Weight change in the cross

[Peaches]

So, Peaches, and other people who follow. When you do your cross, what have your instructors told you about a weight change onto your left foot, which is crossed over your right? Yes, no, always, sometimes, maybe?

Funny, I just asked about this in my last lesson. The answer I got was that it depends.

If the lead is moving quickly forward, and there's no real pause, then it's pretty much an instantaneous weight change. As in, place weight on the left (front/crossing) foot as soon as it's placed, because you'll need it to take the next step which is happening immediately.

If, however, he's moving more slowly, and there's a pause at the cruzada, then weight is not placed until it's necessary to do so to take a step with the right foot. So, if you're working with an 8CB, the weight doesn't transfer into the cruzada until you actually get the lead for the next (often 6th (?) step).

By doing this, the leader has more options open for what to lead next. I was shown some examples (only one of which I can remember), such as essentially turning the cross step (5?) into an embellishment by stepping forward with the left foot.

I don't think my post makes any sense, but I can't figure out how to reword it so that it does. It's late in the day...the caffeine levels in my blood are getting low...please forgive me.

 

[Peaches]

You guys are making me want to take a trip out to the west coast...so I can try dancing with each of you. (If you'd have patience with this beginner. ;-) )

 

[Ampster]

You guys are making me want to take a trip out to the west coast...so I can try dancing with each of you. (If you'd have patience with this beginner. ;-) )

I would love to dance with you. If I have a business trip to the east coast I'll look you up and we can synchopate to Pugliese and experiment!

:banana:

 

[Peaches]

It's a date! (Don't tell DH! ;-) lol)

So...what are my odds of you making it out this way? Hmmm...haven't visited my sibs-in-law-n'-fam in a long time...maybe I can convince DH...

But, you promise to be patient, right?

 

[Ampster]

It's a date! (Don't tell DH! ;-) lol)

So...what are my odds of you making it out this way? Hmmm...haven't visited my sibs-in-law-n'-fam in a long time...maybe I can convince DH...

But, you promise to be patient, right?

shhh...I won't tell. :raisebro:

Of course I'll be patient. I am patient with all whom I dance with. You learn and build on those who can. And, encourage those who are just starting. Because, they will be the good ones of the future.

What was this thread about again *chuckling*

 

[Peaches]

Oh, I dunno...something about crossing yourself or something?

Where is Steve, anyway...it's his question that I started the thread for!

*stomp*

So...about crossing oneself...

What's your understanding of when the lady should transfer weight into the cruzada?

 

[bordertangoman]

Sounds like you have a good teacher. There is a rebound from the cross where the woman doesn't change weight but steps forward to the leader's left. He has to lead her into the cross so her wieght is back and on her right foot and its a fast movement so has to catch her weight then lead her forward again.

 

[Peaches]

Sounds like you have a good teacher.

Well, I should damn well hope so for what I'm shelling out for the lessons. *lol*

There is a rebound from the cross where the woman doesn't change weight but steps forward to the leader's left. He has to lead her into the cross so her wieght is back and on her right foot and its a fast movement so has to catch her weight then lead her forward again.

Yeah, that sounds familiar.

Now, I've just got to work on consciously changing my weight correctly. I initially asked the question because I found that I was delaying the weight change in the cross, but not always. I was very concerned that I wasn't doing it correctly but wasn't, for some reason, being called on it. I don't know why he wouldn't have dinged me about it--it's not like it's something he wouldn't have known about. Turns out, he hadn't said anything because I was doing it correctly, naturally on my own. Yay me!

Except now that I've asked about it, I'm thinking about it and screwing it up some. Argh. I hate this cycle sometimes.

 

[bordertangoman]

Except now that I've asked about it, I'm thinking about it and screwing it up some. Argh. I hate this cycle sometimes.

Tango on cycles. Now that's novel!

 

[Peaches]

Tango on cycles. Now that's novel!

You ain't kidding!

I mean, I thought learning it while standing on my own two feet was hard, but that's NOTHING compared with trying to do it on a cycle!

It gives a whole new meaning to "finding your axis!"



...

...

I evidently need more caffeine.

 

[bordertangoman]

You ain't kidding!

I mean, I thought learning it while standing on my own two feet was hard, but that's NOTHING compared with trying to do it on a cycle!

It gives a whole new meaning to "finding your axis!".

