new tango classes in Southampton from Tango Lingua

the latest info from Tango Lingua:

• 5 week beginner/refresher tango course: Starts this Monday, 24th Jan, at Povey's dance centre, Southampton. To join in, arrive for 8pm. Classes are friendly and relaxed. No need for a partner or to remember lots of steps. If you want to find out what tango is all about and experience the magical quality of connection that it offers, this is the course for you. Feel free to bring friends to take part or just to watch. For full details, see: http://tangolingua.blogspot.com/2011/01/new-beginnerrefresher-course-starts.html
• Core skills tango classes: If you've enquired about tango classes beyond the beginner level, this is an opportunity to get some more advanced teaching. This new format will run on a drop-in basis. No need to book, just come along on the night. No partner required. Classes will be approximately 60 minutes and run from 9:45pm until 10:45pm, each Monday at the Povey's dance centre, starting this week. The content will be focused on the fundamental components of connection and movement in tango (going into more detail than in the beginner course), moving then into progressively more advanced and expressive applications in the dance. The level of detail and challenge of each class will be catered to the class participants. Cost per class, per person: £7
• Private lessons: One-to-one learning, the fastest way to progress your tango. There are currently some slots available on Saturday evenings. Please email me if you'd like to book one. Cost: £35 per hour.
• Class notes: I'd strongly recommend keeping your own notes on your tango learning, but if you'd also like to read some notes I've made on some of the classes I teach, you can find them on the Tango Lingua blog right here.
• The practica: You may have noticed that the classed are at the same time as the practica (practice session). For now, the space will still be available for those who just want to do their own thing, with the understanding that the music may stop and start according to the class material and providing we can all work together without getting in each other's way too much. As demand for the practica rises I may make alternative arrangements for a second day, just for freestyle practice. If you're keen on having a second day and would be attending on most weeks, just let me know.

For directions, see: http://www.tangolingua.com/find-us

New beginner/refresher tango course starts 24th Jan!

5 week tango course:

• Learn to dance tango in Southampton. No prior experience necessary, all welcome.
• No partner required, but you're welcome to bring one or invite friends. The ethos of the beginner course is to work together as a group and support each other's learning.
• The lessons will run from 8pm-9:30pm at the Povey's dance centre in Southampton, each Monday. www.tangolingua.com/find-us
• Free, 90 minute practica after each lesson.
• Cost: £39 per person.

At the end of this course you will be able to dance basic tango in a social setting. But more than that, you'll have a taste for the truly magical quality of connection and movement that tango can bring.

Satisfaction guaranteed! If at the end of the course you're not happy, you get a refund*

To book, just fill out the contact form: www.tangolingua.com/contact
(Please bring correct payment on the first day.)

For lessons, please wear comfortable clothing you can move easily in and non-marking shoes which you can easily pivot on (suede, leather or plastic soles are a good bet).

Learn tango this year - express yourself, flow in the moment and the music, forget your stresses and meet interesting people.

Course starts on Monday 24th January. To find out more, just take a look at our website: www.tangolingua.com or send us a message on the contact page.

* full refund given if you're not happy with the course, minus hall costs of £4 per session.

first Monday practica of the year!

Happy New Year to everyone! The first Monday practica of the year is this Monday, 3rd January.

Povey's dance centre
159 Shirley Road,
8-11pm.

£4 per person, every Monday, everyone welcome (please spread the word). Come and do your own thing. Assistance available on request.

For directions see: 

http://www.tangolingua.com/find-us

See you there!

practica continues, practica session pauses

Just to announce the free session within the monday practica is taking a little break, probably until after Christmas. The open practicas will continue as usual, 8-11pm at Povey's Dance Centre. Everyone welcome, please come along, do your own thing and enjoy some tango practice. Joe will be there to offer assistance to anyone who would like.

freedom and connection in the open embrace - practica session notes

This monday, 15th Nov, we'll look at some simple ways of getting more connection at the same time as less restriction or blocking of intended movement in the open embrace.

The focus will be on pivoting.

