5 posts from November 2008

Ed described an exercise to me before the beginner class started. It goes like this:
1. Step forward with the left foot.
2. Rotate the upper body to the left.
3. Release the hips to rotate the body to the left.
4. Correct the right foot.

Then do the same exercise with the right foot.

In the beginner class we practiced leading and following in Open position(?). Then we practiced Back Ocho. The routine goes like this:
1. Step backward with the right foot.
2. Step to the left with the left foot. Correct the right foot and shift the weight to the right foot.
3. Pivot the follower on their right foot to the left a little. Step forward with the left foot slightly to the left. Correct the right foot.
4. Pivot the follower on their left foot to the right (Ocho). Step forward with the right foot slightly to the right. Correct the left foot.
5. Pivot the follower on their right foot to the left (Ocho). Step forward with the left foot slightly to the left. Correct the right foot.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5.

In the advanced class, we modified the routine from the beginner class. The routine in the advanced class goes like this:
1. Step backward with the right foot.
2. Step to the left with the left foot. Correct the right foot and shift the weight to the right foot.
3. Pivot the follower on their right foot to the left a little. Step forward with the left foot and touch the follower's right foot with the left foot. Correct the right foot.
4. Pivot the follower on their left foot to the right (Ocho). Step forward with the right foot and touch the follower's left foot with the right foot. Correct the left foot.
5. Pivot the follower on their right foot to the left (Ocho). Step forward with the left foot and touch the follower's right foot with the left foot. Correct the right foot.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5.

Then we modified the routine. The new routine goes like this:
1. Step backward with the right foot.
2. Step to the left with the left foot. Correct the right foot and shift the weight to the right foot. Pivot the follower on their right foot to the left. The dancers stand almost perpendicular to each other (the follower faces to the leader's right).
3. Step to the left with the left foot slightly forward to step the follower backward (left foot). Correct the right foot. Pivot the follower on their left foot to the right (Ocho). The rotation of this pivot should be big.
4. Step forward with the right foot in between the follower's feet to lead the follower into Gancho. Pivot on the right foot to the right. Correct the left foot. The dancers stand perpendicular to each other (the follower faces to the leader's left).
5. Step to the left with the left foot to step the follower forward (left foot). Correct the right foot.
6. Pivot the follower on their left foot to the left. The dancers face each other.
7. Perform steps 6 to 8 of the Basic steps.

The teachers advised us that if we want to perform Gancho, the leader should aim for the follower's supporting leg. Otherwise, the follower will perform Sacada.

About the previous class: [Dance] Nora's Argentine Tango No.24

In the beginner's class, we did the following routine:
1. (1-5) Perform steps 1 to 5 of the Basic Steps.
2. (&) Step to the left with the left foot slightly forward. Correct the right foot so that the leader is standing slightly to the right of the follower. Release the right hand connection and rotate the body to the right to make room in front of the follower.
3. (6) Rotate the body to the right to step the follower forward (right foot).
4. (7) Pivot the follower on their right foot to the right. The dancers stand perpendicular to each other. Shift the weight to the right foot.
5. (8) Step to the left with the left foot to step the follower forward (left foot). Rotate the follower a little to the left. The dancers face each other.
6. (9-11). Perform steps 6 to 8 of the Basic Steps.

In the advanced class, we modified the routine from the beginners class. The routine in the advanced class goes like this:
1. (1-5) Perform steps 1 to 5 of the Basic Steps.
2. (&) Step to the left with the left foot slightly forward. Correct the right foot so that the leader is standing slightly to the right of the follower. Release the right hand connection and rotate the body to the right to make room in front of the follower.
3. (6) Rotate the body to the right to step the follower forward (right foot).
4. (&) Step forward with the right foot and perform Sacada with the follower's left foot.
5. (7) Pivot the follower on their right foot to the right. The dancers face the same direction.
6. (8) Step the follower forward (left foot).
7. (&) Rotate the lower body to the left, step backward with the left foot and perform Back Sacada with the follower's right foot. Don't pitch the upper body forward. Correct the right foot and shift the weight to the right foot.
8. (9) Pivot the follower on their left foot to the right.
9. (10) Step the follower to the right (right foot).
10. (&) Step forward with the left foot and perform Sacada with the follower's left foot.
11. (11) Pivot on the left foot to the right to pivot the follower on their right foot to the right. Correct the right foot and shift the weight. Step the follower backward (left foot).
12. (&) Step forward with the left foot and perform Sacada with the follower's right foot. The dancers almost face each other.
13. (12) Step to the right with the right foot slightly backward to step the follower forward (right foot).
14. (13) Cross the left foot in front of the right foot. Pivot the follower on their right foot to the right. (Americana?)
15. (14) Step forward with the right foot to step the follower forward (left foot).
16. (15) Rotate the follower a little to the left. Perform steps 6 to 8 of the Basic Steps.

