A Sacada to die for!

[newbie]

Well, thanks fellows I appreciate your taking the time to try to explain this..but it's still Greek to me...it looks like I will have to put it on the back burner and hope that it dawns on me when I am practicing simpler stuff. :roll::roll::roll:

It's easy. The video does not help much because the lady's feet are hidden at the critical moment.
Ok you have two same sacadas in succession. Forget the first one for the moment and let's see the second one. You know how to lead a cruzada in cross system. Just do that. When the lady crosses, cross behind with left foot and with the weight. On the next step, the lady will move backwards with her right leg and you will move forward with your right leg too, doing a sacada. Now do the same but you lead the cruzada on a double-time, that is:
(beat) you step with right, lady too but backwards
(half beat) you lead the cruzada, the lady crosses forward with left, you cross backwards with left.
(beat) lady steps backwards with right, you step forwards with right for a sacada.

Once you can do that you can add the first sacada, which is simpler.
(beat) side step to the left, lady mirrors
(beat) Feet collected, you change weight (now on your right foot) and you keep the lady on her right foot. This is going into cross system, you've done that gazillions of times.
(beat) You step forward with left, lady backward with left.
(beat) lady steps backward with right, you step forward with right for a sacada. (0:52)
(beat) You step forward with left, lady backward with left. (0:54)
(beat) you step with right, lady too but backwards (0:55)
(half beat) you lead the cruzada, the lady crosses forward with left, you cross backwards with left. (0:55)
(beat) lady steps backwards with right, you step forwards with right for a sacada. (0:56)

 

[Mario7]

OK NewB..I'll give it another try tomorrow during practice..thanks.
I see all of those steps..I just can't do them. I'm going to try it
strictly from a crossed footed walk. No cruzada...wouldn't you agree
that that is simpler?

 

[newbie]

wouldn't you agree
that that is simpler?

IMHO it's easier with the cruzada, because followers do cruzadas everytime they get the chance. For this second sacada you need to lead a change of weight on a double-time, and while theoritically it should be easier to do that during a walk, in practise it may be difficult because the follower is not used to stepping on double-times during a walk. Usually during walks the follower remains on the beat while the leader steps on a double-time. On the other hand, any follower is very familiar with cruzadas and will do them without thinking, even on a double-time and in cross system.

 

[tangobro]

there is something happening there that does not meet the eye...

This part I can answer easily - Yes.
As others have mentioned the sacada creates an illusion. One of my primary teachers says much of tango is illusion. Maybe that idea is worth a thread on it's own. I've had several teachers say that a good lead should NOT be obvious to an observer. Perhaps these are 2 of the reasons that some things in tango are hard to learn by watching, and even harder to learn by watching videos.

The descriptions of the mechanics are good, but after you get the mechanics to work, try them on a woman who has some experience receiving sacadas so you can get feedback on how they should feel. After I learned how to do them, and could make them work with other women who were also just starting, I tried them with more experienced women. Feedback helped me realize I did NOT have them down pat.

 

[Angel HI]

..but it's still Greek to me...it looks like I will have to put it on the back burner..... and hope that it dawns on me when I am practicing simpler stuff.

I know that you do not want to listen to this, but you are partially correct. Delete the bold from your post above and insert this....

.....and work on bettering my balance, centers, steps, and embrace in the walks/giros. Then, I will learn well what the lady is doing.