7 posts tagged “boleo”

In the beginner class, we did the following routine:
1-5. Perform Basic Steps from 1 to 5.
6. The leader faces the Line Of Dance. Step forward with the left foot.
&. Pivot on the left foot to the left about 90 degrees. Keep the follower's orientation to the leader the same while pivoting. Face the center of the room.
7. Step to the right with the right foot.
8. Correct the left foot and shift the weight to the left foot.
9 (= 1). Step backward with the right foot to the right and start rotating to the left.
&. Pivot on the right foot to the left.
10 (= 2). Take a little backward step with the left foot. Pivot on the left foot to the left until the leader faces the Line Of Dance.
11-16 (= 3-8). Perform Basic Steps 3 to 8.

We also 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. Rotate the upper body to the left to lead the follower into Back Ocho (to the left).
3. Step forward with the left foot to the follower's right to step the follower backward (left foot).
&. Correct the right foot. Rotate the upper body to the right to lead the follower into Back Ocho (to the right).
4. Step forward with the right foot to the follower's left to step the follower backward (right foot).
&. Correct the left foot. Rotate the upper body to the left to lead the follower into Back Ocho (to the left).
5. Step forward with the left foot to the follower's right to step the follower backward (left foot).
&. Correct the right foot. Rotate the upper body to the right to pivot the follower to the right.
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).
8. Pivot the follower on their left foot to the left (Planeo). Correct the right foot.
9. Step forward with the left foot (Basic Step 6).
10. Step to the right with the right foot (Basic Step 7).
11. Correct the left foot (Basic Step 8).

See the video of the performance by the teachers:

In the advanced class, we did the following routine:
1. Step backward with the right foot.
2. Step to the left with the left foot.
3. Step forward with the right foot to step the follower backward (left foot).
&. Correct the left foot and shift the weight to the left foot to lead the follower to shift their weight (to their right foot).
4. Step backward with the right foot to step the follower forward (left foot).
5. Step to the left with the left foot to step the follower to the right (right foot).
6-7. Perform steps 3 to 4.
8. Step to the left with the left foot to step the follower to the right (right foot). Move the right foot to touch the inside of the follower's right foot.
9. Rotate the upper body to the left to lead the follower into Boleo (the follower pivots on their right foot to the left).
&. Unwind the rotation a little, then rotate the upper body to the left again to lead the follower into the 2nd Boleo.
10. Unwind the rotation to pivot the follower to the right. Continue to pivot the follower to lead into Amague.
11. Pivot the follower on their right foot to the left.
12. Step the follower backward (left foot). Step forward with the left foot and perform Sacada with the follower's right foot.
&. Pivot on the left foot to the left.
12. Step backward with the right foot to step the follower forward (right foot).

See the video of the performance by the teachers:

About the previous class: [Dance] Nora's Argentine Tango No.34

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. This step should be small.
4. (&) Shift the weight to the left foot.
5. (4) Step to the right with the right foot. This step should be small.
6. (&) Shift the weight to the left foot.
7. (5) Step forward with the right foot (Basic Step 3).
8. (6) Step forward with the left foot (Basic Step 4).
9. (7) Close the right foot to the left foot and shift the weight to the right foot (Basic Step 5).
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).

Nora told me that I should perform step 3 (count 3) the same as Basic Step 3. I should rotate my upper body to the right. She also mentioned that steps should be smaller during Cadencia.

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.
3. (3) Step forward with the right foot.
4. (&) Pivot on the right foot to the right to pivot the follower to the right.
5. (4) Step to the left with the left foot (small step) to step the follower to the right with their right foot.
6. (&) Catch the follower's left foot with the leader's right foot. The inside toe of the right foot touches the floor. Rotate the hips to the left and point both knees in almost the same direction. Bend the right knee while squeezing the right knee to the left knee to pull the follower's foot forward. Move the right foot forward to push the follower's foot. Don't shift the weight to the right foot.
7. (5) Squeeze the right foot to the left foot and step to the right with the right foot to lead the follower into Amague.
8. (6?) Correct the left foot and shift the weight to the left foot.
9. (7?) Lead the follower into Back Ocho. Step forward with the right foot and correct the left foot to perform Sacada.
10. (8?) Step backward with the left foot (slightly to the right?) to lead the follower into Gancho.

