Can you comment on my dancing in this video

[flandrienne]

I’ve been dancing for 3 years (as a follow) but because of covid I’ve only been going to milonga’s since March. I was pretty terrible until August at least but since then I’ve learned so much I’ve outstripped everyone I take classes with. I go dancing socially at least 3 times a month and some practicas too. I take 3 hours of classes a week.

I think I can tell where my mistakes lie, I feel like my footwork is lazy and I’m unable to maintain my axis/stacking. Not sure if these are the same. I mean that I let my hips get out from underneath me. Not sure how I can correct this, bigger steps and closer to my partner? I’ve only been doing giros for a few weeks and have really worked on them, both solo and with partner.

Please don’t hold back, I’m pretty ambitious so I want ruthless feedback. I’m 41 so time is limited to get to advanced level asap.

Apparently I’m not allowed to post links so if you could locate me on Instagram, my handle is @madelienw and it’s the most recent of two reels

 

[ArbeeNYC]

I’ve been dancing for 3 years (as a follow) but because of covid I’ve only been going to milonga’s since March. I was pretty terrible until August at least but since then I’ve learned so much I’ve outstripped everyone I take classes with. I go dancing socially at least 3 times a month and some practicas too. I take 3 hours of classes a week.

I think I can tell where my mistakes lie, I feel like my footwork is lazy and I’m unable to maintain my axis/stacking. Not sure if these are the same. I mean that I let my hips get out from underneath me. Not sure how I can correct this, bigger steps and closer to my partner? I’ve only been doing giros for a few weeks and have really worked on them, both solo and with partner.

Please don’t hold back, I’m pretty ambitious so I want ruthless feedback. I’m 41 so time is limited to get to advanced level asap.

Apparently I’m not allowed to post links so if you could locate me on Instagram, my handle is @madelienw and it’s the most recent of two reels

I'm pretty sure you can post links here. It works for YouTube and other Web sites; not sure about Instagram. Three years isn't a long time in tango. (By the way, you're only 41, you have plenty of time.) Steps don't need to be bigger necessarily (depends on the lead, really) but you do want to keep your hips beneath you and maintain good back alignment. Take a look at a few videos with Monica Paz or Alician Pons. They're both outstanding dancers. I'd recommend a regular práctica along with your classes, maybe even more practice and fewer classes. Practice is essential.

 

[Tango Distance]

Change each "." to " dot " and "@" to "at" in the URL and post here please. New members are not allowed to post links.

 

[Brummbaer]

Change each "." to " dot " and "@" to "at" in the URL and post here please. New members are not allowed to post links.

There are sound reasons for new members not posting links - and avoiding putting their identifiable life on the internet.

If it's sufficiently anonymous, or you're really happy with that, go ahead... but think twice about it.

 

[flandrienne]

There are sound reasons for new members not posting links - and avoiding putting their identifiable life on the internet.

If it's sufficiently anonymous, or you're really happy with that, go ahead... but think twice about it.

I’m not too bothered, I will poof it in a few days if I’ve gotten some good feedback

 

[opendoor]

..Not sure how I can correct this, bigger steps.. ?

Remote diagnosis is difficult, I'm also a leader and don't dance on high heels.
However, stability is a chain reaction, so I think you should consider several points:
- strain on the ball of the big toe,
- adductor muscle tension,
- hip angle antilordotic,
- straightening of the upper body.

Pilates is good for strengthening the core of the body, for stability i would study how to do ballet pirouettes.

 

[TTanguero]

I’m 41 so time is limited to get to advanced level asap.

I wouldn't presume to give feedback to a follower, but I'd suggest posting a video of you dancing to tango music as it will be much easier to understand how you are responding to the music.

 

[itwillhappen]

Apparently I’m not allowed to post links so if you could locate me on Instagram, my handle is @madelienw and it’s the most recent of two reels

Yes, that's a feature against spam for the first x posts. Voilà:

 

[itwillhappen]

Please don’t hold back, I’m pretty ambitious so I want ruthless feedback. I’m 41 so time is limited to get to advanced level asap.