About the previous class: [Dance] Nora's Argentine Tango No.23

In the beginner's class, we did the following routine:
1. Step backward with the right foot. Correct the left foot.
2. Step to the left with the left foot. Correct the right foot.
3. Step forward with the right foot. Correct the left foot to pivot the follower on their left foot to the right. The dancers stand perpendicular to each other. Shift the weight to the left foot.
4. Step to the right with the right foot to step the follower backward (right foot). Correct the left foot to pivot the follower on their right foot to the left (Ocho). Shift the weight to the left foot.
5. Repeat step 3.
6. Repeat step 4.
7. Step forward with the right foot (Basic Step 3).
8. Perform the rest of the Basic Steps from step 4.

Then we modified the routine. It goes like this:
1. Step backward with the right foot. Correct the left foot.
2. Step to the left with the left foot. Correct the right foot.
3. Step forward with the right foot. Correct the left foot to pivot the follower on their left foot to the right. The dancers stand perpendicular to each other. Shift the weight to the left foot.
4. Step to the right with the right foot to step the follower backward (right foot). Correct the left foot to pivot the follower on their right foot to the left (Ocho). Shift the weight to the left foot.
5. Repeat step 3.
6. Step to the right with the right foot to step the follower backward (right foot). Correct the left foot.
7. Step to the left with the left foot to step the follower forward (left foot). Correct the right foot to pivot the follower on their left foot to the right (Ocho).
8. Step to the right with the right foot to step the follower forward (right foot). Correct the left foot to pivot the follower on their right foot to the right (Ocho).
9. Step to the left with the left foot to step the follower forward (left foot). Correct the right foot to pivot the follower on their left foot to the right. This rotation is smaller. The dancers face each other.
10. Step forward with the left foot (Basic Step 6).
11. Perform the rest of the Basic Steps from step 7.

See the video of the performance by the teachers:

We did the following routine in the advanced class:
1. (1) Step backward with the right foot. Correct the left foot.
2. (2) Step to the left with the left foot. Correct the right foot.
3. (3) Step forward with the right foot.
4. (4) Twist the lower body to the left and hook the left foot behind the right foot. The left toe touches the follower's left toe.
5. (&) Shift the weight to the left foot. Move the right foot over the left foot (the right foot should stay in the air).
6. (5) Pivot on the left foot to the right and step backward with the right foot to shift the follower's weight to their left foot.
7. (&) Pivot the follower on their left foot to the right.
8. (6) Step the follower backward. Shift the weight to the left foot and perform Sacada.
9. (&) Step forward with the right foot. This step should curve to the right to pivot the follower.
10. (7) Step forward with the left foot. Correct the right foot and shift the weight to the right foot.
11. (8) Step to the left with the left foot. Correct the right foot.

See the video of the performance by the teachers:

About the previous class: [Dance] Nora's Argentine Tango No.22

In the beginner's class, we did the following routine:
1. (1) Step backward with the right foot.
2. (2) Step to the left with the left foot.
3. (3) Step forward with the right foot. Rotate the upper body to the right a little.
4. (4) Step forward with the left foot. Don't shift the weight to the left foot completely. Rotate the upper body to the left a little.
5. (&) Shift the weight to the right foot.
6. (5) Step backward with the left foot.
7. (6) Rotate the body to the right to step the follower to the left (left foot). Move the right foot with the body rotation and land next to the left foot.
8. (&) Shift the weight to the left foot to shift the follower's weight (to the right foot).
9. (7) Rotate the body to the left to lead the follower into crossing their feet. Move the right foot with the body rotation and land next to the left foot. Shift the weight to the right foot.
10. (8) Step forward with the left foot (Basic Step 6).
11. (9) Step to the right with the right foot (Basic Step 7).
12. (10) Close the left foot to the right foot and shift the weight to the left foot (Basic Step 8).

