Move Video: Tango cross

From 1:50 to  1:56 and then he repeats the same move several time. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcgHMBAlrtQ

Coming Up.

Coming up: I am going to update my notes (and steps I learnt) from the Salsa n Jive classes. They are right now in hardcopy, I will regualrly update them on this blog. I hope to make a video for each step as well... but then let see.  :-) Wait for it.

Musicality : Salsa song structure

These are my notes from the salsa musicality class that was conducted by Alex Diaz quite sometime back in Bangalore.

Every well made song/music has a structure to it. As a dance it helps us a lot to know the structure of the song. 

A well made salsa song can be divided into the following five sub-parts. 

1. Intro
 - Repeats sometime listen to first n react to repeat, instrumental no vocals, ends in break

2. Verse
 - Has lyrics
 - Lots of accents usually during no vocal. Usally accents using wind instrument.
 - May have repeating patterns
 - How to respond while dancing : Hitting the accents. Keep partner work simple & easy to respond

3. Bridge

 - Highly Irregular depends on song. Difficult to predict
 - This is most often used to transit to next part of the song the Muntono section.

 - Short usually about 4 bars or so. But can be multiple of 4 bars. Depending on the song.

 - Has a distinctive feel from that of the verse section
 - Sometimes may have vocals as well.
 - Might or might not have breaks

4 Muntono
 - 3 Sub sections
  a. Chorus 

     - Melody part or hook of the song. 

     - Repeats a lot. 

     - Repeats in multiple of fours. 

     - Might have alternating lead n backgrounds vocals

     - How to respond : listen to repeating part for first few times that it repeats and decide on how to hit the highs/changes.

  b. Instrument solos 

     - Highlights single musical instrument usually (drums/piano/xylophone) 

     - Can't really predict pattern of the music as instrument solos are most often improvised.

     - Most of the time, there are no repetitions in the instrument solos

  c. Pattern musical section 

     - Repeats in multiples of four bars. 

     - How to Respond: As it repeats listen to first and/or second repeat of the pattern and decide on highlights.

 - Mixup of multiple repetition pf two or more sub sections
 - Sometimes this overlap and/or overlay  of the above three subsections in random order.

5. Conclusion
 - Usually there are musical breaks before conclusion of the song.
 - Usually the intro part of song is repeat to end the song.

Argentine Tango workshop

The last Sunday I happen to attend an Argentine Tango work shop. The workshop was conducted at Ben Body Studio Indiranagar. The instructor was one Monsieur Rupert. The moment he utters a word you can say that he is fRenchman :P. I had loads of fun in the class. I am sure I would be going back for more, regularly. This  blog will serve as my log for recording the thing I have learnt in the class.

Leading and Embrace:
Unlike Salsa/Bachata/Jive leading in Tango is very subtle affair. No hard pushes no deliberate pulls, ladies have to keep their eyes and mind wide open if they want to follow. The couple tend to lean into each other hence the lead generated from the chest. Since, the couple leans into each other the follower can sense the lead. The tango embrace kind of creates a virtual cylinder around the couple. As far a possible the couple must stay inside this cylinder. The Tango Frame/Embrace is a important thing to be mastered for becoming a good Tango dancer. However, the embrace takes its toll on the arms and shoulders (at least for the beginners I guess, may be I will get used to it :-).

Basics:
 - The basic standing position : Heels (almost) joined.
 - For each step the body weight is shifted from one leg to other.
 - After each step comeback to the basic standing position, heels joined.
 - The dancer(mostly the leader) is free to interpret the tempo and the ups and downs of the music. That means its okay to move only on certain beats.
 - The relation between the music and the moment is not very well defined as in Latin American lead dances.
 - The Tango embrace is more or less the standard salsa love position.
 - Leader torso should face the followers torso in the embrace position (And most other steps)
 - The leader must lead the follower and then only make moment following her moment (or do some other step of his own)
 - Keep the knee slightly bent so that on moment the knee absorbs the bounce and the torso relatively remains motionless.


Steps: Basic   (Ignore the cryptic notations for the time being. May be I will do a post on the signs next time.)
 - Forward step join the heels. [ e>=u> | u=e> ] ( can be further shortened to [ eu> | ue>]
 - Backward step join heels    [ <e=<u | <u=<e ] ( [<eu | <ue] )
 - Side step join heels    [ ^e=^u | vu=ve ]  ( [^eu | vue] )
 - Forward step join heels continue without changing the weight   [ e>=u>  u>=e>  | u>=e>  e>=u> ] ([eu> ue> | ue> eu>])
 - Backward step join heels continue without changing the weight. [ <e=<u  <u=<e  | <u=<e  <e=<u ] ([<eu <ue | <ue <eu])

Steps : Intermediate
 - Tango cross : Leaders short forward step on left foot - right foot join and short right foot forward step stepping out of the torso-torso line - Left foot join and Long left foot forward - Follower crosses over her left foot over her right foot - Fo Change weight on left foot and Swivel to join the leg facing the guy. [ éu> ue>  Èu> ü=Xe ë=ü ]

Step : Escada
- This step involves the leader crossing over his legs and initiating a cross over of follower's leg by foot. (Will update details about this step).