Alterations

[Subliminal]

So I took a class with Pablo Veron on "Alterations" a few months ago. For example, one of the steps was lead the follower in a back ocho to the leader's left (with her left foot landing back), then leader pivots clockwise, pulling her forward around his right into a forward step (with her right foot).

I finally had the chance to ask my teacher about these, and she gave me a more complete answer, as well as a history of the technique. Apparently this is something that came up around the time people started experimenting with traditional tango steps, kind of the start of the Nuevo tango. My teacher pointed out that (as I've already noticed) the grapevine pattern saturates all of the traditional tango steps. Even if the follower isn't going around the leader, there can often be a grapevine found in her footwork. Alterations then are simply a break in the grapevine pattern. Instead of Back-Side, you might go Back-Front (like in the example I gave above). Or Front-Back, or Side-Side, etc. This is often accomplished by the leader adding additional rotation to his steps to allow for the space to do the move.

Anyway. It's kind of a neat thing to experiment with. Sometimes it works really well. My teacher pointed out that it is a strange feeling for most traditionally trained followers, but with a clear lead it can be fun. (It can be done in either close or open, doesn't matter.)

Has anyone else experimented with these?

 

[Zoopsia59]

one of the steps was lead the follower in a back ocho to the leader's left (with her left foot landing back), then leader pivots clockwise, pulling her forward around his right into a forward step (with her right foot). ... there can often be a grapevine found in her footwork. Alterations then are simply a break in the grapevine pattern. Instead of Back-Side, you might go Back-Front (like in the example I gave above). Or Front-Back, or Side-Side, etc.

I must be misunderstanding you... wouldn't a clockwise rotation simply put her back close to where she was before doing the back ocho?

I would think of this as more of a rock step than a part of a grapevine pattern because she changes direction to go back and forth along a path. To me, a grapevine tends to continue along a path/direction (whether it is straight or curved) regardless of which way the body faces or what steps are used to travel along that path.

I also don't see how this would be confusing or strange for a follower. One back ocho does not automatically signal the start of a full grapevine molinete... it could just as likely start a back ocho sequence or simply continue to the cross.... or, as you point out, rock into a forward step...

Or maybe I'm just not understanding what you are describing at all.

 

[jfm]

I know exactly what you are talking about nd they are lovely, especially in vals. The alteration interupts you as you reach to step, so it isn't just a pivot back, it's a very dynamic whooshy feeling.

 

[Subliminal]

I must be misunderstanding you... wouldn't a clockwise rotation simply put her back close to where she was before doing the back ocho?

I would think of this as more of a rock step than a part of a grapevine pattern because she changes direction to go back and forth along a path. To me, a grapevine tends to continue along a path/direction (whether it is straight or curved) regardless of which way the body faces or what steps are used to travel along that path.

I also don't see how this would be confusing or strange for a follower. One back ocho does not automatically signal the start of a full grapevine molinete... it could just as likely start a back ocho sequence or simply continue to the cross.... or, as you point out, rock into a forward step...

Or maybe I'm just not understanding what you are describing at all.

It is a little more flowing and rotational than a rockstep Zoops. The difference is it is a change of direction and an altering of the curve rather than going back and forth.

ok. So imagine I've lead you in a back ocho (with a lot of pivot, so you are perpendicular to me) with your left foot going back. Now before you collect, I send your right foot swinging around 90 degrees to your right into a strong step forward. While I sweep around to your right side, letting you pass on my right. All in one smooth motion.

Is that easier to visualize? Maybe I can find a video.

 

[Subliminal]

I know exactly what you are talking about nd they are lovely, especially in vals. The alteration interupts you as you reach to step, so it isn't just a pivot back, it's a very dynamic whooshy feeling.

Yes! They are a fun way to get into a regular turn, aren't they?

 

[Subliminal]

Ah, found a video. Homer and Anna. For the first bit, Homer starts out by changing direction in the turn with an ocho. Then around 40 seconds in, they start with alterations. The first one changes direction with a front-back step.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ-bSoPyskk

Around 1:05 is an example of the step I'm talking about, the back-front.

 

[newbie]

I don't see the point, of course we have experimented alterations, as well as the 8CB or the walk.

Now if you like surprise moves, ask your teacher to show you how to lead a back boleo from forward ochos. This I think is less common than alterations.

 

[Subliminal]

Well, I don't think I've ever seen a thread on it here. So I thought I'd make one. I had no idea whether it was common or not, this was the first time I'd heard of it.

It seems like alterations are pretty useful to have in the leader bag of tricks. You can use them in smaller spaces so they apply in many situations, and they also work as a navigational tool.

 

[dchester]

So I took a class with Pablo Veron on "Alterations" a few months ago. For example, one of the steps was lead the follower in a back ocho to the leader's left (with her left foot landing back), then leader pivots clockwise, pulling her forward around his right into a forward step (with her right foot).

I finally had the chance to ask my teacher about these, and she gave me a more complete answer, as well as a history of the technique. Apparently this is something that came up around the time people started experimenting with traditional tango steps, kind of the start of the Nuevo tango. My teacher pointed out that (as I've already noticed) the grapevine pattern saturates all of the traditional tango steps. Even if the follower isn't going around the leader, there can often be a grapevine found in her footwork. Alterations then are simply a break in the grapevine pattern. Instead of Back-Side, you might go Back-Front (like in the example I gave above). Or Front-Back, or Side-Side, etc. This is often accomplished by the leader adding additional rotation to his steps to allow for the space to do the move.

Anyway. It's kind of a neat thing to experiment with. Sometimes it works really well. My teacher pointed out that it is a strange feeling for most traditionally trained followers, but with a clear lead it can be fun. (It can be done in either close or open, doesn't matter.)

Has anyone else experimented with these?

Yes, I do some of them occasionally. It's one of the nicer things to have come from nuevo. Some people also refer to it/them as "change or direction" or cambio de frente.

 

[bordertangoman]

I really like alterations; somewhere i have a Chicho vhs tape on different possible alterations; They're not difficult to lead ; the main obstacle being unfamiliarity of the follower.