate to go to BsAs on my own - much more fun and less traumatic with someone or as part of a group.

Possibly why my friend sent me the link, he probably doesn't want to go on his own either!

Originally Posted by JonD

The best value holiday I've found is Tango Valley - it's just brilliant at €410 for the week and the most amazing experience. Pure heaven. Travel costs shouldn't be too horrendous either - unless you live in Belfast from where you can't fly direct to anywhere closer than Nice! Still, French trains are quite cheap or you could do Belfast-Bristol-Toulouse.

That's a more affordable price...Belfast-Bristol can be cheap so that would be a fairly easy option.

[JonD]

Originally Posted by DavidJames

It's figuring out when she's stopped playing, basically.

Here's a little game to play - I'd suggest doing it at a practica, rather than a milonga to start with.

With a partner, in practice hold, start by leading a simple walk forwards and backwards. As you walk your partner should try to take over the lead - using intention rather than force (a request rather than an order). As soon as you sense that your partner wants to take over you relinquish the lead and become the follower. Keep repeating the lead swop. When it's starting to work try doing the same thing but without any physical contact between you. (Look: No Hands!)

Next step is to do the same thing but instead of waiting for your partner to take over the lead try suggesting that you want to relinquish the lead. As soon as your partner senses your "offer" then she should accept it. Keep repeating it until you can both feel how to "offer the lead" to your partner and what it feels like to be "offered the lead" and how to let your partner know that you are accepting it. Again, do the same but without physical contact.

When you've got the exercise working reasonably well start to concentrate on making the transfer of lead smooth and almost imperceptible.

It's an interesting exercise and has helped me to develop a sensitivity to when my partner wants to play and when they want to put their toys away. I find it helps in MJ as well as I'm more aware of my partner's "intention".

[philsmove]

Originally Posted by DavidJames

It's figuring out when she's stopped playing, basically. ?

This is not my advice (I am just a beginner) but it’s what I think my teachers would tell you

In order for the dance to work there has to be a “Connection” between you and your partner, which why so much time is spent on the way you hold your self and how you embrace your partner. Most ladies will appreciate being given time for decorations. If you want to regain the lead breath in on raise your body and take the lead
“were the man goes the lady must follow” Liz Strictly Ballroom

If you are both listening to and interpreting the music, rather than trying to do a routine, this will help


If after 3 dances you have failed to find “a connection” it’s a valid reason for refusing future dances

[JonD]

Originally Posted by philsmove

were the man goes the lady must follow” Liz Strictly Ballroom

Or as a teacher from Rome once said to me "Be a bull"!

You're right about you taking the lead back but the difficulty is sometimes knowing when your partner wants to relinquish the lead. It may be that you're quite happy standing there letting her rub her leg up and down yours but she's getting bored with it. She isn't going to just stop cold and stare at you so you she needs to develop a way of saying "OK, I've had enough of the coquettish stuff and I want you to be a bull again" and the leader needs to develop the ability to read that. There's a lot in the breathing and slight raising of the frame to say "I'm going to lead you now" and the opposites are a good way to indicate "please take the lead" but that's something I think you need to discover rather simply be told a specific technique". All followers will do it differently so you need to develop the "sense" for it.

It happens to me sometimes when I'm trying to dance Blues, at which I am pretty awful. I've sent my partner out and she's strutting her stuff brilliantly. I'm standing there all proud and strong and quite happy as she makes up to me but fail to spot when she's had enough of the solo act. There's either an awkward pause before I pick up the lead again or she wraps herself round me and whispers in my ear "lead you plonker" or some other similar endearment. (Personally I prefer the latter solution, despite the abuse).

[RogerR]

Prob my MOST intimidating dance experience ever was when sitting behind the one table debating whether to ask a stranger to dance with me (very much a beginner) the two Zotto brothers and the whole cast from T P D came and sat at the same table.

[David Bailey]

Originally Posted by JonD

Here's a little game to play - I'd suggest doing it at a practica, rather than a milonga to start with.

Thanks! I'll try that on Monday - going to a practica then.

Originally Posted by JonD

It's an interesting exercise and has helped me to develop a sensitivity to when my partner wants to play and when they want to put their toys away. I find it helps in MJ as well as I'm more aware of my partner's "intention".

Yes - and it certainly sounds like that exercise is transferrable to MJ as well. Interesting...

[Kev F]

Originally Posted by Lynn

I thought I would start a thread for anyone learning Argentine Tango to share their experiences.

Lory and I have been learning small doses of AT over the last five months. It is soooo different from any other dance and every time you learn something it creates another 101 questions to be answered.

I will deal with just one of these.

My initial difficulty was being sure which foot the lady was on at any given point. I used to try and practise when alone, but unfortunately found that even though I could practise the chest lead, it gave me no help to the ladies foot positioning.

So.......I had this great idea.(Nobody in the world knows what I'm about to tell you next) I went out and purchased a Barbie doll and matching Ken (and also got son of B&K for free ) I would set the up the dolls so as to answer many questions, especially feet postioning and exploring the possibilities available to the lead, at any given point. This was a massive help to me and I would recommend this to any frustrated new AT dancer, who can't wait until the next lesson to have their questions answered.

Unfortunately.......My dog ate them (bad dog smilie)

Ken and son of Ken were only slightly mauled...oh... and Ken lost the toes on his right foot. Barbie wasn't quite as lucky, but I managed to stick her arm back on with some masking tape.

The Barbie Tango family are now reunited and dancing well.

[WittyBird]

Originally Posted by Kev F

The Barbie Tango family are now reunited and dancing well.

superb that's really cheered me up!

[Lory]

Originally Posted by Kev F

The Barbie Tango family are now reunited and dancing well.

I'm seriously worried about you Kev!




Hmm I'm wondering if I really should be worrying about myself? Look at the state of poor Barbie's bitten legs

[JonD]

Brilliant! That dog is great. You can just see him growling "Tread on Barbie's feet again and I'll chew your toes off".

[LMC]

I expect the dog was feeling left out - why didn't you ask him or her to dance? - http://www.worldcaninefreestyle.org/

Best laugh I've had all day, thanks Kev

[David Bailey]

Originally Posted by Kev F

This was a massive help to me and I would recommend this to any frustrated new AT dancer, who can't wait until the next lesson to have their questions answered.

Am I the only one who thinks "Hmmm... worth a try..." ?

[JonD]

Originally Posted by DavidJames

Am I the only one who thinks "Hmmm... worth a try..." ?

David, they wouldn't understand ...........

[philsmove]

Originally Posted by JonD

they wouldn't understand ...........

Amy - D.E.B.S. (2003)
sorry wrong thread

[Lory]

I for one am very grateful to Barbie

during our lesson yesterday, Kev and I were learning Sacada's (displacement) which basically means, he puts one of his feet between mine, then steps onto it, forcing my foot out of the way. (incidentally, when it goes right, it feels great )

But, I had to stand for quite some time on a bent leg while the other one was being moved (kicked, swished) about. First the teacher would use me to demo, then Kev would have a go, then they'd swap back again.. In the end, Kev was left with a head full of possibilities to try, some work, some don''t but it takes a while to work out why

From any position, there seems to be endless choices but you HAVE to know what foot the ladies on and what angle your coming from

As a woman, thankfully don't have to worry about all that, I just have to step 'confidently' onto my next foot, gathering the other foot to the 'waiting position,' it's the mans job to know what foot i'm on!

Keep up the good work Barbie!