See the video of the performance by the teachers:

We did the following routine in the Milonga:
1. (1) Step to the left with the left foot.
2. (2) Perform Boleo with the right foot.
3. (3) Return the right foot to the original position.
4. (4) Perform Boleo with the right foot.
5. (5) Return the right foot to the original position.
6. (6) Step forward with the right foot. The follower also steps forward (Americana?)
7. (7) Step forward with the left foot.
8. (&) Step to the right with the right foot.
9. (8) Close the left foot to the right foot.

Nora told me that my right arm should surround my partner. And when I perform Boleo I should rotate my right arm inward (counterclockwise).

About the previous class: [Dance] Nora's Argentine Tango No.19

Today, we did the same accelerated move as last week. The accelerated move is called Corrida. It means to run.
After that we did a move with back Ocho for the follower. The steps go like this:
1. Step backward with the right foot.
2. Step to the left with the left foot. Close the right foot to the left foot. Once the heels are closed, rotate the upper body to the left. Also shift the weight to the right foot.
3. Step forward with the left foot to the outside of the follower. Close the right foot to the left foot. Once the heels are closed, rotate the upper body to the right. Do not shift the weight to the right foot.
4. Step forward with the right foot to the outside of the follower. Close the left foot to the right foot. Once the heels are closed, rotate the upper body to the left. Do not shift the weight to the left foot.
5. Repeat step 3.
6. Repeat step 4. Then, stop the body rotation. Rotate the body to the right. The follower will perform Boleo.

The steps are not completed yet. The class ended in the middle of the routine. I hope they will teach us the remainder of the routine next week.

About the previous class: [Dance] Nora's Argentine Tango No.3

We did Empujada, Boleo and Gancho. The routine that includes all these moves goes like this:
1. Step to the left with the left foot, close the right foot to the left foot and shift the weight to the right foot. Only the leader shifts the weight.
2. Step forward with the left foot.
3. Step forward with the right foot.
4. Wait for the follower to finish Cruzada.
5. Step forward with the left foot.
6. Step forward with the right foot.
7. Step forward with the left foot.
8. Wait for the follower to finish Cruzada.
9. Tap the inside of the follower's left foot with the outside of the leader's right foot.
10. As soon as the follower's right foot touches the leader's right foot, step backward diagonally to the right with the right foot. Maintain the frame and move with the follower. The follower will move the right foot with the leader's right foot, so that it looks like the follower's right foot is pushing the leader's right foot.
11. Step backward diagonally to the right with the left foot.
12. Repeat steps 10 and 11.
13. Step forward diagonally to the left with the left foot.
14. Sweep the follower's right foot with the leader's right foot diagonally to the left.
15. Repeat step 13.

We did two variations after step 15. The first variation goes like this:
16. Rotate the body to the right. Sweep the follower's right foot with the leader's right foot to create momentum for the follower to rotate to the right. Then, stop the follower's rotation and the follower will perform Boleo.
17. Step the follower forward and lead into Ocho.
18. Step the follower forward and lead into Ocho.
19. Perform Resolución.

The second variation goes like this:
16. Rotate the body to the right. Sweep the follower's right foot with the leader's right foot to create momentum for the follower to rotate to the right.
17. Keep moving the follower backward so that the follower steps backward with the right foot.
18. Step forward with the right foot right between the follower's feet, in front of the follower's right foot. Keep moving the follower backward. The follower will perform Gancho with the left foot.
19. Move the follower forward and lead into Ocho.
20. Perform Resolución.

About the previous class: [Dance] Argentine Tango group class No. 14

We added Lapiz to the basic steps to slow down steps.

After that we did a routine that started with Boleo. It goes like this:
1. Step to the left with the left foot. Without pausing, rotate the body to the left.
2. Before the follower steps backward, reverse the follower's direction of rotation.
3. Make the follower step forward to the leader's left side. Step forward with the right foot and land behind the follower's right foot. Then pivot on the right foot to the left.
4. Step backward with the left foot. Keep the follower to the right.
5. Step backward with the right foot slightly to the right. This step can be bigger than the other steps. Then do Back Ocho to the left. Keep the frame, especially with the right arm, so that the follower will do Ocho as well.

Steps 4 and 5 can be repeated with this routine.

We did a couple of endings with the routine. One is starting over from the beginning:
6. Step backward with the left foot.
7. Step backward with the right foot.
8. Start from step 1.

Another option is doing Molinete (left).
6. Step the follower to the right and rotate the follower to the left.
7. Step the follower backward.
8. Step the follower to the right.
9. Step the follower forward and rotate the follower to the left.
10. Step the follower to the right and rotate the follower to the left.
11. Step the follower backward.
12. Step forward. Probably, stepping forward with the left foot is an easier ending.

