3 posts tagged “lapiz”

We practiced Ocho. We started with a basic pattern. It 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. Signal the follower to do Cruzada.
4. Cross the right foot behind the left foot. Switch the weight to the right foot.
5. Do Lapiz counter-clockwise with the left foot and step backward with the left foot. Step the follower forward. Keeping the follower to the right side of the leader is easier.
6. Step backward with the right foot.
7. Step to the left with the left foot. This step can be rotated to the left. If rotating, the step should be smaller because the follower needs to move further than the leader.

The basic pattern can be repeated. However, step 7 is actually the beginning of the next set of the pattern. Therefore, the leader should start from step 2 once step 7 is performed.

For the second pattern, we added Ocho to the basic pattern. The leader exits to the left with this modified pattern. Step 1 to step 5 are the same as the basic pattern. Add Ocho at the end of step 5.
5+. After performing step 5 above, Ocho to the right.
6. Step backward with the right foot and Ocho to the left.
7. Step backward with the left foot and Ocho to the right.
8. Step backward with the right foot.
9. Step to the left with the left foot. This step can be rotated to the left. If rotating, the step should be smaller.

Again, start from step 2 after step 9 for the next iteration. Also steps 6 and 7 can be repeated or can be skipped.

The leader exits to the right with the final pattern. The steps are the same until step 6 of the second pattern.
6. Step backward with the right foot and Ocho to the left.
7. Step backward with the left foot and Ocho to the right.
8. Step backward with the right foot and Ocho to the left.
9. Step backward with the left foot.
10. Step to the right with the right foot while rotating to the right. This step should be small.
11. Step forward with the left foot.
12. Step forward with the right foot.
13. Step forward with the left foot. Signal the follower to do Cruzada.

This pattern ends right before Cruzada. This can be repeated from step 4. Also, steps 7 and 8 can be repeated or can be skipped.

While doing Ochos, the upper body should not rotate. Keep the upper body parallel to the partner. The dancers should rotate from the waist instead.
Also the leader doesn't need to rotate too much during Ochos. The leader should move backward almost on a straight line. And the follower can move back and forth across the straight line.

About the previous class: [Dance] Argentine Tango group class No. 9

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

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