See the video of the performance by the teachers:

We did the following routine in the advanced class:
0. (0?) Shift the follower's weight to their left foot. However, the leader should maintain the weight on their right foot.
1. (1) Step backward with the right foot to step the follower forward (right foot). Pivot the follower on their right foot to the right. The dancers stand perpendicular to each other.
2. (2) Step to the left with the left foot to step the follower forward (left foot).
3. (3) Step forward with the right foot to step the follower to the right (right foot). Pivot on the right foot to the right. The dancers face each other.
4. (4) Step the follower backward (right foot, slightly to the left?). Step forward with the left foot and perform Sacada with the left foot to the follower's right foot to pivot the follower on their left foot to the right.
5. (5) Step forward with the right foot to step the follower backward (right foot).
6. (&) Pivot on the right foot to the right to step the follower to the left (left foot).
7. (6) Step the follower forward (right foot). Correct the left foot to pivot the follower on their right foot to the right (Ocho). Shift the weight to the left foot.
8. (7) Step forward with the right foot to lead the follower into Americana (the follower steps forward with the left foot).
9. (&) Pivot on the right foot to the right and rotate at the waist as well. But don't rotate the upper body. Correct the left foot and shift the weight to the left foot. Pivot on the left foot to the left and rotate at the waist as well. But don't rotate the upper body. The follower performs the same moves except they perform as a mirror image.
10. (8) Step forward with the right foot.
11. (9) Pivot the follower on their left foot to the left. Step forward with the left foot (Basic Step 6).
12. (10) Step to the right with the right foot (Basic Step 7).
13. (11) Close the left foot to the right foot and shift the weight to the left foot (Basic Step 8).

See the video of the performance by the teachers:

About the previous class: [Dance] Nora's Argentine Tango No.21

In the beginner's class, we did the following routine:
1. Step backward with the right foot.
2. Step to the left with the left foot.  Correct the right foot and shift the weight to the right foot.
3. Step forward with the left foot to the follower's left side.
4. Step forward with the right foot. Rotate the upper body to the left to face the chest to the follower.
5. Rotate the hips to the right a little and step forward with the left foot. The thighs should be tightly closed when the left foot moves forward. The left leg may touch the inside of the follower's right leg.
6. Rotate the hips to the left a little and step forward with the right foot to the right side of the follower. (Take a bigger step for the next move???)
7. Shift the weight completely to the right foot to lead the follower into crossing their feet. The left foot stays behind.
8. Step forward with the left foot (Basic Step 6).
9. Step to the right with the right foot (Basic Step 7).
10. Close the left foot to the right foot and shift the weight to the left foot (Basic Step 8).

See the video of the performance by the teachers:

We did the following routine in the advanced class:
1. (1) Step backward with the right foot.
2. (2) Step to the left with the left foot. Correct the right foot and shift the weight to the right foot.
3. (3) Step forward with the left foot to the left side of the follower to step the follower backward (left foot).
4. (&) Pivot on the left foot to the left to lead the follower into Rock step. Continue facing the chest to the follower while pivoting. The lower body needs to rotate about half a turn. This lower body rotation makes stepping forward easier in the next step.
5. (4) Step forward with the right foot to step the follower forward (right foot). The right foot should cross over the follower's right foot.
6. (&) Pivot on the right foot to the right (almost three quarters?) to step the follower to the left (left foot).
7. (5) Step forward with the left foot in between the follower's feet and perform Sacada. Squeeze the right foot to the left foot.
8. (6?) Step to the right with the right foot to step the follower backward (right foot). Squeeze the left foot to the right foot. The follower performs Back Ocho (counterclockwise).
9. (7?) Step forward with the left foot.
10. (8?) Step forward with the right foot.
11. (9?) Step forward with the left foot (Basic Step 6).
12. (10?) Step to the right with the right foot (Basic Step 7).
13. (11?) Close the left foot to the right foot and shift the weight to the left foot (Basic Step 8).

See the video of the performance by the teachers:

About the previous class: [Dance] Nora's Argentine Tango No.20