Some key ideas:
The frame as a circle. two connected circles that may rotate independently. this idea allows a lot of rotation and change of orientation between leader and follower to happen without strain. Leader and follower are not fixed in their relative positions within the frame.

Softness and structure. how do these two important qualities come into the embrace? we'll explore the idea of 'mirroring' in the quality of contact from leader to follower, with the result that different parts of the embrace can offer solidity and structure, while other parts offer softness and freedom of movement. using this idea, ochos (and everything else involving pivoting) feel more relaxed while allowing the possibility of being very dynamic.

Obviousl,y groundedness is key to connection and this was covered some weeks ago (see '3 elements to walking as one').

would you like a guest session with Paul Vossen?

There is the lucky chance to have a 2 hour group session with Paul Vossen on Monday Nov 29th. Paul is an outstanding teacher and inspiring dancer who runs the famous Taboe Tango camp in NL. The session will be on Tango Dynamic Release Technique for natural feeling boleos of numerous kinds. If you're interested let us know asap, as we need to know if it's viable soon. Thanks!

Also, if you could let me know briefly how comfortable you currently are with boleos that would be helpful in deciding the precise content of the workshop.

Here's some notes from Paul:

"Tango Dynamic Release Technique

This Tango techniques enables the couple to create simple and complex leg movements for the follower with out any effort. The technique is especially useful to create many different types of boleos (contra, con, linear, circular, hooked, frozen, phased, muted, etc) in all possible positions: standing walking, turning and even in colgada and volcada.

The Dynamic Release technique uses efficiently gravity of the hip and leg and makes it possible to create a great swing without effort and even from a standing position. Further more it is possible to mold and change the path of the leg during the swing and create all kinds of boleo variations.

The techniques is especially fit for the open and semi open embrace and is even fit for crowded milongas since the energy of the movement stays within the couple."

Basically we need a minimum of 5 couples (at £15 per head) to make it work. If more people attend, the cost can come down. The session will be at our normal venue in Southampton, the Povey's dance centre, 159 Shirely Road. See www.tangolingua.com/find-us for more details.

As usual, the practica is open, so you can come and do your own thing (or just watch) for the usual price of £4. Tea making facilities are available and you're welcome to bring snacks.

pivoting technique and moving without strain - practica session notes

This coming monday, 8th Nov, the theme will be pivoting technique and moving without strain.

how can you pivot with minimal effort? how can you keep your balance more easily when turning, doing ochos and giros? There are some particular things you can do in the way you move and hold your chest, waist, hips and legs that really help. We'll be going over those in the session and also giving some practical tips to avoid strains in your body when dancing.

pivoting
3 step forward turn kata:

1. project free leg with out-turn of foot
2. weight transfer with turn from waist and open hip, straight back leg with outward angle of foot
3. bring back leg to close, keep shape of standing leg fixed as you rotate on ball of foot, allow waist to untwist, do not allow your trailing leg to cross the line of your standing leg

repeat above for forward ochos

flowing super relaxed forward ochos with front baleo - effortless rotation applying above principles

contrast with some stressful alternative ways of doing forward ochos, feel the difference in your body.

3 step back turn kata:

1. project free leg back and staight with out-turn of foot
2. weight transfer with turn from waist. do not rotate or 'close' hips.
3. bring free leg to close, keep shape of standing leg fixed as you rotate on ball of foot, allow waist to untwist, do not allow your trailing leg to cross the line of your standing leg. visualize being pulled around and slightly into the floor from the middle side of your back, as if by a rope.

repeat above for back ochos

try 360 back rotation in relaxed fashion.

strain

comes from compromising your core, pinching or over twisting back, stepping with hips out of alignment, etc. leaders and followers be mindful to allow your partner freedom to take their axis and to pivot freely. discuss elasticity and mirror quality of frame. applications, back ocho into back secarda. 

common trouble spots for strain: barridas, step overs, ganchos, boleos

brain teaser: leader does continual 270(ish) rotation back ocho secardas to the follower's 270 rotation forward ochos. This is practically impossible, unless you get the above principles and are able to relax in your pivoting.

further questions?

EDIT. here's a quick video I recorded to demo some of the above ideas: