Exploring Tango: January 2014

Friday, January 24, 2014

Simple Steps for Better Following - 7. Do More With Your Legs And LessWith Your Arms

Part 7 in our "Instant Gratification" series for Followers.

Do More With Your Legs and Less With Your Arms

I was in trouble.

On my first attempt at rock climbing, I clung desperately to the wall. Within minutes, my forearms went numb. When I couldn't hold on any longer, I let myself fall to the mercy of the waiting rope. Climbing seemed impossible, and giving up was humiliating

The problem was simple. I was doing too much work with my arms and not enough with my legs.

Two weeks later, I went back to the gym and scampered effortlessly to the top of the wall. I repeated the climb several times. Suddenly, I was having fun doing what had once seemed so difficult.

What changed? Somewhere over the course of those two weeks, my body figured out how to stand on those little bumps. Once I began to support my weight with my legs instead of hanging on for dear life with my arms, climbing was a breeze. Well, at least it was on the beginner's wall.

Draw Power from the Lower Body

A dancer's power resides in the thighs, hips, calves, and core. This is your engine. Engage the powerful muscles in your lower body. Let them work for you. Let the lower body control your movements and establish and maintain your balance.

If you find yourself struggling with your arms - hanging, pulling, pushing, clinging, or manipulating - you're working against your own body.

Relax your arms. They should feel as though they are floating. Your arms should not move you or support you, nor should they move or support your partner. That's what legs are for. Use you arms to create a comfortable embrace and to establish connection.

The Cappuccino Analogy

The base of a cappuccino is espresso, a strong, dense coffee loaded with caffeinated energy. On top of this base is a light, frothy foam produced by running steam through a cup of milk.

Ideally, your legs should emulate the espresso. Let them be powerful and energetic.

Your arms should emulate the foam. Let the be light and airy and never tense

In Practice

Be aware of your arms and shoulders as you dance. Whenever you feel strain, tension, or any unnecessary muscular activation in the upper body, try to relax this area. Simultaneously engage the strong muscles in your core, hips, and legs. Let your "engine" do it's work so the upper body can relax.

Use your upper body to establish a gentle connection with your partner. Use your lower body to control movement and balance.

Follow these guidelines, and your dancing should improve noticeably.

Note: This guideline is equally important for leaders. Work the thighs and the core, gents, and let those arms and shoulders relax!

¡Buena suerte, amigos, y muchas gracias!

Daniel

www.exploringtango.com

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Simple Steps for Better Following - 6. Enhance the Embrace

Part 6 in our "Instant Gratification" series for Followers.

Enhance the Embrace

We have established a relaxed and comfortable embrace. We are attentive and open to our partner. We are balanced on our axis, and our weight is over our legs. We await the lead calmly without anticipation.

Now, what can we add to spice things up a bit? How about a sense of adventure? A dash of mystery? Joy and playfulness? Passion and romance?

A good actress changes her mood and intensity from scene to scene as the story unfolds. A good dancer can do the same.

Manage The Mood

An embrace can be neutral, and that's perfectly acceptable. If you're dancing with someone whom you don't know well, you might want to maintain a polite and respectful detachment.

But when we're comfortable with a partner, we can use the embrace to communicate a variety of emotions and moods: playfulness, adventure, mystery, passion.

When an actor performs, they imagine an emotion or an emotional situation so realistically that it makes changes in their body. Muscles relax and engage in different patterns. Posture and breathing transform radically.

Your willingness to venture into new emotional territory during a song or a tanda will give the leader confidence to respond in kind.

Dial up some playfulness and watch him smile. His steps will become lighter and quicker with the change in the mood. Or telegraph a dash of passion in his direction, and watch his reserved detachment will melt like ice cubes on a summer afternoon.

Increase the Intensity

I learned this idea in a class with Rebecca Schulman, and I've shared it with a few of my favorite followers over the years. It's one of those things that's so simple and effective that you'll wonder why everyone doesn't do it.

The follower increases the intensity and tone of the muscles in their arms and the core, not by pressing or pushing, but isometrically. The leader feels this, and his intensity engages as well.

When a follower does this to me, I find myself putting more energy into my movements and dancing more dynamically. It's as though the follower has invited me to increase my own intensity. "It's okay," her embrace assures me. "I can handle some more. Please share your energy."

The Very Ecstasy Of Tango

Some followers are comfortable engaging in a passionate embrace with strangers. But typically, when we dance with someone new, the embrace is neutral.

