Contradictions in teaching “caminar”

[Rabbit]

I find that people watch, sometimes a lot, sometimes a little, but they definitely notice. They notice crazy dancers frequently but rarely good ones (a relative term, I know). I also know that I notice what's happening on the floor. It's hard not to watch if you're not dancing or talking. Mostly I pay attention to how other men dance (or don't), how they look, how they move, and how the women dance.

I don't pay much attention to other men, only women. I dance differently with each partner according to the music, what I feel they like, their strengths and weaknesses. Similar to Gssh I take the point of view that the people worth dancing with are the ones looking for things they like, and therefore we do not need to try and impress each other - if I like something about them we'll find each other eventually.

Of course one should develop good fundamentals (balance, control, floorcraft, posture, rhythm) as these automatically make your dance look better or worse regardless of stylistic preferences.

 

[WhiskeyPapa]

So, what if you don't adjust the embrace and simply work with it?

This is what I am taught. Changes of embrace lead lead to confusion.

 

[WhiskeyPapa]

After all these years, the best explanation for me of where the intention of lead comes from (for the leader) and where the intention of follower's movement should be, for both is from the back. Almost literal back. Not front of the chest. A few instructors do explain that. It is easier to show why that is so in person. Than write here.

Or more precisely, from your slightly flexed (or “alive”) shoulder blades. Not from your whole back, not from your shoulders, and certainly not from your chest. Your abdominal muscles stretch and ripple in consequence and, if the connection is good, the partner immediately feels the step she should take without thinking. You flex them more (and move your frame in the hint of a circular motion) to lead in ochos, but the lead comes from there even in walking.

Men learn quickly not to lead with their hands. It takes longer not to lead with your chest. It’s confusing because there is lots of transmission of information through the chest, but that’s not the same thing.

 

[JournalInTime]

This is what I am taught. Changes of embrace lead lead to confusion.

I was taught that up until last year. For most of the past 12 months, I've been working on changes of embrace.

Most of these are cosmetic, essentially upper-body embellishments. Some are a touch bigger, like changing my partner's vertical placement to make sequences of multiple volcadas comfortable. Some are far bigger, like moving from deep apilado to colgada in one note. And some are crazy, like closing the left side and opening the right (as if my partner were leading), switching to doble frente, soltadas, and even trapping a leg in a gancho to create chained ganchos, effectively shifting the embrace to the legs.

 

[WhiskeyPapa]

I confess, in actual practice, I do find myself opening and closing the embrace. Recently, my teacher had asked me to dance without making those changes, which does affect your choice of steps. It also leads to a more intimate dance.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

This is what I am taught. Changes of embrace lead lead to confusion.

They do. I mean, there are some geometries where the embrace will open a little bit almost naturally, but the frame and arm position are maintained, just a touch looser. I didn't say "open" though.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

I confess, in actual practice, I do find myself opening and closing the embrace. Recently, my teacher had asked me to dance without making those changes, which does affect your choice of steps. It also leads to a more intimate dance.

You can do just about everything you need to do in the abrazo without opening it up.

 

[JournalInTime]

You can do just about everything you need to do in the abrazo without opening it up.

Agreed. Even back sacadas (leader and follower) can be done in the abrazo, and colgaditas are possible there, too. When I said I play with upper-body embellishments, colgada transitions, doble frente, blah, blah, blah, it's important to note that (1) I don't need to do any of that, I want to, so (2) changes of abrazo are (or should be) a choice, not an unconscious accident or subconscious cheat.

 

[Multidancer]

You can do just about everything you need to do in the abrazo without opening it up.

It depends on follower’s skill to follow in close embrace. Most followers need loosening up of embrace a bit. A few who are good and able to disassociate their lower body from upper can easily follow everything in close embrace.