On 17/06/2011 19:24, rhi...@netscape.net wrote: > Contrasting the two forms, with A. tango, at least some styles of A. > tango, walking is done without offset in a single track while with > ballroom dance walking is performed with each partner offset in double > tracks, quadruple tracks if you count the partner. So tango dancers in > effect are dancing on a balance beam. What's more, they are dancing on > a balance beam pushing on each other. On every step there is a > compression and release felt in the chest. Ballroom dancers experience > some compression and release, but it's coming through the frame (i.e. > the arms). The arms can give a little to absorb the shock; the chest > cannot.
You generalise too much: there are many, many possible Argetine tango embraces (even an open one in which the mechanics you ascribe to ballroom dances are used) and even at least two different ways of leading a woman to step even in the most basic of salidas. Not only are we allowed the freedom to choose, we are even allowed to switch from one embrace to another one that works completely different within one dance! But you realise that, of course: you wrote "at least some styles of A. tango". But even in these styles, I would object to your description of compression/release and the impossibility of the chest connection to give. It's all a matter of knowing how smoothly to build up the movement... _______________________________________________ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l