Tangodurians

Ah, Musicality. So hard to teach. So so hard. Lessons with Bichi and Luciana who are a lovely couple. Facing all our very blur and quizzical faces and off tempo walking, totally patient and totally strict on the fundamentals. Tough love! Side Runs - Side step then forward outside for the guy, side-collect x3 by the fourth a walk forward, change weight, step back and repeat the whole sequence - To maintain the step and collect to the side, elevate the follower and keep the side on intention clear so she does not end up doing a grapevine, don't let the hips run free (square feel) - Additional post side run will be to rotate the follower so she is on the side of the lead, keeping thighs somewhat close and doing a back-cross sequence x3 as well; the accent is on the back, the cross is a tuck and more of a quick transfer into the next step rather than a rock-step - Do not change the height with the side step, that does not mean that you lock the knee but you try and maintain th...

It's always interesting dropping in on beginners classes because with far more expanded vocabulary, a key understanding of what works and what wasn't and all the sufferings and experiences you've gone through in crafting the final, somewhat balanced you for now, you can see how trying to transmit this to fresh slates reflects on a teachers craft. What better way to test your own understanding then in trying to teach? A far more technical class than I have ever encountered on the fine art of presenting an intent and where to put your arms. Take all the rules, learn them. Then break them all. As long as it works :). On the Beat - Movement is required to arrive to a place, if you want to get to your right leg by the fourth beat, you already have to start the momentum moving BEFORE the fourth beat. If you are still thinking about this concept by the third beat, you're probably too late. The Compression - Send the intent forward, followers will have to respond by ex...

The more and more I think about WHERE I want to be with this dance, the more I'm leaning toward being a visually fun and fantastic person to watch. I know, everyone says the best Tango can never be seen, and I do not disagree with that, in fact I wholeheartedly agree, but at the same time, I find that putting on an 'act' or a persona, allows me end up inhabiting my moves so much more. That the fact that you can fake it til you make it actually has some truth to the matter. When we see teachers, and when we see professionals dance, all I see is the gloss and polish and shine. The confidence is palpable, sometimes because they have a set choreography (which can either be discernible or not), sometimes because they have practiced together since they were 5 and know how just about every sequence will feel like before it is done. Practice. One thing I've always tried to not do is..not practice. I have always felt that practicing takes away the rawness of matching energi...