11 posts tagged “molinete”

We did an accelerated move and Traspié with Ocho.
The accelerated move goes like this:
1. (S) Step backward with the right foot.
2. (S) Step to the left with the left foot.
3. (S) Step forward with the right foot.
4. (Q) Step forward with the left foot.
5. (Q) Close the right foot to the left foot and shift the weight.
6. (S) Step forward with the left foot
7. (S) Step to the right with the right foot.
8. (S) Close the left foot to the right foot and shift the weight.

S: Slow
Q: Quick

We did Traspié with Ocho before and the move is the same. See blog entry titled "[Dance] Nora's Argentine Tango No.6"

One of the teachers, Ed, told me how to lead Molinete. The steps go like this:
0. Shift the weight to the left foot.
&. Pivot on the left foot to the left. Use the right forearm to rotate the follower to the right. The dancers face the same wall. Put the right foot forward. Don't shift the weight yet.
1. Move the follower forward using the right arm. After that the right arm should be relaxed to give the follower some room to move.
2. Open the left shoulder to the left. Move the follower to the left.
&. Shift the weight to the right foot. Start pivoting to the left.
3. Pivot on both feet to the left. Keep the weight on the right foot. Sweep the left foot to the left, then squeeze the left foot to the right foot. No weight change necessary.
4. Push the left foot forward in between the follower's feet and touch the follower's left heel. Lead the follower into Ocho (counterclockwise).

For the follower, the steps go like this:
0. Shift the weight to the right foot.
&. Pivot on the right foot to the right.
1. Step forward with the left foot. Then pivot on the left foot to the left.
2. Step to the right with the right foot. Then pivot on the right foot to the left.
3. Step backward with the left foot.
&. Step to the right with the right foot.
4. Step forward with the left foot.

Then, the move can finish like this:
5. Open the right shoulder to the right. The follower steps over the leader's left foot.
6. Shift the weight to the left foot while pivoting on the left foot to the right. The dancers face each other.
7. Close the right foot to the left foot and shift the weight to the right foot.
8. Finish with the Resolución.

About the previous class: [Dance] Nora's Argentine Tango No.10

We did Ocho, Sacada and Contra Molinete. Steps 1 to 5 are the same as the basic steps. The routine from step 6 for Ocho goes like this:
6. Rotate the body to the left.
7. Step backward with the left foot. Squeeze the right foot to the left foot.
8. Lead the follower into Ocho (clockwise).
9. Step forward with the right foot. Squeeze the left foot to the right foot.
10. Lead the follower into Ocho (counterclockwise).
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.

Next, we did Sacada and Contra Molinete instead of Ocho. The routine from step 6 goes like this:
6. Rotate the body to the left.
7. Step backward with the left foot. Squeeze the right foot to the left foot.
8. Pivot on the left foot to the right. Step forward with the right foot in between the follower's feet (Sacada).
9. Pivot on the right foot to the right and step forward with the left foot outside (to the right) of the follower.
10. Rotate the upper body to the right and rotate the right foot along with the upper body. Step on the right foot. The follower performs Molinete. Keep rotating the upper body to the right.
11. Unwind the rotation.
12. Step forward with the left foot.
13. Step to the right with the right foot.
14. Close the left foot to the right foot.

About the previous class: [Dance] Nora's Argentine Tango No.7

We did Molinete (http://www.tejastango.com/terminology.html#molinete) and Giro (http://www.tejastango.com/terminology.html#giro).
The routine with Molinete goes like this:
1. Step to the left with the left foot.
2. Step forward with the right foot. The weight needs to be moved completely to the right foot. The follower steps backward with the left foot. This is the beginning of Molinete.
3. Start pivoting on the right foot to the left. Step the follower to the right with the right foot.
4. Keep pivoting on the right foot. Step the follower forward with the left foot, then pivot on the left foot to the left.
5. Finish the rotation. Step forward with the left foot.

The routine with Giro goes like this:
1. Step to the left with the left foot.
2. Step forward with the right foot. Start rotating to the right.
3. Pivot on the right foot to the right, then step to the left diagonally back with the left foot. This step might be bigger than the previous steps.
4. Pivot on the left foot to the right and swing the right foot clockwise (to the right) on the floor. Then squeeze the right foot to the left foot. Do not shift the weight to the right foot.
5. Step forward with the right foot diagonally to the right. Lead the follower into Ocho. The follower will pivot counterclockwise.
6. Step forward with the left foot.

