Re: [Tango-L] Heads up
[Tango] Heads up.
Thanks Sergio, good comments. Just to add a little contribution (two cents)
I consider proper to mention a popular motto among tango dancers in Uruguay
and Argentina regarding this issue. When somebody looks down when leading
they commonly use to said:
"Está buscando monedas." ("He is looking for coins.")
Obviously, this is a criticism, not a mere observation.
In my view, the inelegant habit of persistent verification about where we
put our feet it is a clear sign of beginners, insecurity, lack of
confidence, lack of practice, a lot of practice with the wrong habit,
or all of the above. Besides, we must remember that we need to look to where
we want to go.
In that sense, a minuscule tilt to the sides may improve communication and
add some points to an efficient leading.
Keep dancing up!
Ruben
> There is no doubt that to bend the head and the upper torso down can cause
> problems with axis, posture, and communication with your partner. This is
> aggravted when the two partners are of marked different hight.
>
> When I said that some excellent dancers like to see what happens with the
> feet, I meant that they observe the variations of foot work, they observe
> with their eyes without dissturbing head position too much.
>
> Nito (one of the best dancers that I Know) likes to see what happens with
> the feet, he does not need to look down, he even dances blindfolded to
> prove this point.
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGTqtF1XqPE
>
>
> Summary: Heads up, or not too low.
>
> Best regards, Sergio
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Re: [Tango-L] Heads up
Sergio, Thanks for the Nito's video. Amazing! Sergey ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] Heads up
Another two cents worth, about peripheral vision: While horseback riding, a top riding instructor said "if you look down, you will be down", meaning that if a rider looks down at the ground, that is where he/she will end up, which is down on the ground. In the sport of horseback riding, I was taught to always look straight ahead, and use my peripheral vision to see the footing ahead to see what is on each side of me. I teach our tango students the same thing. Peripheral vision is a sense that we already have. The skill to use it can be honed in order to help us on the dance floor. Try this: put your arm out straight ahead of you. Look straight ahead of you. Keep looking straight ahead of you. Slowly lower your extended arm towards the floor. Whilst still looking straight ahead of you, stop your arm when you can no longer see your hand. You may be surprised how low your hand is at this point. Do same exercise but move your hand out to the side. Same surprise. This procedure will exercise your peripheral vision, and will help you on the dance floor. A man can look straight ahead (keeping his head in his own space) and still see other peoples' feet and avoid bumping into tables and other couples. ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] Heads up
On Fri, Jun 24, 2011 at 10:25 AM, Ruben Malan wrote:
> [Tango] Heads up.
>
> Thanks Sergio, good comments. Just to add a little contribution (two cents)
> I consider proper to mention a popular motto among tango dancers in Uruguay
> and Argentina regarding this issue. When somebody looks down when leading
> they commonly use to said:
>
> "Está buscando monedas." ("He is looking for coins.")
>
> Obviously, this is a criticism, not a mere observation.
Funny you should mention this, Ruben--I took a hustle class
last week from a guy who doesn't know a lick of either tango or
Spanish, and he said the same thing (in English, of course). Isn't
it funny how so many concepts cross the lines to both other dances and
other cultures?
> In my view, the inelegant habit of persistent verification about where we
> put our feet it is a clear sign of beginners, insecurity, lack of
> confidence, lack of practice, a lot of practice with the wrong habit,
> or all of the above. Besides, we must remember that we need to look to where
> we want to go.
De acuerdo, amigo.
Huck
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