Leaders. How was your Tango journey?

[Be Present]

I am just at the beginning of leading. I had to learn so that I could jump in and help with both parts while teaching a class of beginners.

It feels very different to be the lead. All I can lead are ochos, as sandwhich, parada, and a rock step turn. I seem to be good at intention and using my torso to direct followers.

 

[Brummbaer]

All I can lead are ochos, as sandwhich, parada, and a rock step turn. I seem to be good at intention and using my torso to direct followers.

Well done

A key milestone is actually leading a cross from a walk, say, but not when the follower expects the cross in some sequence.

Followers may get told just to 'cross' if they think they're being led a cross, but it's another level to actually lead it in a controlled way.

 

[Be Present]

Well done

A key milestone is actually leading a cross from a walk, say, but not when the follower expects the cross in some sequence.

Followers may get told just to 'cross' if they think they're being led a cross, but it's another level to actually lead it in a controlled way.

Ha! Thanks a lot for the encouragement and for reaching back in your memory to tell me the cross milestone. I honestly didn’t realize how nuanced the lead is for the cross. I can get it, but not 100% of the time.

I actually led a leader who is quite good, but is just learning to follow. It was a great change of roles for us.

I’d love to hear other beginner leader experiences and milestones. It feels strange to actively direct the follower. It feels like I am back leading.

 

[Brummbaer]

I honestly didn’t realize how nuanced the lead is for the cross. I can get it, but not 100% of the time.

Spent a lot of time on the cross over the years. We found a useful exercise was the 8CB - but not in any hold, just facing each other. You have to think what you're doing with your torso to lead, and to follow. Another 'milestone' might be the 'spiral cross'. Leading the follower to a cross without a step, so in-place.

 

[JournalInTime]

Another 'milestone' might be the 'spiral cross'. Leading the follower to a cross without a step, so in-place.

One of the harder leads in tango, I should add. It involves suspension, active use of the forearm in the embrace, and grounding without a lot of torsion or compression. Very tricky. What helped me learn it was to imagine it as the limit case where a forward volcada didn't go off axis at all, so the leg didn't spill at all, but just freed up and moved in the tiniest possible variation on the theme of a forward volcada arc.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

One of the harder leads in tango, I should add. It involves suspension, active use of the forearm in the embrace, and grounding without a lot of torsion or compression. Very tricky. What helped me learn it was to imagine it as the limit case where a forward volcada didn't go off axis at all, so the leg didn't spill at all, but just freed up and moved in the tiniest possible variation on the theme of a forward volcada arc.

Curious. Do you move the followers feet at all (that is, lead her to step back a little with, for example, her right leg) then twist your torso to lead her to cross? Or do you do it without moving her right foot (assuming that her left leg is free here)? It's harder if you keep her right leg in place.

 

[JournalInTime]

Curious. Do you move the followers feet at all (that is, lead her to step back a little with, for example, her right leg) then twist your torso to lead her to cross? Or do you do it without moving her right foot (assuming that her left leg is free here)? It's harder if you keep her right leg in place.

I invisibly transfer weight to my left/the follower's right, then suspend the follower, then use a micro-circle of my torso with the aid of my suspending (right) arm to move my follower's left leg in front of their right, and finally I end the suspension. From the outside, nobody moves from the spot: I appear to stay put on two feet, while my follower appears to decide to move their left foot in front of their right foot.

 

[Brummbaer]

Very tricky.

Yes. It depends how you envisage it. It's also about timing - that change in direction before it becomes an actual step. I agree, it is a little like a basic volcada.

I tend to envisage it almost as leading a forward ocho to my left, but suspending that as the follower's left foot comes forward in front of their right foot, then leading back into a cross. Essentially movement of my torso to engender the follower's movement. So, sort of like a very slow, precise, controlled, mini, basic volcada.

Do you move the followers feet at all

Yes. It's the leader's which don't move. You can 'cheat' by taking a small side step as if you were about to lead a forward ocho, or even lead a more extensive part of that forward ocho. Or lead the follower to a small step back on their right foot.


I put it as a 'milestone' with the cross since, I guess, it embodies all the motion of the torso to lead that basic cross, but without actual steps.

The first milestone is where you actually lead the follower to an [unexpected**] cross - from a walk, say. This milestone is where you can deploy the bodily movement to just engender that cross from a stationary position.

** The follower isn't just doing a cross because they've learned some sequence where they expect a cross.

---

Lots of 'milestones' along the way which is any long list of step names. I wouldn't list caminata nor abrazo since those are always works in progress. (You think you've cracked it; but find you haven't)

None of them really matter as a dance achievement beyond actually leading the follower into an AT characteristic cross with musicality.

 

[Be Present]

One of the harder leads in tango, I should add. It involves suspension, active use of the forearm in the embrace, and grounding without a lot of torsion or compression. Very tricky. What helped me learn it was to imagine it as the limit case where a forward volcada didn't go off axis at all, so the leg didn't spill at all, but just freed up and moved in the tiniest possible variation on the theme of a forward volcada arc.

That is a GREAT help in visualizing it! This is a ways off for me, but I love the description.

 

[opendoor]

One of the harder leads in tango, I should add. It involves suspension, active use of the forearm in the embrace, and grounding without a lot of torsion or compression. Very tricky. What helped me learn it was to imagine it as the limit case where a forward volcada didn't go off axis at all, so the leg didn't spill at all, but just freed up and moved in the tiniest possible variation on the theme of a forward volcada arc.

Only want to add, that a change of lanes is involved. And as one foot of the follower already is weighted the other one crosses naturally when shifting the lane.

 

[Be Present]

Als

Only want to add, that a change of lanes is involved. And as one foot of the follower already is weighted the other one crosses naturally when shifting the lane.

Also really helpful

 

[Gssh]

I honestly didn’t realize how nuanced the lead is for the cross. I can get it, but not 100% of the time.

Then you are doing more than well - i personally think the cross is one of the technically most difficult moves in tango, and it is a mystery how it ended up as part of the beginner vocabulary.

One of the more interesting (and humbling) exercises is leading the "dark side" cross.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

I invisibly transfer weight to my left/the follower's right, then suspend the follower, then use a micro-circle of my torso with the aid of my suspending (right) arm to move my follower's left leg in front of their right, and finally I end the suspension. From the outside, nobody moves from the spot: I appear to stay put on two feet, while my follower appears to decide to move their left foot in front of their right foot.

You move back as in a mini-volcada to offer more space?

 

[ArbeeNYC]

Or lead the follower to a small step back on their right foot.

I've more or less taken the easy way out and done it that way.
Or used a small volcada-like back step to create a gap and allow her free leg to swing.

 

[JournalInTime]

There is no real need to step. The leg doesn't swing. It's literally lifted, shifted laterally, and landed. It moves a little bit forward to clear the other leg before the cross, but far less than the distance you'd normally leave between your feet in any event.