We spend a lot of time here and in our classes talking about good posture and helping people become aware of their posture and where they should focus to improve it. We work extensively on individual movement and posture because when you step on the dance floor, your posture and movement are what you bring with you. But that is only the beginning.
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Every week in TangoLab, we start class with some exercise to create awareness of our partners through the embrace. Our goal is to encourage dancers to create and sense movement in response to one another. Beginners, even those that come from other dance backgrounds, are always amazed at how this internal flow of movement works to create a conversation between partners. When done very subtly, it can be difficult to see any flow of movement, yet we are speaking volumes, and responding to one another. It might seem like magic.
Explaining what needs to happen to internalize the flow of movement is difficult, however, which is why it is so important to choose our words and imagery carefully. There are many phrases and words that are commonly and casually used when teaching or learning Argentine tango. In our teaching, we have discarded many of them because they are vague or have multiple meanings. It is a careful practice to put these things away, not use them, and find a thorough and meaningful replacement when needed.
Read MoreFollowed by a 2 hour practica.
Check out our new article on Forward head posture.
Last week’s body awareness challenge is “Perceiving the dynamic sacrum”.
In TangoBreath we will continue our work from previous classes with adornos by adding a few more. These movements are becoming more important as we continue to explore their effect within the embrace in TangoLab.
In TangoLab we will begin, as always, with presence in the embrace and subtle core movement. This is the perfect way to start learning Argentine tango. We will continue working with variations in linear movement while we begin incorporating the many choices in direction when following a pivot.
Last week we completely dismantled the ocho cortado, this week we will continue to explore all of its parts and the mirrors and reversals of those parts. Including an examination of linear and circular crosses.
As always our class will incorporate changes in direction, and how our internal movement brings life to the embrace. Including how to find which foot your partner is on while creating the opportunity for adornos, and a dynamic, great feeling embrace.
This week’s orchestra is Carlos Di Sarli, which will be quite refreshing after the last few weeks of Biagi. Di Sarli’s music makes it easy to hear the phrasing. Kiki and bouba, are now living at Homewood, so they will always be available to add a visual to what you are hearing and feeling in the music.
Classes start at 7:00, Practica starts at 9:00, BYOB.
There are no prerequisites for any of the TangoLab classes.
| TangoBreath: | 7:00 | $5 |
| TangoLab: | 8:00 | $5 |
| Practica: | 9-11:00 | $7 |
| Entire Night: | $12 | |
We hope to see you there!
Read MoreCheck out our new article on Forward head posture.
Last week’s body awareness challenge is “Balance your head!“.
In TangoBreath we will continue our work from previous classes with adornos by adding a few more. These movements are becoming more important as we continue to explore their effect within the embrace in TangoLab.
In TangoLab we will begin, as always, with presence in the embrace and subtle core movement. This is the perfect way to start learning Argentine tango. We will continue working with variations in linear movement while we begin incorporating the many choices in direction when following a pivot.
We will continue our exploration of the ocho cortado and variations. Find out why the ocho cortado is just a fancy name for a simple everyday step. We will examine this very simple movement, and the options for exiting it as single movements which can be applied everywhere, not just following the two steps that are called “ocho cortado”.
As always our class will incorporate changes in direction, and how our internal movement brings life to the embrace. Including how to find which foot your partner is on while creating the opportunity for adornos, and a dynamic, great feeling embrace.
This week’s orchestra is Rodolfo Biagi, perfect for being hit over the head with phrasing and learning to search out sweetness. This week we will bring out the kiki and bouba, so the music will be extra fun.
Classes start at 7:00, Practica starts at 9:00, BYOB.
There are no prerequisites for any of the TangoLab classes.
| TangoBreath: | 7:00 | $5 |
| TangoLab: | 8:00 | $5 |
| Practica: | 9-11:00 | $7 |
| Entire Night: | $12 | |
We hope to see you there!
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I recently gave a weekly challenge to create awareness of our posture, “Scrunch your shoulders, fix your posture!”. The exercise is specifically targeted at slouched shoulders and a forward head posture. After posting it, I received a few emails from tango dancers and non-dancers, all thanking me for the reminder. Many said that this particular exercise is something they’ve been told to do. As I was writing this article, it came time for another body awareness challenge, so I posted “Balance your head!”, which generated even more feedback. Clearly, bad posture is a problem that many of us are struggling with.
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If you have been to our tango classes, you know we always incorporate the pelvic floor in its role toward solid, fluid and confident movement. Here is your chance to get a full dose of what it takes to be fully aware of how to use your hips, sacrum and tailbone in every tango movement.
We follow up our pelvic floor class with a class on how to visualize and attain fluid movement. This includes creating dynamic tension and compression within the embrace, and how adornos and internal movement play a part in making the embrace feel amazing, all while we explore several different sacada’s and how to find them. All of the visualizations and technique for creating fluid movement can be applied to all aspects of dancing tango. Learning to find all 36 regular sacada’s can change the way you think about Argentine tango movement, and open doors to many other possibilities. These classes are all level, but will increase in difficulty to challenge dancers of all abilities.
From floor to pelvic floor: free your hip, the rest will follow. 1-2:30 PM Coming to a deeper understanding of our dynamic pelvic region gives access to stable & fluid movement. Using the pelvic floor is the key to being a solid lead or follow.
Visualizing and creating fluid movement on the path to every sacada. 3-4:30 PM Learn visualization and technique to create fluid, delicious movement within the embrace, while we learn how to find all of the sacadas. Visualization of pivots and spiral while creating various adornos is a big part of this class. This class will be equally challenging and interesting to both leaders and followers. The pelvic floor class is a pre-requisite for this class.
Lisa Jacobs will be our DJ.
Acupressure and Tui Na (Chinese massage) by Katie Bruce L.AC.
We are pleased to announce that Katie Bruce L.AC. will be offering acupressure and some Tui Na (Chinese Massage) during the milonga.
Visit Katie’s web site for more information!
Katie will be available from 8:00-10:00 for suggested donation of $10.
Some wine, snacks and, as always, a special treat prepared by Susannah will be provided. BYOB.
As always, we will be available for private lessons. Please contact us to make arrangements.
| Full pass (both classes and milonga) | $40 | |
| A la Carte “From floor to pelvic floor.” | $25 | |
| Milonga | $12 |
There are several terms that are regularly used when teaching or learning Argentine tango that are very ambiguous and at the same time very important. ”Grounding” and “Intention” are two of the hardest to comprehend or do, without some specific idea of what to do in your own body and without experiencing how they should and should not feel in a partner.
Read MoreIn the last post I talked about the common expectations and perspectives that new students of tango have or are commonly exposed to, a perspective that focuses on steps and isolating “followers” and “leaders” technique, claiming that they have different learning curves. This approach can often leave students frustrated and does not give them the opportunity in the beginning to feel the beautiful connection and expression that keeps us all coming back to the dance.
Read MoreIn the process of my own learning, and now, again as we are helping new beginners to learn tango, I am questioning the way many of us have been taught and the perspectives that new dancers have, or are taught to have, shortly after they begin learning Argentine tango.
Read MoreAs my first post I would like to share a video, it is one of my favorites, and this is not even a tango video. It’s a TED talk. A TED talk about relationships by Hedy Schleifer, ‘The Power of Connection’.
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