How to teach floor craft ?
- Thread starter opendoor
- Start date
Well, got that at the moment anyway in a slightly larger than 3m*2m space.
On an out-of-town course in the big city pre-Covid we did actually have a demo of using steps in a small space (group gradually shrank the space available). We've also had that by restricting space available on the dance floor. And, of course, useful rescue steps when the ronda grinds to a halt. We've been to lessons where a selection of those have been taught. In fact, over recent group Zoom lessons we've had pointers about adapting to a small space.
It's beginning to appear that 'floorcraft' teaching isn't that common. Or have people just dropped out of lessons?
Last edited:
JournalInTime
Forum Master
It doesn't sell. At least once on these forums, I recounted the story of how floorcraft lessons were met with open mockery when offered, and rarely had takers. It seems that most dancers just don't think it matters, as sad as that may be. It's always the other couples' problem.
I had to just figure it out myself, because (I'm not exaggerating here) no teachers were able to effectively explain it.
What they are doing in that video is not actually impressive or difficult. You just keep the axis of rotation between the partners. It's possible to do a much larger vocabulary than that, if you want to.
I've never had it 'sold' as 'floorcraft', but maybe I just identify it as that. It just turned up in a variety of lessons at various classes.
With some exceptions (e.g. someone some would like to get 'banned') I'd just assumed that all teachers covered 'milonga-survival' and that the more advanced dancers must have covered that type of material. Perhaps they just decided that learning more wasn't for them and bought into some interpretation of a 'tango lifestyle'? Knives out if you collide with me - and it's my space because I've paid for it.
Just like normal life!
JournalInTime
Forum Master
JournalInTime
Forum Master
I've taken classes that were explicitly called "Tango Floorcraft" and "Tango Self-Defense." I loved them, but they barely attracted enough students to take place.
There's a lot of that where I live, unfortunately. Just switch "knives" for "high elbows."
Never had 'floorcraft' as a formal lesson. It's usually been about obtaining precision in some steps (and leading the different followers precisely). Adapting that move to a small constrained space or filling a larger space. Practicing that move in a reduced space if there's not been sufficient participants.
I guess it's down to the teachers whether they can effectively explain it.
To be fair, I think I'd avoid any specific 'Tango Floorcraft' or 'Tango Self-Defense' class. Ours just seemed a standard part of the class and learning.
Guess that might be why some avoid group classes because they feel they're not learning enough moves.
ArbeeNYC
Forum Master
Obviously, it's something we learn, and it can be taught to beginners, at least the rudiments of it can. I think good floor craft, though, is something you acquire through practice and the desire to dance better. LOD is an integral part of it and, usually, one of the first things taught to beginning dancers. The real floor craft, learning to dance well on a crowded floor comes with experience.
ArbeeNYC
Forum Master
WordPress.com
wordpress.com
ArbeeNYC
Forum Master
Maybe they shouldn't be on the floor in the first place.
ProgressNotPerfection
Forum Master
Yep. My liberty to swing my fist ends where your nose begins.
Probably not, but we all start somewhere. Remember that first milonga?
Some learn by lessons; others learn by crossing the road without checking traffic (let's not get into jaywalking and differences between countries).
Probably not, but we all start somewhere. Remember that first milonga? It also depends on their lesson content.
Some learn by lessons; others learn by crossing the road without checking traffic (let's not get into jaywalking and differences between countries).