About the previous class: [Dance] Argentine Tango group class No. 8

I returned to the Argentine Tango class at Starlite. We learned the following moves: Cadena ("chain"), Parada ("to stop"), Ocho and Resolución.

The leader's steps of Cadena are:
1. Step forward with the left foot.
2. Pivot on the left foot and rotate to the left (maintain scissors stance?). I should not shift my weight to the right foot, should I?
3. (Probably shift the weight to the right foot, then...) Step backward with the left foot.
4. Cross the right foot in front of the left foot and rotate to the left a little. Switch the weight to the right foot.

The leader can repeat the above steps. The leader begins with step 1 and the follower begins with step 3 at the same time. Then leader and follower perform subsequent steps accordingly.  As further explanation, after the follower completes step 4, she performs step 1 while the leader performs step 3.

There is an option on step 4. The dancer can do Boleo before switching his or her weight.

Prior to doing Cadena, the leader stepped to the left with the left foot, closed the right foot and shifted the weight to the right foot. And we did Cadena two times. Then. the leader did Parada with the left foot. We would use the right foot if we did Boleo.

After Boleo, we did one Ocho (forward). A follower's move, Media Luna, was taught. This is a follower's embellishment move. It is called Lustrada. The leaders should take time after Ocho, so the followers can do Media Luna. After that, the follower passed her left foot over the leader's left foot (Pasada?). Then, the leader pivoted on the left foot to the left and become parallel with the follower. We finished with Resolución.

About the previous class: [Dance] Argentine Tango group class No. 4

This week's Argentine Tango group class was a little bit difficult for me. At first, we started with the basic steps and modified them. Here are the steps:
1. Move backward with the right foot./Move the right foot backward. (It doesn’t have meaning of shifting the weight)
2. Move to the left with the left foot.
3. Move forward diagonally to the left with the right foot
4. Move forward diagonally to the left with the left foot. Send the signal of the Cruzada.
5. Rotate her to the right. Step to her outside with the right foot.
6. Rotate her to the left. Step to her outside with the left foot.
7. Move forward diagonally to the left with the right foot. Send the signal of the Cruzada.
8. Move forward with the left foot.
9. Move to the right with the right foot.
10. Squeeze the left foot to the right foot.

Today, at the beginning of the routine the leaders moved backward with their right feet. The next three steps, from step 2 to step 4, were the usual basic steps. One of the difficult parts was step 5. Usually, this step is squeezing the right foot to the left foot. A tip the teacher gave us was to rotate follower to the right before moving the right foot.
At first, I couldn't repeat the sequence. I shifted my weight to my left foot when I finished step 10. But, it didn’t seem easy for follow for the ladies. I asked the teacher about this and he said I can move backward with my left foot after step 10 and continue from the beginning. I practiced with several ladies and it worked most of the time.
By the way, the sequence of the last three steps, from step 8 to step 10, is called Resolución.

Then, we did the Boleo. The teacher said this is a move that deceives. At first, we did a simple sequence like this:
1. Move to the left with the left foot and rotate to the left to make the follower swivel to the left. Before she finishes her swivel, rotate her to the right.
2. Cross the right foot in front of the left foot.
3. Move to the left with the left foot.
4. Squeeze the right foot to the left foot.

In step 1, if I wait for her to complete her swivel she may step backward with her left foot (she is pivoting on her right foot), so I should reverse the rotation before she takes another step. This is the "deceiving" part.

After that, we did a combination of Boleo and Espejo. Here are the steps:
1. Move to the left with the left foot and squeeze the right foot to the left foot. Shift the weight to the right foot immediately.
2. Move forward with the left foot and rotate her to the right (Ocho to the back). Squeeze the right foot to the left foot without shifting the weight.
3. Move to the right with the right foot and rotate her to the left. Squeeze the left foot to the right foot without shifting the weight.
4. Move to the left with the left foot and rotate her to the right. Squeeze the right foot to the left foot without shifting the weight.
5. Move to the right with the right foot and rotate her to the left. Then, rotate her to the right (Boleo).
6. Squeeze the left foot to the right foot and shift the weight to the left foot. Cross the right foot in front of the left foot right after the weight is shifted.
7. Move to the left with the left foot.
8 Squeeze the right foot to the left foot.

Steps 3 and 4 can be repeated.

About the previous class: [Dance] Argentine Tango group class No. 2