In your video it still looks as if you are trying to do everything right ... instead of dancing. The quickest and most effective way to overcome this is with private classes. And no one knows how much time you have left, but in terms of tango I would estimate at least 10 years.

The question is also in what you want to reach an "advanced level". There are two irreconcilable types of communication, chest or back - in your video it's the back. And then the setting has a neo-feeling that looks pretty sterile for traditional tango dancers because you can still hide yourself in a way while dancing.

To make that clear, I'm posting a tango video from Kyiv, a few weeks before covid, three years and two days before the Russian attack. Can you see and feel the difference?

 

[itwillhappen]

a few weeks before covid,

Eeeh, just to be precise: one year and a few weeks before covid.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

Yes, that's a feature against spam for the first x posts. Voilà:

So, not sure what to tell you. This isn't really tango. It's contemporary music, not sure what it is, and there's no embrace to speak of. You might consider reviewing the basics with an emphasis on the fundamentals and once you've got them down, work outward from there. Eventually, you want to look more like this in terms of posture and embrace. Isabella is a beautiful dancer.

 

[tangomaniac]

I can't find you on Instagram, even after using the search feature. I checked the spelling. Don't understand.

 

[tangomaniac]

OK. I found the video. It takes two to tango, so you have to consider the leading. IMHO, the frame is too large and he's actually pushing you through some figures so you can't dance well. I suggest you find somebody who dances only in close embrace.

 

[Tango Distance]

I love the ambition to improve!

I'm not claiming to be a great dancer or in a position to give critiques, my advice is worth what you paid for it! I showed my dear wife your video, and she said you were dancing beautifully, and I agree. She and I agreed on these points, and came to most of them independently.

• Wear a contrasting color compared to the lead, so it's easier to see what you are doing.
• Wear tights, or fitted pants, rather than a skirt, so it's easier to see what you are doing.
• There isn't collecting where many followers would. This could be you need to collect more often, or it could mean you were being led to not collect and were following the lead well (advanced dancer stuff there). Collecting allows faster pivoting, faster weight changes, and faster changes of direction. Many followers do bit of a slow down as their ankles pass, ready to collect and do something new quickly (even show tango). This might need work or maybe you're doing it perfectly. Another thought is on a crowded floor, you risk kicking someone if swing your legs out that far. BTW you often do collect well.
• At times it looks like you have a bit of a lean to your right. I'm not sure if that involves bending sideways at the waist or if it is the whole body. As someone else said, it could be the leader is pushing you a bit.
• You do many great dissociations. A few times, it looks like your hips are moving with your shoulders, and not dissociating. Maybe that was led? I'm not experienced enough to know if that could be led at any point (any comments anyone?); the way I do it takes a big build up of momentum beforehand, but then allows a big swinging pivot, which is fun.
• Your hand is velcroed to the same spot on the leader's back. At times, your whole arm is in the air, which loses some communication. As the leader's hand slides sideways on your back, your hand should mirror that on his back (anyone, is there an exception to that, or can you refine that thought?).

It looks to me like you are doing well and are at a good point for that amount of experience. Another thought is try to go to festivals. It's a great way to get 6+ hours of lessons, 6+ hours of practicas, and 18+ hours of milongas, with many good leaders, in just a 3 day weekend. May your Tango journey be fun!

 

[opendoor]

..Voilà:

Congrats flandrienne, your dancing is already good: your posture is upright, you are responsive to the lead, you are familiar with the common vocabulary.
Now how to further improve:
You lack dissociation. The leader has to push and row around your upper body with large movements so that you perform minimal twists below. That has to be turned around: minimal impulses on chest height, but much stronger dissociation, more twist, and smaller radii below. Your upper body should not move, you need flexibility in the waist. You can practice that at the barre.