Franela

A

AndaBien

Well-Known Member
Only one of my teachers has ever mentioned “franela” to me. Literally, she said it meant a piece of flannel cloth, used for dusting. Within tango, it means a small caress or brush the leader gives to his partner. My lunfardo dictionary defines it as a man who goes to the bordellos and spend lots of time but little money.

What my teacher showed me was: the man walks in parallel to the L of his partner, but close enough to brush her R leg with his as they pass. In some discussions I found, it seems that it could be nice movement, enjoyed by the partner, or a course and vulgar movement, not enjoyed at all. I'm sure there are other ways to do it. I do it only with some of my favorite partners. I have other favorite partners who it would seem inappropriate to do this with.

Just wondering what other leaders or followers think of it.
 
Hrm. I haven't ever heard of that as a specific move. But my first teacher told me that similar movements are there for "spice". For example, the inline sacadas in cross system. Or the milonga step where the leader taps the follower's foot as he displaces it, almost like teasing. I think it entirely depends on the mood and your partner whether to do them or not. Also, if used as an adornment, I think it's probably better. If you spend the whole dance rubbing legs with your partner, she might find that a teensy bit sketchy. ;)
 
I've never heard of the term, or that specific move. The closest thing to it that I might do is a sacada. I'd had followers occasionally "caress" my leg (or their leg, for that matter), when doing a pasada (step over). I've heard that move referred to as a caricias.

In any case, I learned something new today.

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??

Havn´t got at all what it should look like and how it works. Are the legs grinding at each other, or what? Am I right, it´s not the lustrada (shoe polisher)?

though franela sounds like polishing cloth, fabric, rag to me, my dictionary adds: T-shirt, anyway ?
 
It's not a specific move. My description only serves as an example. Lots of times it's probably not visible to anyone, unless they are looking closely.

@Opendoor: When the leader steps forward onto his R foot, his upper leg would slightly brush by his partner's R upper leg, on the outside. It's just a little caress.
 
Who knew that was "a thing"? Huh. Either a hell of a lot of people around my area dance that way regularly, or they or I are rather bowlegged. I find this happening very frequently. Often when I walk forward, particularly straight forward, I brush insides of thighs with my partner. When walking outside partner, I find the same thing happens. I find it happening regardless of if I'm dancing tango or "not tango" (close embrace or open embrace, traditional or non-).

Shrug. Legs and everything else brushing happens. I've never thought of it as a flirty or sexual thing...just...normal. Compared to the fact of dancing with my boobs pressed against someone, and that that doesn't phase me at all, other body parts touching doesn't register.
 
i teach it as "striking a match" but then its the woman coming close to the man as she returns in a forward ocho and her thigh brushes his...
 
AndaBien said:
the man walks in parallel to the L of his partner, but close enough to brush her R leg with his as they pass
Click to expand...

I fail to see how it is physically possible. To reach the follower's right leg with mine I'd need to walk on her right, not on her left. Any video?
 
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