In my experience, I find that somewhere within the first song or two, things change. The follower realizes that she can trust me, and her embrace relaxes and takes on a different form. It becomes cozy, for lack of a better word.

To me, that is the moment where dancing becomes tango, and where individuality is elevated to partnership.

This Quintessence of Movement

Most people develop one embrace and stick with it. Enhance yours dynamically and see if it changes the experience for your partners.

I didn't even realize that these techniques existed. But from the moment that I first experienced the power that the follower can yield with their embrace, I have been in awe of those who know how to wield that power tastefully.

Leaders make decisions about choreography (which steps to perform), navigation (how to avoid the other couples), and musicality, including the speed and sharpness of the couple's movements.

Followers have a tremendous influence on the mood and tone of the dance. By communicating subtle changes within the embrace, the follower can change the experience of any tanda dramatically.

¡Buena suerte, amigos, y muchas gracias!

Daniel

www.exploringtango.com

Friday, January 17, 2014

Simple Steps for Better Following - 5. Avoid Guessing

Part 5 in our "Instant Gratification" series for Followers

Avoid Guessing and Anticipation

We're human. We make mistakes. Making a mistake in an improvised dance isn't hard to do. A lapse in concentration, a less than perfect lead, another couple encroaching on your space. Things happen, and sometimes the communication between leader and follower doesn't yield the intended result.

It's not a big deal. You can try again until you get it right.

Unless of course, the mistake was caused by guessing or anticipation.

What does that mean - guessing or anticipating? It means that the follower tried to predict what the lead was going to do instead of waiting for it to provide the necessary information. This is a common problem and VERY easy to let happen.

Help!

Why do followers guess? For a variety of reasons. Leaders repeat classic figures frequently, and followers get used to executing those steps the same way again and again. After a while the follower might assume that the lead will take her down a familiar path. If the leader chooses to do a variation, the follower can miss the signal that something unfamiliar is coming.

Some leaders don't lead clearly or consistently. Followers literally "fill in the blanks" in an attempt to dance with these gents. We'll discuss below why this is a bad idea for everyone.

Sometimes, followers just want to avoid making a bad impression. They fear (understandably) that if they make too many mistakes, the leader might question their abilities. They try to avoid mistakes by anticipating what the leader wants from them. Unfortunately, guessing doesn't work very well.

Don't Let Me Down

Don't guess. Anticipation won't help you. It CAN'T help you. You're going to guess INCORRECTLY sooner or later (probably sooner).

Guessing increases your chances of making a mistake, because a guess is not a reliable strategy for interpreting the lead.

Guessing corrupts the communication between leader and follower, because it creates results that didn't result from that interchange.

Let It Be

Here's your main take away from this chapter. Stop worrying about mistakes. Immediately! If they happen, they happen. It's better to be wrong while doing things the right way than to be right while cutting corners.

If you make a mistake in the natural flow of leading and following, keep dancing and it will resolve itself. But if you let guessing become a habit, your following skills will become very unreliable. And it will be very difficult to reverse the process.

We Can Work It Out

If the leader isn't giving clear signals, he needs be aware of the problem and resolve it. It's not the follower's responsibility to figure out what a leader wants her to do.

But guess what will happen if you help him out and correct his mistakes for him. HE'LL NEVER LEARN!

One of my teachers used to urge the ladies in the class to be "honest followers." Don't do what you think that they leader WANTS. Do what he actually LED instead. At least he's getting honest feedback. If he doesn't like the results, he can change his lead until he figures out how to make it work.

Buy what if the leader argues with you and tells you that you didn't do the step correctly. Sadly, this happens, but it's not your fault. He needs to learn to take responsibility for his own mistakes.

All You Need Is (Lead)

Occasionally, I meet a follower who has a very difficult time dancing the tango. They struggle to perform the simplest steps. They make frequent errors, and they become bitterly frustrated.

In almost every case, these followers are trying to think their way through the dance instead of relaxing and connecting with the lead. The feel the pressure to perform, and they desperately try to repeat what they have learned from memory.

Their attention drifts away from the lead. They're too busy trying to EXECUTE steps to focus on FOLLOWING them.

It can be very difficult to get a follower who dances this way to realize what she's doing wrong and to make the necessary corrections. She's trying very hard to execute her movements properly, and she doesn't want to stop trying. She doesn't want to let go.

But when we succeed in getting the struggling follower to relax and flow with the lead, their dancing improves immediately and by a good measure. They realize that it's not necessary to "perform" steps in order to follow them.

