Uniquely Womens technique

[ant]

I have just returned from a Tango Festival, where one of the workshop topics was Womens Technique, on an indivudual basis.

Most of the ladies that attended, although happy with the quality of teaching, did not feel that the content was "Women" specific.

This then led on to a discussion regarding what techniques and maybe associated etiquettes may be included in such a class, that are "Woman" specific.

Any ideas?

 

[Zoopsia59]

This then led on to a discussion regarding what techniques and maybe associated etiquettes may be included in such a class, that are "Woman" specific.

Any ideas?

Dancing in high heels and how it affects everything.

Women also (in general) have a lower center of gravity and use their hips differently because of the wider pelvis. But there are so many variations in body style, that I'd hardly think of anything related to these things as being universal.

Other than that, I'd say there are things that are more specific to followers and other things more specific to leaders. But that doesn't always mean women/men nowadays.

What all was covered/ discussed in the workshop?

 

[ant]

What all was covered/ discussed in the workshop?

The main content of the class was to do with staying grounded to the floor.

Thanks for the feedback Z. What you have said was pretty much in line with the discussion I had although dancing in high heels was not mentioned.

What was surprising to me was that at a recent weekend of workshops with a very experienced lady teacher with the same title of Womens Technique, all the women came out of that workshop very happy with the content. The impresson I got from them was that the workshop was as much a psychological enpowering class as much as a technique class.

The other thing discussed in my conversation was the feedback back given by the guys as to what they looked for when asking a woman to dance but I think that has been the subject of a thread recently. The ladies were very interested in that and commented the next day they put some suggestions into practise.

It seems to me that some emphesis in such a workshop incorporating Women's issues at a conversational level as opposed to a dance technique level appears to helpful and I suspect some mention of dancing in high heels would also be well received

 

[Madahlia]

The main content of the class was to do with staying grounded to the floor.

.....................It seems to me that some emphesis in such a workshop incorporating Women's issues at a conversational level as opposed to a dance technique level appears to helpful and I suspect some mention of dancing in high heels would also be well received

The class you originally mentioned did contain practice in being grounded both with bare feet and in high heels. We were invited to compare and contrast how the weight distribution felt in both cases and to repeat the barefoot exercises.

A lot of that class was given over to playing and being relaxed and free with the spare leg. I found this useful. A more prescriptive teacher might have made us practise specific decorations and exercises requiring specific and disciplined positioning of the leg and foot. I thought that if I was leader I would have found that part of the class useful also.

A small part of the class was devoted to practising pivots, with the emphasis on turning the upper body in isolation from the hips, and using this to drive the pivot. Again, any amount of practice at this is useful for anyone who hasn't been dancing tango since birth, in my opinion.

The teacher did not emphasise collection of the feet and ankles during pivots. Although it's also relevant to men I think this is one of the most distinctive features of a follower's dancing and well worth covering in a women's technique class and practising repeatedly.

For my part, I think some of the value of a "Women's class" is not just the content: it is good to have a space to practise the techniques in isolation without having to worry about what your leader may or may not be going. In paired dancing it is not always possible to be focussed on what exactly I am doing with my feet or legs because I have to respond to the lead as well. Lots of tango technique does not feel natural so it requires total concentration to make it become second nature.

 

[spectator]

This sounds like a really excellent and useful workshop! Being grounded, pivoting properly and having a relaxed leg are incredibly important for following. Perhaps it was "women only" to encourage them to go? Or maybe a general technique class would have to spend way too much time addressing other issues. Much better to spend a couple of hours practising and improving these than spending the time learning embellishments but not really improving their technique (which may be what the ladies who were nonplussed were really after?).
In terms of do's and don'ts at a milonga, how to open up the embrace if dancing close with a particular man is problematic etc etc etc, goes, couldn't they just ask someone or look it up on the internet or something? I'd be a bit annoyed if I turned up having paid £15 or something and then got a lecture on stuff I already know. The more practice the better as far as my dancing goes, but I don't need to hear the lecture on cabeceo or personal hygeine thanks.

 

[Mosca Negra]

Alexandra Wood teaches a wonderful womans technique class from time to time.

 

[Zoopsia59]

Perhaps it was "women only" to encourage them to go? Or maybe a general technique class would have to spend way too much time addressing other issues.

I think one of the advantages of a gender specific or role specific class is that people will know going in that they are not going to be partner dancing.

If you have a general class for everyone, and then try to teach stuff that has people working solo, often they get frustrated or annoyed because they thought they were going to be dancing together. But a "class for followers" or a "class for women" (or leaders/men) will be understood to NOT be partner dancing and people won't complain when you give them solo technique exercises.

 

[opendoor]

Re: uniquely

For years I have experienced practicas and TA classes as being men-centered, with women/followers only serving as a model for the leader.

(In consequence it got more and more difficult for me to find a dance partner for weekly practicas from a special level on.)

But it can be the other way round:

When I started to work with Karin Solana (a former ballerina and member of the famous John Neumeier company) and Gustavo Vidal, I found, that the greater deal of instruction accounted for the following role ! (And, not concerning embellishment a.s.o. but real body mechanics, hip and, spine adjustment, balance, stepping, step width, drive, momentum, weight shift, counter balance, turning, and dancing skills for volcadas, colgadas, saltos.)

So, if you are interested in her teaching technique and philosophy, it will be difficult to meet her abroad. Sometimes you can find her with Gustavo Vidal or Eric Jorissen on Crete or Mallorca (LaMilonga Travel, Bremen).

 

[kylie888]

Wish to know more..

i dreamed to be a good ballerina...but sad to note i am not good in dancing...


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[opendoor]

Re: Wish to know more ..

Hi Kylie, firstly, welcome to the DF !

Sorry, I don´t know, which portion of Karin Solanas Tango didactics can be traced back to her ballet training. I will send you her mail address, ask her, she will surely answer.