What steps/moves do you use (and how often)

Interesting question...after much study of Milongueros on YouTube;
The order of appearance is also the order of frequency;
Walking Parallel footed with rock steps, change of timing and pauses
Weight change without follow's change
Walking Cross footed with follow doing back crosses
Side step to the left
Walking Cross footed on Follows right, to the cross and then...
Ocho cortado..or a quarter giro to the right and back
Giro to the left half way around and then another to complete
Giro to the right half way around and then another to complete
Walking outside follows right in parallel footing and then going to the cross
Walking outside follows left in cross footing
3 Sidesteps to the right
Sacada
Calacita
Single axis half turn
In no step is the close embrace ever broken...never! ...and close means close, no "V" salon stuff.
What do you think? ...anyone want to dance??
 
Captain Jep said:
Hmm the second sacada I dont think Ive seen before (it looks more like an enlazada). Does it work for the woman or does it feel slightly unnatural?
Click to expand...

No it’s not unnatural but it’s very difficult to master. After you hook with your right foot you need to move forward and bring your left foot behind the right foot into a cruzada and then bring the right foot around for the second hook. It took a lot of practice to make it look so smooth and calm. The main secret to the step is moving forward after the first hook.
Watch the video again and you'll see me move forward after the first hook.
 
Some of the most musical and enjoyable dances I've had have been with beginners who have learned only walking (in parallel and in cross system). It just goes to show how with a 'limited' vocabulary you are forced to be more creative-i.e. tune in to the music.

I would a million times rather do a walk only tanda with a nice connection and musicality than dance with guy with a few moves under his belt but who doesn't connect with me or the music.

moan section:
How is it that some guys can lead sacadas and boleos but can't walk? I don't just mean the walk badly, but a full on inability to walk more than three steps before rocking back on their heels, losing connection, and treading on me, or head butting me because they are watching my feet. I'm not that ungrounded! I promise! Most walky walky leaders can tell where my feet are!

Also I agree that it is hideous to dance with someone who throws in all the moves (off balance of course) they've ever learned but he has a horrible uncomfortable embrace and throws you around, and then have your friends say "wow you're so lucky he's really good!" and then they dance with him and say "wow he's really really good!". I'm not saying I'm the best in the world to judge this, but I've danced with some very good dancers, and they didn't feel like that.
End of moan section


I suppose different people have different aims, I'm all for having fun and being a bit adventurous with the right partner, but really I'm looking for a deep connection with the music and my partner (which in no way excludes the above if he/she is the right partner!!!) rather than showing off flashy body ganchos, colgadas, high boleos and sacadas. I think once you reach a level of competency at those things it's no longer exciting.

But I have a feeling that that is exactly what a lot of women want. There's nothing wrong with it I suppose, it's just different perspectives.

I want to dance with someone who can lead a cross on the other side and make it feel effortless.
 
jfm said:
Some of the most musical and enjoyable dances I've had have been with beginners who have learned only walking (in parallel and in cross system). It just goes to show how with a 'limited' vocabulary you are forced to be more creative-i.e. tune in to the music.

I would a million times rather do a walk only tanda with a nice connection and musicality than dance with guy with a few moves under his belt but who doesn't connect with me or the music.

moan section:
How is it that some guys can lead sacadas and boleos but can't walk? I don't just mean the walk badly, but a full on inability to walk more than three steps before rocking back on their heels, losing connection, and treading on me, or head butting me because they are watching my feet. I'm not that ungrounded! I promise! Most walky walky leaders can tell where my feet are!

Also I agree that it is hideous to dance with someone who throws in all the moves (off balance of course) they've ever learned but he has a horrible uncomfortable embrace and throws you around, and then have your friends say "wow you're so lucky he's really good!" and then they dance with him and say "wow he's really really good!". I'm not saying I'm the best in the world to judge this, but I've danced with some very good dancers, and they didn't feel like that.
End of moan section


I suppose different people have different aims, I'm all for having fun and being a bit adventurous with the right partner, but really I'm looking for a deep connection with the music and my partner (which in no way excludes the above if he/she is the right partner!!!) rather than showing off flashy body ganchos, colgadas, high boleos and sacadas. I think once you reach a level of competency at those things it's no longer exciting.

But I have a feeling that that is exactly what a lot of women want. There's nothing wrong with it I suppose, it's just different perspectives.

I want to dance with someone who can lead a cross on the other side and make it feel effortless.
Click to expand...


oh I settle for all of that: musicality, connection, and walking all the way to boleos and all done well
 
jfm said:
Also I agree that it is hideous to dance with someone who throws in all the moves (off balance of course) they've ever learned but he has a horrible uncomfortable embrace and throws you around, and then have your friends say "wow you're so lucky he's really good!" and then they dance with him and say "wow he's really really good!". I'm not saying I'm the best in the world to judge this, but I've danced with some very good dancers, and they didn't feel like that.
Click to expand...