You must mean 'finding your axles'

 

[Steve Pastor]

Well, I was sort of waiting to see if anyone else would write about what they are being taught.
This part of your post, Peaches, I like. "I've just got to work on consciously changing my weight correctly". I remember seeing a post somewhere where someone was complaining about guys leading weight changes while she was in a crossed position. For me, where I go next, or where I ask my partner to go next depends on where she is now.
If I lead you to cross (or think I do) , but I can't feel where your leg went, or where your weight is,...?
On the other hand in a lesson with Alicia Pons, we were supposed to lead the woman to our left after she had crossed. We were to then step beside her right foot with our left to start a single axis turn. When I tried it with Alicia, I told her I couldn't feel her weight change onto her left when she crossed. She did not understand me. (She speaks English, but you may know how difficult it is to be fluent in another language. And she was not wearing heals.) Wonder how she would have responded?
Anyhow, does it make sense that if you are following the man's center, you could end up with your weight either on your right foot, rr, if his center is a bit more to your right, on your crossed left foot?
And, if the man is being taught to wait for you to complete your steps, and you don't put weight on the crossed left foot, should he force you to do that by continuing to move towards you?
But, then too, the unled cross can be used as a nice little traspie under the right conditions.

P.S. to Peaches - Yes, of course. Let's dance! I have lots of patience for people who are making an effort. I would encourage you to come to the Portland Tangofest in October, but I have a trip planned for then.
BTW, what the heck is a DH?

 

[Peaches]

OK, first things first. DH is shorthand for "dear husband"--aka, how I refer to my SO (significant other) online. Or, if I'm pissed at him, "damned husband!"

This part of your post, Peaches, I like. "I've just got to work on consciously changing my weight correctly".

Like plenty of other things, *sigh*, I'm often doing things correctly (so I'm told). But my teacher's complaint at this time is that I'm not consistent, and I don't do things with an awareness of doing them.

For me, where I go next, or where I ask my partner to go next depends on where she is now. If I lead you to cross (or think I do) , but I can't feel where your leg went, or where your weight is,...?

Well, in this case, I'm definitely led into the cross, in terms of footwork, but I'm not led into the change of weight necessarily. Of course, there are times when he'll lead the cross to a change of weight, without moving anywhere. So, I guess the answer is, my weight is where YOU (the leader) left it. If you didn't ask me to transfer the weight to my crossed left foot, then I'm still standing on my right.

I guess part of is, maybe, trusting your follow to get her feet where you put them, and to leave her weight where you left it.

Anyhow, does it make sense that if you are following the man's center, you could end up with your weight either on your right foot, rr, if his center is a bit more to your right, on your crossed left foot?

To me, no. The lead's "center" than I'm following varies slightly from lead to lead. Some guys prefer to dance with no offset and shoulders parallel, my teacher, however prefers to dance with a slight offset and a slight opening between my right shoulder and his left (upper bodies form a slight "v" shape). So, based on how the man establishes his hold is how I define the center that I relate to.

I'm not going to adjust my steps based on where his center is in relation to mine, but, rather, adjust my steps to based on keeping the relativity to his center as he moves it.

And, if the man is being taught to wait for you to complete your steps, and you don't put weight on the crossed left foot, should he force you to do that by continuing to move towards you?

First of all, IMH beginner's O, the man should always be waiting for the woman to complete the step he has led--the key being what he has led. She can't very well follow if he's already leading step 2 if she's still in the process of completing step 1, for whatever reason. At the very minimum, her weight won't be where it needs to be to follow what he's asking--not to mention it's just bad leading to not be paying attention to your partner.

About the rest of the statement... Speaking just for myself, with what I've been taught... It depends on what the lead wants. If he is wanting her weight to be on the crossed left, and she hasn't put it there (I wouldn't), I suppose he could "force it." How to force could, I suppose, be debated. Some people move forward, others use a rotational lead. Whichever.

On the other hand, if you know (as a lead) that what you're asking for works fine out of the cross, and you trust your follower...let her stay there. It's a very easy motion to transfer that weight and "pop out" the right leg when the weight is transferred.

P.S. to Peaches - Yes, of course. Let's dance! I have lots of patience for people who are making an effort.

Sweet! I can't remember where my sibs-in-law are, exactly, but either way they're close, relative to where I am on the East Coast!

 

[Joe]

Don't you know anything about baseball?

 

[Peaches]

Don't you know anything about baseball?

Eh? WTF are you talking about?

And what does the license plate in your avatar stand for? I'm pretty sure I can guess some of the letters, but the rest???

Baseball???