From Modern Jive to Tango - Class Notes, 12th July 2009

Class Notes: 12th July 2009

13th July 2009

Again, to get started, we got into hold, and we walked to the music - "Epoca" again, by Gotan Project.

We then quickly reviewed last week's topics:

We covered basic posture. Some key points:

Always keep contact with your partner
Ensure you have a "forwards intention" - for both leaders and followers. Don't lean back - if you do, your partner will feel off-balance as they'll have to lean forwards too much.
Don't pull down on your partner's arms / shoulders
Followers, ensure your left arm is on the side of your leader's arm / shoulder - not on top of it.

Think "Eiffel Tower" shape:

We covered close embrace, open embrace, and moving from one to the other.

Key points:

In open embrace, followers should look at the leader's chest to see the lead. Of course, this assumes that leaders are leading from the chest...
So leaders, please ensure you lead from your chest. No "arm rowing".
Similarly, leaders, don't pull or push your partner into position. Align yourself correctly, and your follower will align herself to meet you. Of course, this assumes that followers are following the chest movements...

Key points:

Close is close - yes, it's intimate, but if you don't press against your partner, it doesn't work.
If you do it right, close embrace makes leading and following easier, because you have more contact.
Don't pull your partner into a close embrace - invite it, but don't force it.

We also talked about going from close to open embrace - and how to alter the embrace to match the steps being taken (for example, ochos).

Building on last week, we looked at ochos, and at switching from forwards to back ochos and vice versa - by simply not pivoting the follower.

Key points:

A forwards ocho is a pivot towards the leader, followed by a forward step.
A backwards ocho is a pivot away from the leader, followed by a backward step.
Leaders: always lead the pivot first, then the step. Don't try to do both at the same time.
Followers: don't anticipate the next step being an ocho, simply because the last step was.
To change from a forward to a backward ocho, simply lead a forward step without a pivot (to lead a not-pivot, simply don't lead a pivot!), then lead a backstep with a pivot. And vice-versa to change from a backward to a forward ocho.
Alternatively, you can lead a pivot one way, then pivot the other way, (without stepping in between) to change ocho direction.

I talked about dissociation - the "twisting" or "winding up" effect.

Key points:

- David Bailey, 13th July 2009