No guessing. No anticipating. If you miss a queue here or there, that's okay. Keep following. Keep your focus on the lead, and everything will work out.

¡Buena suerte, amigos, y muchas gracias!

Daniel

www.exploringtango.com

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Simple Steps for Better Following - 4. Respond Actively

Part 4 in our "Instant Gratification" series for Followers!

Respond Actively

A novice can be led to walk and to dance simple figures, but they'll respond passively. They'll do the steps that the lead is suggesting, but they won't add any energy or quality to the movements.

To the leader, the passive follower has a "low energy" feel. They'll let us take them in various directions, but we're doing the work. There's no sense of shared energy between leader and follower.

An experience and well-trained follower adds emphasis and zest to each step. When she feels the intention of the lead, she analyzes the size, direction, and intensity of the step that the leader is suggesting, and then she takes the step using her own energy.

This technique is known as active following.

From the leader's perspective, active following feels like power steering. The follower is responsive, energetic, and self-propelled. Movements take on a dynamic quality, and we don't feel as though we are pushing her into position.

Dancing with an active follower is a joy. Simple walking becomes an elegant and sophisticated dance. The molinete soars. Musical interpretation takes on a new dimension.

Respond actively. Leaders love the energy and responsiveness of an active follower. If you dance like they, they'll be back for more.

¡Buena suerte, amigos, y muchas gracias!

Daniel

www.exploringtango.com

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Simple Steps for Better Following - 3. Be Present

Part 3 in our "Instant Gratification" series for Followers!

Be Present and Receptive for the Lead

The role of the follower in Argentine Tango is unique in the realm of the arts. Receiving information in real time in an improvised and unpredictable flow, the follower converts the that information into something tangible and beautiful and emotionally expressive.

That this process works at all is astonishing. It's not like a ballet performance where every step and inflection is choreographed in advance and rehearsed repeatedly. From one moment to the next, the follower has no idea what she will be doing. But she DOES it, beautifully and impeccably.

In order for this miracle of instantaneous artistic expression to occur, the information must be received effectively. In addition to the obvious demands of physical and mental skill, following in tango requires an acute degree of awareness, concentration, and sensitivity.

The primary and fundamental skill in following that that of being present and mindful in the embrace. Nothing else is as important as this. Nothing.

A follower can have excellent balance and technique, but if she is unable or unwilling to respond to the lead, what good will it do? She'll find herself misinterpreting the lead and "getting lost" or "missing things" repeatedly. The dance will have an awkward stopping and starting quality instead of the desired smooth interaction between partners.

The interaction between leader and follower is far more than a series of instructions of directions. It's communication. It's conversation. It's a communion of artistry and ideas and emotion. That communion can't occur when either partner is distracted or not fully committed.

Personally, I would rather dance with a novice who is present and intellectually and emotionally committed in the embrace, than with someone who had been dancing for years but who is unable or unwilling to give their full attention to our interaction.

Being present is that important.

Woody Allen said that eighty percent of success is showing up. This is a good analogy for tango, as well.

Be there. Be present. When you step onto the floor and enter the embrace, be fully invested in what you are doing, be fully present in your communication with this particular partner, even if it's only for one single song. If you can do that, the other twenty percent will easily take care of itself.

¡Buena suerte, amigos, y muchas gracias!

Daniel

www.exploringtango.com

Simple Steps for Better Following - 2. Dance On Axis

Part 2 in our "Instant Gratification" series for Followers!

Dance on Axis

Your weight should be over your legs. Your legs were designed to support you and provide you with effortless mobility. Use the power and mobility of your legs to the fullest extent when you dance.

When you're in balance and on axis, the leader can move you easily in any direction. He can pivot your freely for boleos, ochos, giros, alterations, circular drags, and other pivoting movements.

When you're leaning, you're more difficult to control. The leader will worry constantly about having you fall if he moves you in a direction that you weren't expecting. You'll feel heavy against his body, and there's a chance that you could be causing pain in his back.

(Just don't expect him to admit it. Men are supposed to be invincible!)

You can dance very close to your partner without putting any weight onto the leader's body. Just stand close to where he is standing and you'll be close. No leaning or hanging is required.

Avoid the dreaded "sleeping child" position where your head and shoulders collapse forward (as though you're about to take a nap on the leader's shoulder). This position puts a dangerous amount of strain on your back. And it makes your rear end stick out - probably not the look that you were going for.

