8 posts tagged “cadencia”

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

We did Grapevine. The steps go like this:
1. Step to the left with the left foot.
2. Step forward with the right foot.
3. Step forward with the left foot and land close to the inside of the follower's left foot. Start shifting the body to the right side of the frame.
4. Step forward with the right foot diagonally to the right. The follower is on the left side of the leader.
6. Pivot on the left foot and rotate a little to the left. Then step to the right with the right foot. The follower is in front of the leader.
7. Pivot on the right foot to the left. Then step backward with the left foot.
8. Pivot on the left foot to the right. Then step to the right with the right foot. The follower is in front of the leader.
9. Pivot on the right foot to the right. Then step forward with the left foot.
10. Pivot on the left foot to the left. This rotation can be big.
11. Step forward with the right foot.
12. Step forward with the left foot. Signal the follower to do Cruzada.
13. Close the right foot to the left foot.

We did a couple of variations. One was adding Cadencia between steps 9 and 10. The other variation was performing Grapevine in the other direction after step 9.

About the previous class: [Dance] Argentine Tango group class No. 21

We did Cadencia and Giro. The routine with Cadencia goes like this:
1. Step to the left with the left foot.
2. Step forward with the right foot. Do not shift the weight to the right foot completely.
3. Shift the weight to the left foot.
4. Shift the weight to the right foot.
5. Step forward with the left foot.
6. Close the right foot to the left foot.
7. Step forward with the left foot.
8. Step to the right with the right foot.
9. Close the left foot to the right foot.

Cadencia consists of steps 2 to 4 above.

The routine with Giro goes like this:
1. Step to the left with the left foot.
2. Step forward with the right foot.
3. Step forward with the left foot. Start rotating to the left.
4. Pivot on the left foot to the left and step to the right with the right foot. Keep pivoting on both feet to the left if necessary.
5. Step backward with the left foot.
6. Step backward with the right foot slightly to the right.
7. Pivot on the right foot to the left and step to the left with the left foot. This step is small. Prepare to slow down for the next step.
8. Step forward with the right foot. Do not shift the weight to the right foot completely. This is the beginning of Cadencia.
9. Shift the weight to the left foot. Move the follower forward. Rotate the upper body to the right and lead the follower into Ocho.
10. Shift the weight to the right foot. Move the follower forward. Rotate the upper body to the left and lead the follower into Ocho.
11. Step forward with the left foot.
12. Step to the right with the right foot.
13 Close the left foot to the right foot.

On step 9, if the upper body rotation is performed while the follower is still moving forward, the follower will perform side step instead of Ocho. So, finish moving the follower forward, then lead the follower into Ocho.

About the previous class: [Dance] Argentine Tango group class No. 20

First, we practiced Cadencia. We did two variations. The first variation goes like this:
1. Step to the left with the left foot.
2. Step backward with the right foot.
3. Perform Cadencia; step to the left with the left foot and split the weight on both feet, shift the weight to the right foot, shift the weight to the left foot.

The second variation goes like this:
1. Step to the left with the left foot.
2. Step forward with the right foot.
3. Perform Cadencia; step forward with the left foot and split the weight on both feet, shift the weight to the right foot, shift the weight to the left foot.

The follower is not likely to perform Cruzada with the second variation.

Second, the teacher introduced us to Cadena to the right. The steps go like this:
1. Step to the left with the left foot and perform Double Step (close the right foot to the left foot and shift the weight to the right foot).
2. Step forward with the left foot and start rotating to the right.
3. Step forward with the right foot to the left side of the follower and land behind the follower's left foot. This is the beginning of Cadena.
4. Pivot on the right foot to the right and step to the left with the left foot.
5. Step backward with the right foot slightly to the left. Pivoting on the left foot can make this step easier.
6. Cross the left foot in front of the right foot.

Many students had difficulty performing these steps. So the teacher taught us another right tuning move, Giro to the right. The steps go like this:
1. Step to the left with the left foot.
2. Step forward with the right foot. Start rotating to the right.
3. Rotate on the right foot to the right and step backward with the left foot slightly to the left.
4. Step backward with the right foot slightly to the left.
5. Step backward with the left foot.
6. Pivot on the left foot to the right. Step slightly to the right with the right foot.
7. Step forward with the left foot.

The Giro movement starts on step 2 above. On the 5th step of Giro, step 6 above, we can do Cadencia. To perform Cadencia at this point, split the weight on both feet, shift the weight to the left foot and step backward with the right foot.

About the previous class: [Dance] Argentine Tango group class No. 16

We learned Milonga. The lesson started with the basic step, Baldosa. Baldosa goes like this:
1. Step backward with the right foot.
2. Step to the left with the left foot.
3. Step forward with the right foot to the outside of the follower.
4. Step forward with the left foot to the outside of the follower.
5. Step to the right with the right foot.
6. Close the left foot to the right foot and shift the weight to the right foot.

After step 6, this routine can be started over from step 1 or step 3.

We added Traspié to the basic steps. Traspié is similar to Cadencia. Traspié can be added to any of the basic steps except step 6.

Then, we added Ocho to the steps. Steps 1 to 4 are the same.
5. Step to the right with the right foot and rotate the lower body to the left.
6. Step backward with the left foot. Move the follower forward and keep the follower to the right. Squeeze the right foot to the left foot and rotate the follower to the right. Shift the weight to the right foot.
7. Move the follower forward. Pivot on the right foot to the left and rotate the follower to the left.

We also learned Grapevine. It goes like this:
1. Step backward with the right foot.
2. Step to the left with the left foot. Rotate the lower body to the left a little.
3. Step forward with the right foot diagonally to the left.
4. Pivot on the right foot to the right and step to the left with the left foot.
5. Pivot on the left foot to the right and step backward with the right foot.
6. Pivot on the right foot to the left and step to the left with the left foot.

