Los codigos de milongas: Do not bump

sixela said:
Incidentally, thanks for posting the first video. I now have ammunition should anyone start nagging about the fact no good leader lands on the heel and rolls from heel to toe ;).
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I think its a mistake to think anything is THE right or only way to dance tango.. ilke toe leads but I dont always use them and sometimes I will dance for a while without my heels touching the ground....
 
bordertangoman said:
I think its a mistake to think anything is THE right or only way to dance tango.
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I'm in violent agreement; that sort of ammunition stays in the cupboard until someone again starts a rant about X as the Only True Argentine Tango Way, All the Rest a Heresy.

[ Not to cross-pollinate from another thread, but that's also what makes me suspicious of even a good syllabus; a bad syllabus gives no cues about what's important, and a good one gives one possible coherent set of solutions about what's important, to the detriment of other possible solutions ].
 
sixela said:
Not to cross-pollinate from another thread, but that's also what makes me suspicious of even a good syllabus; a bad syllabus gives no cues about what's important, and a good one gives one possible coherent set of solutions about what's important, to the detriment of other possible solutions .
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it depends whether one chooses to teach explicitly or implicitly
 
You've gotten off on a tangent again. The topic is no bumping - respecting others on the dance floor. One of many lessons in life that we need to learn and take with us to the dance floor.

If women want to follow the latest fashion trend in tango, they will dance with the heels off the floor to let everyone know they have ballet training and strong feet to dance that way. Then they will be following what is in vogue among all the young salon dancers who are performers in disguise.

However, if women want to follow the classic style set for all social dancing, they'll keep the heel tips on the floor.

We know that dancing in high heels is enough of a challenge without lifting the heel another inch off the floor and adding ballet footwork.
View a video of Alicia Pons if you want to know what I mean.
 
jantango said:
However, if women want to follow the classic style set for all social dancing, they'll keep the heel tips on the floor.
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All social dancing? So there really is only one true path to tango heaven?

Something tells me that's not quite right ...
 
I think he merely objects to the "classic style" that is predominantly used for most social dancing in Buenos Aires being defined as "the classic style for all social dancing"; that is indeed a separate claim (if I may presume to translate, one that claims it's not partly historic accident that makes it so but necessity).

"All" is a dangerous word, as it's invalidated by even one contradicting example.

But it's nitcpicking; I think we all understood what Jan was saying, and I agree that when dancers don't actually pay any attention to anything but social dancing aspects they're much more likely to develop a style where the follower naturally uses her heels or not depending on where the leader positions her, rather than one in which aesthetics would make her adjust that to her own taste.
 
1985 Schild Social Dance page 4

Posture ....
1. The body weight is slightly forward on the ball of the foot with the heels barely touching the floor.

I've seen this over and over again in the books that I've been looking at, just like a lot of other things.

(although, truth be told, I didn't pay much attention to the meaning of "all social dance")
 
Steve Pastor said:
...1. The body weight is slightly forward on the ball of the foot with the heels barely touching the floor.
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To me there is a huge difference between having ones heels on the floor (resting the feet), and almost having them there (not resting the feet).

I watched the video of Alicia Pons and I couldn't tell which she was doing. I would guess that her heels were mostly slightly off the floor.
 
The Fred Astaire Dance Book 1962 page 10

Correct Dancing Posture and Hold

5. Raise your heels slightly off the floor, placing your weight evenly on the balls of your feet. If you find it difficult to maintain your balance, you've probably lifted your heels a bit too high.

To me there is a huge difference between having ones heels on the floor (resting the feet), and almost having them there (not resting the feet).
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I believe that there are some very subtle movements involved in moving, standing still, pivoting, etc., but you can sure feel it.
The main point, to me, is to not dance on your toes.

Let me add that this is most critical when in close embrace and you are not walking and both feet are close together, although when in "crossed system" it happens, too. Often the woman's feet "go away" because of (probably) a combination of some weight on both feet, not maintaining a "straight axis" (oxymoron there?) and not letting some weight go "through the heel" or mid foot "into the floor". (again, I think there may be a subtle shifting of some weight on to and off of the heel)
 
I made reference to Alicia Pons because she includes classical ballet movements in tango. Tango is a social dance.
 
Here I keep in mind what Nito Garcia told in a beginner workshop, if I move with the food, following the LOD and bump into a static someone, then it is his fault.

I rarely bump though, last time was in December, and gosh how long it was to explain to a couple of beginners who did not know who Nito was in the first place, that despite their being the bumped ones they were also the guilty ones. I did not even tried to quote Gavito (You can be static in the milonga flood but then be prepared for hits) coz I figured that the two Phillistines would not know this name either. They even whined to their teachers (it was during a practise) who then apologized to me, explaining they had not taught much yet about codigos.
 
newbie said:
Here I keep in mind what Nito Garcia told in a beginner workshop, if I move with the food, following the LOD and bump into a static someone, then it is his fault.

I rarely bump though, last time was in December, and gosh how long it was to explain to a couple of beginners who did not know who Nito was in the first place, that despite their being the bumped ones they were also the guilty ones. I did not even tried to quote Gavito (You can be static in the milonga flood but then be prepared for hits) coz I figured that the two Phillistines would not know this name either. They even whined to their teachers (it was during a practise) who then apologized to me, explaining they had not taught much yet about codigos.
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Let me get this right. You as an experienced dancer bumped into two stationary beginners in a practice and you think it's their fault?!

Floorcraft 101, learn to spot beginners around you and give them more slack, especially in a practice. I mean seriously, in a practice it's perfectly reasonable to stop and discuss some aspect of what you're doing with your partner, or even just stop to mentally untangle yourself / find the beat / check which foot she's on etc.

*going back to lurking*
 
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