presents

Try Tango! class outline

Try Tango! class outline (6:30-7:15 pm)

Thursday, September 3, 2015 — 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Orange Coworking, 2110 W Slaughter Ln #160, Austin, TX 78748
On Facebook: bit.ly/try-tango-2015-09-03

With just two basic moves — stepping and pivoting — you hold the key to the richly creative improvisation of Tango Argentino de Salón – Argentine tango in the style of the social ballroom.

Walking – stepping across the floor

We walk around the edge of the dance floor in race track fashion, and we call the circulating group of dancers la rondathe round. But no passing in this “race”. We stay in our lane, not tailgating the couple ahead, and not dawdling in place too long, creating a traffic jam behind us.

See something you like in another dancer? Feel free to copy it! See something you don’t care for in another dancer? Scan yourself to see if you’re doing the same thing!

Al compásthe beat. Did you think you couldn’t move to a beat? You do it all the time. You have a heartbeat, and you walk with a regular rhythm. Dancing is moving in a way that complements the music, often by stepping on the strong beats.

Moving around the floor, and moving around a spot

What do you do when you find yourself in a traffic jam? You move with the music, on the spot. (When the music is more legato or flowing the dancer may also choose to pivot. More about this later.)

Stepping without walking

Change weight in place
Rebound – touch and return
La cunita – the cradle (or la hamaca – the hammock), rocking steps to-and-fro, possibly turning

Walking backwards

What is walking? “Falling” and recovering.
What is backward walking? Same as forward walking, with the “video” run in reverse. We project our whole moving leg backwards, making space for our partner.

Making connections

To yourself — breathing, sensing, connecting, initiating
With the music
La ronda connection
Environment connection

Partner connection

Our practice embrace: Leader’s hands clasped over own “heart”(base of sternum); Follower’s hand clasping sides of Leader’s shoulders.
Switching roles, Changing partners

Pivoting

Real life examples are mostly between two feet. In tango pivoting is mostly on one foot.

Combining stepping and pivoting

El molinetethe windmill

Leader responsibilities

  • Care for the safety and comfort of your partner and other dancers.
  • Strive for a heart to heart connection with your partner, usually.
  • Know which leg your partner has free (the one that didn’t step last!).
  • Give your partner time to respond to your movement suggestions.
  • Make your dancing comfortable, consistent, and clear.

Follower responsibilities

  • Care for the safety and comfort of your partner and other dancers.
  • Strive for a heart to heart connection with your partner, usually.
  • Keep your weight clearly over the spot where your partner asked you to move, with your other leg free to move.
  • Give your partner time to make their movement suggestions clear to you.
  • Make your dancing comfortable, consistent, and clear.

Práctilonga (7:15-9:00 pm)
A milonga (tango social dance) that is run as a práctica, where you may ask for help and ask your partner for feedback.

The benefits of solo practice

Connect with Argentine Tango in Austin!
austintango.org
facebook.com/groups/austintango
Thoughts on teaching, learning, and practicing

Credits

Co-hosted by Shelley Delayne, OrangeCoworking.com
Orange Coworking, 2110 W Slaughter Ln #160, Austin, TX 78748

Co-hosted by Paola Aguillon-Brashear
Young Living Essential Oils, ylwebsite.com/paola

Quick start Argentine Tango class by David Phillips
TangoTribe.com

DJ by Stephen Shortnacy
Argentine tango teacher, massage therapist
shortnacy.com

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