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: