ESSENTIAL PROCESS

Last Updated: 12/29/99

This is my concept of the essential process of Argentine Tango. In my experience the dance works better if people adhere to these ideas. My teaching is based on these ideas. Of course, personal expression should be included.

   The man's cardinal task is to give his partner a dance.
He does this by leading her to do various combinations of the woman's steps. Her steps are: sideward, forward, backward, forward ocho, backward ocho, crusada, and stop.

  The woman's task is to receive the leads, and actively do the dance that the man gives her.
She should dance the steps well, confidently, and to the music. It's difficult for the man to respond to her steps if they are awkward, timid, or rushed.

 The man's secondary job is to carefully follow what the woman does with his leads, and incorporate his steps with hers.

 The connection may be in the arms or in the body, but it must be somewhere.
Whatever type of connection the couple uses is fine, but it must be agreed upon and constant. Even if the types are mixed up within the same dance, the dancers must be able to rely on the connection. The connection must not change erratically. If I think the connection between me and my partner is in our chests, it disrupts the dance if she suddenly uses her arms momentarily. The connection is the point of conversation. Each person must express themselves actively, clearly, and in constant relationship to the ongoing expression of ones partner.

 A man must not use his partner as an accessory to his display.
Men, the dance is for the benefit of your partner, not yourself!

 A woman must not use her partner as a crutch.
It's not the man's job to haul or shove his partner around, or prop her up.
Ladies, dance well! Don't hang on your partner.

 Couples must move in the direction of the dance.
Teachers must insist that they do. Bad floor craft is worse than bad technique. If a man's floor craft is poor, it detracts not only from his own dance, but it disrupts the dance of other couples as well. This is discourteous and rude.

email: Please send me your comments or questions.

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