This move can be repeated from step 3 once step 6 is performed.

We did two exits for this move. One was the simple exit. The steps are exactly the same as the basic steps from 3 to 6.
The other exit was with Traspié. It goes like this:
7. Step forward with the right foot to the outside of the follower.
8. Step forward with the left foot to the outside of the follower. This needs to be a smaller step.
8'. Step backward with the right foot slightly to the right.
9. Close the left foot to the right foot.

I think the leader starts moving with the right foot after step 9.

About the previous class: [Dance] Argentine Tango group class No. 10

We did Giro (pronounce like "hero"). More specifically, "Giro to the right". The steps are:
1. Step to the left with the left foot.
2. Step forward with the right foot. The right foot should go around the follower and land behind the follower. Keep the center of the chest facing the follower's chest.
3. Pivot to the right on the right foot and step to the left with the left foot. Then pivot to the right on both feet.
4. Step backward with the right foot. The right foot should be in line with the left foot, so that the right foot won't block the follower.
5. Step backward with the left foot. Rotate the upper body to the right.
6. Pivot to the right on the left foot and step to the right with the right foot. The step should be small.
7. Step forward with the left foot, slightly to the left.
8. Step forward with the right foot.
9. Step forward with the left foot and lead to Cruzada.

An important note for the leader is that the leader should keep moving the follower in a straight line. That way the leader steps to the side at step 2 and step 7. There are several options in addition to doing Cruzada ending. They are Cadencia, Molinete or repeating steps from 2 through 8 after doing steps 1 through 8.

The steps of Cadencia are:
1. Step to the left with the left foot.
2. Step forward with the right foot.
3. Step forward with the left foot. (Need to "correct"?)
4. Step backward with the right foot.
5. Step to the left with the left foot. (Back to the beginning.)
This move can be rotated.

If another couple is in the way the following steps help in changing direction:
1. Step to the left with the left foot. (Shift the follower's weight to the right foot.)
2. Pivot to the left.
3. Step forward with the right foot. (This is the new direction.)

Here is how to do Back Ocho:
1. Step to the left with the left foot and close the right foot. Shift the weight to the right foot, but do not let the follower shift her weight. This is called double step.
2. Step forward with the left foot slightly to the left. She will start Back Ocho.
3. Step forward diagonally to the right with the right foot.
4. Step forward diagonally to the left with the left foot.
Steps 3 and 4 can be repeated.

About the previous class: [Dance] Argentine Tango group class No. 6

We did the basic steps and Cadencia at the beginning. For Cadencia, the leader steps forward with the left foot if the follower is in Cruzada. Then, the leader steps backward with the right foot, steps to the left with left foot and closes the right foot. If the leader wants to lead Cadencia before the follower crosses her feet (Cruzada), the leader shouldn't entirely shift his weight to the left foot. Otherwise, the follower may cross her feet. Cadencia can be rotated. It looks like a "Magic Left Turn".

We learned Molinete after that. The steps are:
1. Step forward with the right foot. Pivot on the right foot to the right. Close the left foot but do not shift the weight to it.
2. Step to the left with the left foot. Squeeze the right foot to the left foot and pivot on the left foot to the right.
3. Step backward with the right foot.
4. Step to the left with the left foot.

The routine was like this:
1. Step to the left with the left foot.
2. Step forward with the right foot.
3. Step forward with the left foot and cross the right foot behind the left foot.
4. Pivot on both feet to the right. The follower steps forward, side, back and side.
5. Keep rotating and let the follower step forward with the right foot. During steps 4 and 5, my bellybutton should be pointing at the follower.
6. Step forward with the right foot. The follower steps backward with the left foot.
7. Do 3 more forward steps starting with the left foot.

An option was added to the routine. The leader did Lapiz when the follower did the backward step in step 4. The Lapiz is a movement in which the dancer traces a circular motion on the floor with one foot while the weight is on the supporting foot. The leader used the right foot for Lapiz and kept rotating right after Lapiz. I think the follower did a "forward, side, back, side" pattern twice. The leader ended up with the same foot position as without Lapiz option. The rest is the same.

About last week's routine, the second step of Cadena is step to the right with the right foot while rotating to the left instead of stepping backward with the right foot. So, I should be able to shift my weight to my right foot on the second step.

About the previous class: [Dance] Argentine Tango group class No. 5

I started going to an Argentine Tango group class at Starlite. At first, I was not sure how to lead the Cruzada. Cruzada means "crossed"; in this case, Cruzada refers to the position of the legs. I was not sure how my partner was supposed to physically feel when doing this move. The correct way of leading the Cruzada is when the follower's right foot touches the floor, the leader should push her with his right forearm toward the left. This "push" is actually a pulse instead of a continuous push. Also, my parm is on her back, so I can't use my hand to lead this move.
Then, we learned the Cadencia. The Cadencia seemed similar to the Tango Rocks in the American Tango. The teacher said we can put the Cadencia anytime, anywhere.
Tonight's routine went like this:
1. Move to the left with the left foot.
2. Move forward diagonally to the left with the right foot.
3. Move forward diagonally to the left with the left foot. The follower moves her right foot backward. When her right foot touches the floor, push her to the left with the right forearm.
4. Move the right foot close to the left foot. The follower crosses her left foot in front of her right foot. This is the Cruzada.
5. Pivot on the right foot to the left a little.
6. Move backward with the left foot.
7. Pivot on the left foot to the right. Now, the follower is on the left.
8. Move backward with the right foot.
9. Pivot on the right foot to the left.
There were two options from here:
10. Move forward with the left foot
11. Move to the right with the right foot.
12. Move the left foot close to the right foot.
Or:
10. Repeat from step 1.

A Guide to Tango Terminology