Tango Tip of the Week

Hi everyone, Pat here with your Tango Tip of the Week. Today, we’re going to discuss what Fran calls the “sixth” fundamental element of Tango – the pivot. Two weeks ago Fran looked at this element from the leader’s point of view. Now, we’ll examine it as followers.

The pivot is one of the most difficult movements for a follower to execute properly. I emphasize that word because so many followers do not execute pivots properly, and what we see quite often is a lack of fundamental technique and balance. (Of course, if leaders do not know how to lead a pivot, the follower cannot be fully blamed. Conversely, if the follower has no pivoting technique, no matter how well she is led, the outcome will not be good.)

Let’s examine what the follower does when pivoting. Pivots can rotate to the right or left, depending on the lead. In what we’ll call its pure form, the follower is standing in front of the leader, her weight evenly on both feet. In order to pivot to one side or another, the follower must have her weight on the ball of one foot. Her heel does not bear any weight, and is off the ground but held close to the floor (there is no need to lift the heel or go up on the toes during a pivot)

With all her weight on the ball of one foot, the follower should receive a rotational lead, which asks her to twist her whole body to the leader’s left or right. As she does this, however, her upper body should still be facing her leader. This is a crucial part of pivoting technique, and it means that the follower must use a strong twist in her waist to allow her lower body to execute the movement while her and upper body remains facing her leader – somewhat like a pretzel.

To invite the pivot, the leader uses a rotational lead to turn the follower (in place) either forward or backward. There are plenty of issues for leaders at this point, as Fran described last week, but when the follower feels this rotation happening -- when she is already trying to balance on the ball of one foot -- she may start to grab and hang on to her leader, fearing that she will lose her balance.

Another common problem – also one of balance -- is seen in a follower who is using her free foot as a paddle to help herself around, or indeed a follower who is trying to pivot on both feel at once. This is understandable, but of course will never help in learning the appropriate pivoting technique.

These are common issues in learning to execute a pivot. With practice, and with a growing confidence in the follower’s own balance and that of her leader to facilitate her balance during a pivot, things will eventually get better. But practice is very, very important for both leaders and followers in developing good skills in pivoting.

Saturdays with Fran and Pat at Dardo Galletto Studios

Please join us for our Saturday Practica at Dardo Galletto Studios, 151 West 46^th Street (between 6^th and 7^th Avenues), 11^th floor; 2-4pm, $10 per person. (Bringing a partner isn't necessary.) Pat and I will both be on hand to answer any questions you may have about your dancing, and to help you with material you're working on. Plus you get a new “must-have” tango move each week! If you’d like a private lesson, you can visit our website at www.franchesleigh.com, call Fran directly at 212-662-7692, or email him at franchesleigh@mac.com   Join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/franchesleighllc

The following folks helped set up, break down and clean up before and after the milonga. Without them, there would be no Firehouse Tango.

• Steve Maisch
• ​​Steve Turi and Lynn Gross 
• Tsipoyra Sartan