One of the hardest things to figure out is setting the perfect embrace. It often feels like the embrace needs to be many things for many purposes, and all at once. While some people would rather just focus on an comfortable embrace and not care about function (or leading fancy moves), I would say your […]
The Paradoxical Embrace – ROUND & FLAT Read More »
Embellishments can happen for both leaders and followers and it’s important that you start your embellishment when your partner is more likely to be aware of them. Why? So he or she can accommodate and even dance along with them! Like with many things in tango, it’s more fun when you create a feeling that
2-Legged Embellishment Timing Read More »
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
How to Be Grounded in Tango Read More »
Argentine tango is one of the hardest dances…actually, scratch that…HARDEST SKILL activities I’ve ever tried. That’s part of what makes it so addictive. There are so many layers, spiderwebs, and mazes of skillsets you could learn in this dance. In fact, I don’t believe any one person can comprehensively learn it all. It’s like trying
How to Fast-Track Your Tango Progression Read More »
This is my recommendation step-by-step progression for learning enrosques. It sounds like a lot of work but you theoretically could get a semi-functioning enrosque in a month if you work really hard. Go step-by-step, by super precise and super anal about every degree of movement in your body and yes, you will be able to
Enrosque Training Progression Read More »
Great drill I learned from Los Totis. Tap your partner to move him or her in any direction and your partner has to respond by taking a step in that direction. The key thing is your partner must activate just enough core so that the entire body moves as one piece instead of one part
Ideal Core Activation Read More »
When the pros do it, it’s like the smoothest, quietest, and most powerful free leg drawing a circle. When we (mortals) do it, we shake like a house of cards during an earthquake. Here are four details I’ve found for a more pro-like lapiz:
Smooth Lapiz Aesthetic Read More »
There are many kinds of embellishments for leader and follower and it’s hard to know which ones to use and when to use them. For this guide only, I make the distinction between connected vs disconnected.
CONNECTED Embellishments vs DISCONNECTED Embellishments Read More »
In social dancing, we often don’t care how the legs look and we go based only on feeling. This is one way to do it and if you bend or straighten at the right times, it will feel good and also probably look good. But for “performance dancing” or controlling your aesthetic, knowing when to
When Your Legs Should Be BENT vs STRAIGHT Read More »
Reach your head into the sky as high as you can. Keep it there no matter what the movement. Most dancers’ heads will hunch down when they walk forward and/or do a pivot. Hips over the arch of your feet. Shoulders over your hips, and JUST TO BE SAFE, I recommend slightly in front of
Perfect Tango Posture Read More »