Tango Tip of the Week

Hi everyone, Fran here with your Tango Tip of the Week. Since November 5, 2015, we've been talking about what is often referred to as "musicality" in dancing Tango. What this concept ultimately boils down to is how an individual leader moves with a combination of precision and creativity to the rhythm and/or melody of a piece of Tango music. Musicality is an extremely intricate skill set in Tango, and even though we've already devoted seven Tips to it over the last two months, we're only beginning to scratch the surface of this highly complex subject.

What we've done so far is to break down the fundamental challenge of achieving musicality into a series of manageable exercises. Today, we're going to start actually moving through space. If we limit ourselves (at least for the time being) to a basic linear vocabulary, moving through space will comprise five fundamental elements:

1.     Weight changes in place

2.     Pauses

3.     Steps to the side

4.     Forward steps

5.     Backward steps

When I help students develop proficiency in the essential skill of lead/follow, these are the elements I focus on in teaching them how to move together with precision and comfort. I have addressed the mechanics of lead/follow in a very detailed way many times before within these pages, and therefore I won't repeat that discussion here. I will say, however, that well developed lead/follow skill is indispensable to achieving even rudimentary musicality in Tango. If you don't understand lead/follow, stop right here, work with your teacher exclusively on learning this skill, and then come back to musicality.

Let's assume that you're able to lead your partner with ease and precision in the linear vocabulary of Tango as defined above. Let's also assume that you've been practicing what I call "single-step movement." Now we’re ready to move ahead with Exercise 5. Here's how the exercise breaks down.

Exercise 5 -- moving through space with a partner to the beat of the music:

1.     Begin by playing a piece of Tango music. (As I've mentioned in the past, be sure to choose one that's not too fast.)

2.     Form the embrace with your partner. Be certain that neither of you is in any way leaning on the other.

3.     Stand together in the embrace with your feet together and your weight distributed evenly between both legs for several moments without moving. Try to release any tension you might feel, and let the music "wash over you."

4.     Begin to concentrate on the music, trying to discern "the beat." (As we've discussed before, the way in which you personally "hear" the beat will still be completely subjective. Next week, we'll be learning to identify and move to various types of musical beat -- half notes, whole notes, quarter notes, etc.) Remember once again: As a leader, your job is to invite your follower to move to the musical beat. If you're a follower, you need to resist the impulse to "take over" and help the leader move.)

5.     Once you as a leader feel ready to begin moving to the beat, decide in your mind which of the linear movements you want to invite your follow to execute; i.e., a weight change in place, a side step, a backward step, a forward step, or a pause. While you're still in the neutral position, feel the beat of the music as clearly as you can, but for the time being don’t translate this feeling into action; i.e. don’t start moving in place in order to keep the beat physically. This is a bad habit, which many leaders form as beginners, and then have great difficulty breaking.

6.     After the movement you’d like to lead is clear in your mind, invite your partner to execute it. As you come to the end of that individual movement, bring yourself into balance, and rely on your follower to do the same. (You don't need to help her come into balance, because as a good follower, she knows that this is her job.) As both you and your partner bring yourselves into balance, it puts you as a couple back into the neutral position. Did it work? If so, you're ready to try another step!

7.     Continue the exercise, leading the full range of linear movement -- one step at a time, with pauses in between -- all the way to the end of the music. Then, gently release the embrace and relax.

Next, put on another piece of music, and repeat the exercise. Does it seem to be working? Try the exercise with four or five different pieces of music at different tempos (slow, medium, and fast). Get to a point where you can execute Exercise 5 consistently without developing tension, and without losing the beat or the lead. As always, it is very advisable to do this exercise in the presence of your teacher. That way, you'll know absolutely whether or not your perception of the rhythm is accurate, whether you lead is working, and whether you're moving appropriately in time with the music.

Next week, we're going to start learning to identify and move to various types of musical beat -- half notes, whole notes, quarter notes, etc. This will enable you as a leader to attain a much higher degree of expertise and sophistication in moving creatively to a piece of Tango music.

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.

• Tom Rogers
• Hilda and Rafael
  
• Steve Maisch
• Bob Brillo
  
• Elena Syrett