About the previous class: [Dance] Argentine Tango group class No. 18

We did Giro and Molinete. First, we practiced a routine with Giro. The routine 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 right side of the follower.
4. Step forward with the left foot. Signal the follower to do Cruzada.
5. Close the right foot to the left foot.
6. Step forward with the left foot to the outside (right side) of the follower. Start rotating to the right.
7. Step forward with the right foot and land behind the follower. Keep rotating to the right.
8. Pivot on the right foot to the right and step backward with the left foot slightly to the left.
9. Step backward with the right foot slightly to the left on or across a straight line with the left foot. Keep rotating to the right.
10. Step backward with the left foot.
11. Pivot on the left foot to the right. Step slightly to the right with the right foot. This side step should be small, otherwise the follower cannot catch up with the leader.
12. Step forward with the left foot.

After step 12, the routine can be repeated from step 7. To exit from this routine after step 12, continue stepping forward until Cruzada.

Second, we practiced Molinete by itself. Steps of Molinete go like this:
1. Step backward with the left foot.
2. Step to the right with the right foot
3. Step forward with the left foot. Squeeze the right foot to the left foot. Pivot on the left foot to the left once the right foot closes to the left foot.
4. Step to the right with the right foot. Squeeze the left foot to the right foot. Pivot on the right foot to the left once the left foot closes to the right foot.

Only the follower performs Molinete in today's routine. So we practiced with the following routine to lead the follower:
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 right side of the follower. This is the first step of Molinete for the follower. Redirect the follower's backward momentum to the right (of the follower), so the follower can step to the right with the right foot. The series of moves in this step needs to be continued smoothly.
4. Step the follower forward. Rotate the body to the left and lead the follower to pivot to the left. Start shifting the weight to the left foot.
5. Shift the weight to the left foot. Step the follower to the right. Rotate to the left and lead the follower to pivot to the left.
6. Step forward with the right foot.
7. Step forward with the left foot.
8. Close the right foot to the left foot. Signal the follower to do Cruzada.

Finally, we combined the Giro and Molinete routines. We used the same Giro routine. After that we continued from step 3 of the Molinete routine as step 13 of the combined routine.

About the previous class: [Dance] Argentine Tango group class No. 15

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 Molinete. The steps are:
1. Step forward with the right foot. Squeeze the left foot to the right foot. Then pivot on the right foot to the right.
2. Step to the left with the left foot. Squeeze the right foot to the left foot. Then pivot on the left foot to the right.
3. Step backward with the right foot.
4. Step to the left with the left foot.

We used the footwork in a routine 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. Don't move the feet. Wait for the follower to finish Cruzada.
5. (Beginning of Molinete) Make the follower step forward. Once the follower steps forward, step forward with the right foot and land behind the follower. Then pivot on the right foot to the right. Maintain "attention". (attention means that a dancer positions the center of the chest to the center of the partner's chest.)
6. Step to the left with the left foot. Squeeze the right foot to the left foot. Then pivot on the left foot to the right.
7. Rotate the hips to the right then step backward with the right foot. (This helps keep the partners close to each other.)
8. Step to the left with the left foot.

We did two endings. One was Ocho. I forgot the name of the other one. It goes like this:
1. When the follower steps back with the right foot during Molinete, the leader puts the right foot between the follower's feet.
2. The leader pops the right knee up, and the follower flicks the left foot.

After that, the leader can rotate the follower to the left. Or, the leader can step the follower forward.

About the previous class: [Dance] Argentine Tango group class No. 7

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 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

Here are the steps I learned at the Argentine Tango group class:
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. Send the signal of the Cruzada.
4. Pause and send the follower out. She does the Cruzada. Change the hand position from the follower's waist to under the follower's armpit. This allows more distance between us.
5. Rotate the upper body to the right. The right shoulder needs to be pulled back, so that the follower can move forward. Then, move forward with the right foot and pivot on the right foot to the right (Ocho).
6. Rotate the upper body to the left. Make the follower move forward. Move forward with the left foot and pivot on the left foot to the left (Ocho).
7. Rotate the upper body to the right. Make the follower move forward. Move forward with the right foot and start pivoting on the right foot to the right.
8. Keep pivoting to the right and step to the side with the left foot. Split the weight on both feet, but don't kill the momentum of the rotation because the follower still needs to move to my right.
9. Rotate the upper body to the right. Shift the weight to the right foot?
10. Move the right hand to the follower’s waist. Rotate the follower to the left (Ocho for the follower?).
11. Move forward with the left foot.
12. Move forward with the right foot. Send the signal of the Cruzada.
13. Wait for the follower to finish the Cruzada. No weight change for the leader.
14. Do the Resolución.

About the previous class: [Dance] Argentine Tango group class No. 3