Yes- I see that quite a bit. I think some ladies see people dancing with a lot of energy, and equate that with "good dancer".

I happened to see exactly this last night at a milonga. A guy came in late to the milonga and had lots of sharp turns and sudden movement- lots of energy. The ladies were all going "Oh, he looks like a good leader!" :rolleyes:

However, that was ALL he could do. I began to feel sorry for the ladies who he chose to dance with, as most of them don't seem to know how to respond bodily to that energy level and just looked like they were being dragged around. IMO, this led to a serious mistake on his part, in not noticing that his follows were NOT responding to his energy and not damping it down to fit the responses he was getting.

It kind of like my main teacher says when he is teaching beginners. They have a lot of energy, but no control and so he has to teach them to bring it back down. This is in direct opposite to people who may not dance with much energy, but have too much control and then he has to teach them to let go a bit. Whereas a good dancer (IMO) is somewhere in between this, control, but also with energy.
 
jfm said:
How is it that some guys can lead sacadas and boleos but can't walk? I don't just mean the walk badly, but a full on inability to walk more than three steps before rocking back on their heels, losing connection, and treading on me, or head butting me because they are watching my feet. I'm not that ungrounded! I promise! Most walky walky leaders can tell where my feet are!

Also I agree that it is hideous to dance with someone who throws in all the moves (off balance of course) they've ever learned but he has a horrible uncomfortable embrace and throws you around, and then have your friends say "wow you're so lucky he's really good!" and then they dance with him and say "wow he's really really good!". I'm not saying I'm the best in the world to judge this, but I've danced with some very good dancers, and they didn't feel like that.
End of moan section


I suppose different people have different aims, I'm all for having fun and being a bit adventurous with the right partner, but really I'm looking for a deep connection with the music and my partner (which in no way excludes the above if he/she is the right partner!!!) rather than showing off flashy body ganchos, colgadas, high boleos and sacadas. I think once you reach a level of competency at those things it's no longer exciting.

But I have a feeling that that is exactly what a lot of women want. There's nothing wrong with it I suppose, it's just different perspectives.
Click to expand...
You called it. Some people are more into the connection while others are more into the steps. I think I'm a little bit odd, as some songs make me more interested in the steps (or at least the musicality), while other songs make me more interested in the connection.

jfm said:
I want to dance with someone who can lead a cross on the other side and make it feel effortless.
Click to expand...
What's so special about doing the cross on the other side? I've never had any interest in doing that. Am I missing out on something?
 
bastet said:
Yes- I see that quite a bit. I think some ladies see people dancing with a lot of energy, and equate that with "good dancer".

I happened to see exactly this last night at a milonga. A guy came in late to the milonga and had lots of sharp turns and sudden movement- lots of energy. The ladies were all going "Oh, he looks like a good leader!" :rolleyes:

However, that was ALL he could do. I began to feel sorry for the ladies who he chose to dance with, as most of them don't seem to know how to respond bodily to that energy level and just looked like they were being dragged around. IMO, this led to a serious mistake on his part, in not noticing that his follows were NOT responding to his energy and not damping it down to fit the responses he was getting.

It kind of like my main teacher says when he is teaching beginners. They have a lot of energy, but no control and so he has to teach them to bring it back down. This is in direct opposite to people who may not dance with much energy, but have too much control and then he has to teach them to let go a bit. Whereas a good dancer (IMO) is somewhere in between this, control, but also with energy.
Click to expand...


You make excellent points. It's all about sharing our energy and finding balance. One doesn't have to demonstrate all their energy outwardly dancing tango; one needs to share it inwardly with their partner.

I realized this is one reason there are men with whom I have never danced and will never dance because we would never balance our energies while dancing. When one finds a partner where your energy level is the same, it is divine.
 
Wanderer2 said:
That's so true -
but for me there is another dimension: When one finds a partner where you can easily play with the common energy level, it is even better.
Click to expand...

I like this also. I don't delve into AT much BECAUSE I like varying degrees of energy, whereas most of the dancers around here only want the quiet zen of the inner connection.

I like roller coasters as much as I like Ferris Wheels. I like to mix it up.

For that reason I like all the "flashy, showy moves" in AT, but I'm not dancing them for an audience. I'm dancing them for the thrill of doing them well with my partner. I like a mix of quiet and loud in my dancing, no matter what type I'm dancing.
 
@bjp22tango: BINGO!!!

Quiet zen is good. As is the thrill of flashy and showy.

Variety is a good thing.
 
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