I knew someone would come up with these so called “lifts” when I wrote. I
don’t consider them strictly in the lift category. Never knew the terminology of sentadas, elevaciones, levantadas, you guys sure speak a different language
I had to look up on google to map and visualize the terms to the figures.
Coming from salsa the lifts like neck drop etc are very dangerous on the dance floor. Seen a number of accidents on the social dance. Enthusiastic ladies throwing themselves into a dip almost taking down the guy with them is a near-fall-down experience every salsa leader been through. Most social dancers in salsa frown on dips, lifts, and tricks. It is too dangerous on a crowded dance floor.
I have done those so called “lifts” mentioned below in either a choreography/performance class or non-tango class on lifts and tricks A general principle common to all lifts, dips, and tricks is that there a high degree of technique involved, to an observer there is an illusion of force, in reality the lady generates the force/momentum, the man provides stable upright support without collapsing to the lady. If one of the two partners doesn’t understand the technique or way to execute it, it can become dangerous for both.
I don’t know any lady that I regularly dance with that will be able to properly do their part. First they won’t how to react. If they do react, they will likely bring you down. It works with ladies who have some performance experience, former dancers, former gymnasts, or those the have trained in following “lifts”.
Second part is chances of injury. Doing it wrong way by either partner can cause or aggravate injuries. Unless you know and trust that your partner knows their part, you are taking a risk.
Third which we discuss in other social dances where lifts and trucks are more common. You don’t one ever kind of injury your partner may be carrying. Pulling it off on an unsuspecting partner can cause you aggravate their existing injury. Someone look fit and flexible might have a back problem for example. That is main reason I don’t try any of these. I don’t me injury history and limitations of the person I am dancing with.
In class settings too, it takes time for ladies to master the techniques for the lifts. I am talking about younger ladies in their 20s and 30s who already are experienced dancers.
It depends on what you define as a "lift."
I'd count sentadas. They're found in tango back to the start and even considered by some to be basic tango vocabulary. They're less "not done" than "forgotten" . . . but so are ruedas, which nobody could describe as disruptive or dangerous They amount to low lifts to seat your partner on your hip, lap, or thigh. The simpler ones are very compact, and even the most extravagant ones are no more disruptive than the ganchos or empujadas they start life as.
I'd also count ballet-style elevaciones. Those are crazy at the milonga unless the floor is, say, 10% full. Once you have 10 times the space you need, you won't be endangering anyone outside your couple. As a person who has had a hernioplasty, I'd be endangering myself with most partners! (But see below.)
I learned both in stage-tango choreography classes. The teacher, a man close to me in weight, didn't let me lead them with women until I could execute them with him. (That was before the hernia!)
Will I lead a sentada? Sure, sometimes. It's a fun accent that you can do without breaking the abrazo or taking up extra space. You can convert any deep sacada or gancho into one, and execute it as up-sit-down on three counts without breaking musicality. The only partners with whom I'd do this are ones who know good sentada technique, though.
Will I lead an elevación? Rarely, as a finale, when there's only one other couple on the floor at the end of the night, and when my partner is one of a few regular partners who knows the proper form (typically meaning "current or former ballet dancer"), and whom I can literally pick up with just one arm because they weigh maybe 40-45 kg and I can one-arm that if I engage my chest and back. It's meant as a joke between the two of us, and we both participate in it with laughter.
Sometimes I do a smooth levantada. I place my right shoulder under her left armpit and lift the follower very slowly, turning counterclockwise. The follower then takes her steps in the air in slomo. This sometimes goes well with a ritardando or a violin solo. You hardly need any space for it and it looks so romantic.
I like sentadas but they usually hurt my left knee. So I leave them out although they are true viejo milonguero stuff.
