Argentine Tango - Want To Learn...
- Thread starter Spitfire
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SDsalsaguy
Administrator
From what I understand, what makes Argentine Tango so tricky is that steps are not what you are leading and following but, rather, individual weight changes. I too am interested in learning so will have to leave it to someone better versed then I to explain further....
DanceMentor
Administrator
There is a common basic.
Man's part:
Back on the right foot
Side on the left foot
Forward on the right foot outside partner
Forward on the Left Foot
Bring Right foot together
Forward on the Left Foot
Side on the Right Foot
Bring Left Foot Together
Lady's Part:
Forward on the Left Foot
Side on the Right Foot
Back on the Left Foot
Back on the Right Foot
Cross the Left Foot in Front on the Right Foot
Back Side Together (RLR)
This is often danced Slow, Slow, Slow, Quick, Hold (the cross), Quick, Quick Slow. But the music and the dancer's interpretaton both play a roll. Sometimes the first or second steps of this common basic are excluded.
Man's part:
Back on the right foot
Side on the left foot
Forward on the right foot outside partner
Forward on the Left Foot
Bring Right foot together
Forward on the Left Foot
Side on the Right Foot
Bring Left Foot Together
Lady's Part:
Forward on the Left Foot
Side on the Right Foot
Back on the Left Foot
Back on the Right Foot
Cross the Left Foot in Front on the Right Foot
Back Side Together (RLR)
This is often danced Slow, Slow, Slow, Quick, Hold (the cross), Quick, Quick Slow. But the music and the dancer's interpretaton both play a roll. Sometimes the first or second steps of this common basic are excluded.
SDsalsaguy
Administrator
Spitfire said:
So how was it? How did it go?
golddancer
New Member
It is a yes and no answer.
In the "old days" in Argentina only men learned the dance and it was a womans role to follow. This does not negate the need for partnership skills.
The true Tangouera would say the most important step in Argentine Tango is the walk. I believe this too. As a lady I have to move and follow but it is the skill and the walk that is most important.
There are patterns to learn but it is more important to move because the Argentine Tango is the expression of the music. It moves slow and fast and is moody and joyful.
Find a good instructor and learn both the Mans and the woman's part. It will make the dance more enjoyable because you learn what signals your partner receives.
In the "old days" in Argentina only men learned the dance and it was a womans role to follow. This does not negate the need for partnership skills.
The true Tangouera would say the most important step in Argentine Tango is the walk. I believe this too. As a lady I have to move and follow but it is the skill and the walk that is most important.
There are patterns to learn but it is more important to move because the Argentine Tango is the expression of the music. It moves slow and fast and is moody and joyful.
Find a good instructor and learn both the Mans and the woman's part. It will make the dance more enjoyable because you learn what signals your partner receives.
SDsalsaguy
Administrator
Re: It is a yes and no answer.
This is excellent advice, for any dance I think!
Welcome to the forums golddancer!golddancer said:
This is excellent advice, for any dance I think!
SDsalsaguy
Administrator
Sounds about what I expected. Now that you've had some exposure, would you say that my initial impression (quoted again below) seems right?Spitfire said:
SDsalsaguy said:
MissAlyssa
New Member
Spitfire said:
Where did you take your lesson :?:
Here's another thing that can make AT difficult for a leader. The dancers can dance on a different foot or the same foot. That is, left for leader and left for follower. That is illegal and unheard of in most dances. It gives it a lot of variety, especially with the pivots. Let's imagine that both dancers are on the right foot. The leader wants to move to his left. The follower's weight is on her right foot. How can she move? She pivots. Maybe that is why AT is full of what people call ochos.
I've known a lot of people who were pretty good at ballroom and just didn't get AT. Then, I've known some people who were good at ballroom, took one authentic AT class, and never danced ballroom again. I've never really met anybody anywhere in between. What do you think?
I've known a lot of people who were pretty good at ballroom and just didn't get AT. Then, I've known some people who were good at ballroom, took one authentic AT class, and never danced ballroom again. I've never really met anybody anywhere in between. What do you think?
