Tango - advanced

[TangoDancer]

Quite right you are. To understand it more, let's look at the american tango (simply b/c of its marchy style). as you said, one is warranted to dance it w/i the 8 beats provided, but most also dance it in 2 distinct sections: 1- walk, walk, and 2- walk, side, stop. When challenged, they adamantly say that it is S-S-Q-Q-S [1,2 then 3,4,5]. They look like little american wooden soldiers dancing a german type of foxtrot to a mexican danzon style of WTH.

By your post, I would summize that were you to dance this same thing, that you would not dane it S-S-Q-Q-S, but 12, 34, 56, 78 (which 'is', of course, more correct). To dance it in this manner, does, indeed, keep one in time, but w/o being so beat conscious that one can not float the dance. Tango was never meant to be the germanic march that it has become (mostly from attempting to dance 'on' the beats). I have psoted before re other things, "...dancers must remember that the beats are for musicians; the music is for the dancers..."

[elisedance]

but do judges remember that?  I mean what element of tango MUST be on time in order for you to be seen as 'on time'?  The beginning of the phrase? The start of a side?

[TangoDancer]

As an adjudicator, I say, yes, many of us do know this. IMO, to be on time in a tango, one must begin at the 1, then find the 1,4 at the phrases (1 and 4 of . If one dances this, there is no possible way of being off beat/out of time in between.

[catsmeow]

I have found different teachers emphasize different beats. Can anyone describe how they accent their choreography

[Bordertangoman]

interesting I find dancing tango different with each piece of music. not sure why, but we still have a long way to go perfecting the timing and remaining low. But I do so enjoy the dance

I would go out on a limb, and say that it is b/c tango is different from all of the other dances. Part of that difference is that it is not confined to beats/bars as we tend to believe that other dances are. Thus, we are freed, even if only psychologically, to dance it w/ furhter abandon. Also, the dance changes every 2 steps, whereas most other dances change every 3 steps. Thsi allows for more variety/interpretation.

My specialty. I love it.

you should try blues.........

[elisedance]

interesting I find dancing tango different with each piece of music. not sure why, but we still have a long way to go perfecting the timing and remaining low. But I do so enjoy the dance

[BTM: Do we need a blues board? Anyone you know that might post there with you?]

I would go out on a limb, and say that it is b/c tango is different from all of the other dances. Part of that difference is that it is not confined to beats/bars as we tend to believe that other dances are. Thus, we are freed, even if only psychologically, to dance it w/ furhter abandon. Also, the dance changes every 2 steps, whereas most other dances change every 3 steps. Thsi allows for more variety/interpretation.

My specialty. I love it.

you should try blues.........

[TangoDancer]

you should try blues.........

I usually try to avoid the blues.   

[elisedance]

you should try blues.........

I usually try to avoid the blues.   

not when I'm fishing

[elisedance]

Worked on pivots in tango yesterday - it feels a bit as if you are riding a horse bowlegged - you stay between the legs and pivot from foot to foot.  In some ways tango and QS are related - I get the same feeling doing scatter chasses, in particular slow ones, with my weight squarely between thje feet.

[Bordertangoman]

Worked on pivots in tango yesterday - it feels a bit as if you are riding a horse bowlegged - you stay between the legs and pivot from foot to foot.  In some ways tango and QS are related - I get the same feeling doing scatter chasses, in particular slow ones, with my weight squarely between thje feet.

that sounds weird; do you mean double-weighted pivots?

[elisedance]

what do you mean double-weighted?  These are continuous pivots - you can do them right round the floor..

[Dora-Satya Veda]

Worked on pivots in tango yesterday - it feels a bit as if you are riding a horse bowlegged - you stay between the legs and pivot from foot to foot.  In some ways tango and QS are related - I get the same feeling doing scatter chasses, in particular slow ones, with my weight squarely between thje feet.

My teacher used to call it "Sumo position".

[elisedance]

Worked on pivots in tango yesterday - it feels a bit as if you are riding a horse bowlegged - you stay between the legs and pivot from foot to foot.  In some ways tango and QS are related - I get the same feeling doing scatter chasses, in particular slow ones, with my weight squarely between thje feet.

My teacher used to call it "Sumo position".

Thats even better than horse-back!

[QPO]

Yes that is why Tango is so different to the other three styles.  Using whole foot, side stepping ...crab like....I find it the most difficult as I always want to rise.. but it is getting better.

the other thing is keeping my head weight back far enough, not sure if that would have a huge impact on the connection.

[TangoDancer]

Yes that is why Tango is so different to the other three styles.  Using whole foot, side stepping ...crab like....I find it the most difficult as I always want to rise.. but it is getting better.

Wish I had been here to see this, I would have said that this is actually quite common. One of the best fixes is to note that there are no 'real' side steps in most of tango... they are "weight shifts" following the foot placement. Perhaps, that will help if you revisit this thread.