Here’s goes another one of those “hell-if-I-know” tango topics. I think I had this problem more than most leaders I’ve seen out there. And I blame it on my lean-frame body-type as well as my lighter-springy footwork tendency from a lifetime of sports. The stockier guys or those with more body weight never seemed to have this problem but I suffered with it for about the first 3 years of my dancing. Imagine every follower/partner complaining that you’re not “heavy enough” no matter what you do.
What IS heavy anyway?
I couldn’t figure it out. And not for a lack of trying. Here are some of the best (and most confusing) things I’ve heard from different tango instructors around the world:
- “You don’t need to be heavy, you need to be grounded.”
- “Bend your knees more. That makes your hips heavier so she feels your weight.”
- “DON’T bend your knees so much. The follower can feel your feet on the ground when your knees are bent.”
- “Lean forward slightly and/or put more weight on the front of your feet so she feels your weight.”
- “Drink more beer. You need a beer belly.” (I’m dead serious about this one.)
- “Don’t stick your hips forward or have your upper body leaning back, keep your hips under you or slightly your torso.”
- “Spend more time on two feet instead of quickly running to one foot.”
- “It’s not YOU that needs to be grounded, it’s HER. Make sure she’s grounded and she will feel like you’re grounded.”
Some tricks and tactics that’s worked for me so far…
- Solid posture….head/neck/back/etc. Hips in alignment. Knees straight or bent as needed.
- Pay attention to one-footed moments vs two-footed moments. Both can be grounded but you may feel light to her if you’re not in sync. You should be one-footed together and two-footed together.
- Instead of making yourself heavier, try making her lighter.
- Either straighten up more or bend your knees more. Every follower has a “level” that she dances at. Match her level and you’ll both feel grounded together.
- Try to leave the ground after her and arrive before her. Pretend you’re the “thrower” and “catcher”. You push her off first, then you leave. Then you arrive first to catch her landing. This way you’re always supporting and also you’re maximizing your time on the ground. If you’re doing the opposite, always leaving first and always have your weight in the air, you’ll feel lighter and less balance.