If I could give you one suggestion that would prevent you from feeling heavy (who wants to feel heavy?), being hard to lead, being subject to falling, and crushing your leader's vertebrae, would you take it?

Well, I hope so! ;-)

Dance on axis and support your own weight. You'll feel light and maneuverable. What leader wouldn't enjoy that?

Hasta el proximo capitulo...

¡Buena suerte, amigos, y muchas gracias!

Daniel

www.exploringtango.com

Simple Steps for Better Following - 1. Comfortable Embrace

Becoming a good follower in Argentine Tango requires good balance and solid technique. It will take time and effort to advance in these areas, lots of practice and real world experience.

Fortunately, there are things that you can do to improve your dancing right away. These have more to do with a change in perspective than with the rigorous development of core technique.

In this series, entitled Simple Steps for Better Following, I'll tips that you can apply immediately to enhance the tango experience for both you and your partners.

So, while you're working diligently on those important technical exercises (there's no substitute for good technique!), apply these tips for little taste of "immediate gratification."

Ensure That Your Embrace is Comfortable and Flexible

If your embrace is uncomfortable, your partners won't enjoy dancing with you, at least not as much as they would like to.

Let the gravity of that statement sink in for a moment. If your embrace is uncomfortable, nothing you can do will make up for the distraction that it causes.

This principle is as true for followers as it is for leaders. Leaders tend to create discomfort with their strength. Followers tend to create discomfort with rigidity or with a dependence on the leader for support.

Are you certain that your embrace is comfortable?

Are there times when you find yourself 'fighting' the lead with physical force?

Do you find yourself hanging from your right hand, especially when pivoting?

Does your left hand get latched to one spot on the leader's arm or back rather than moving freely when he attempts to adjust your position? He won't be able to do lead some figures if you block him or cling to him.

Are you letting the leader position you where he wants you to be, or are you establishing your own position without regard to what his embrace is asking for?

A comfortable embrace is absolutely essential in Argentine Tango, probably more so than in any other partners dance. The improvisational nature of tango requires fluidity and flexibility in the embrace.

Think about the quality of your embrace the next time you're dancing. Be aware of how you are holding your partner. Any evidence of pushing, pulling, hanging, clutching, clinging, wrestling, or blocking his movement can indicate a problem area.

For further benefit, discuss the quality your embrace at your next private lesson or with friends that you trust at your next practica. It's better to ask for suggestions than to assume that you're doing well.

I'd like to extend a special Thank You to my friend Patti for inspiring this series.

¡Buena suerte, amigos, y muchas gracias!

Daniel

www.exploringtango.com

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Better Leading in Five Minutes

Leading and Following - Part 7

This post contains the most important piece of advice that I could offer to a leader - any leader at any level.

Below is a trinity of critical, inter-related techniques that will improve your effectiveness as a leader regardless of your level of experience.

I could summarize the three techniques and the reasons for their importance in a five-minute conversation. Four if I talk fast.

Ready. Get set. Go!

1. Visualize clearly and in detail what you want the follower's body to do.

The more clearly you can picture your desired outcome, the higher the probability that she'll execute the step properly.

Visualization is powerful. A clear, detailed vision of your intended result will marshal involuntary adjustments in your skeletal muscles. These adjustments will be critical to leading a step effectively.

The next time that you're dancing with a follower, put on your James Cameron hat and visualize her executing the desired movement precisely and effortlessly in vivid IMAX 3D (slow motion when necessary).

2. Monitor what the follower actually does in response to your lead, and compare it in real time to your vision.

Don't get upset with the follower or with yourself if a step doesn't work the first or second time. Every follower is different. They respond more accurately when we learn how each individual reacts and moves. As we learn about the follower, we can customize our instructions in ways that suit her individual qualities.

Corrective action requires feedback. If you lead something and then fail to pay attention to the way that it turned out (good or bad), you won't have the information that you need to be able to fine tune the lead. Monitoring the follower's reaction to the lead is as important as leading her in the first place.

3. Make the adjustments required to produce the visualized result.

Leading is a skill of delicate precision. It needs to be fine-tuned constantly.

As mentioned, when dancing with an unfamiliar follower, you might need spend time learning how her body moves (and how her mind reacts) before you can lead her effectively.

But even when dancing with a follower whom you know well, you should strive continually to make your lead as clear and as efficient as possible. Note any place where she hesitates or makes the "wrong" movement. If she didn't do what you expected, your lead might not have been what you expected it to be, either.

Make it your goal to fine tune your lead until that movement happens consistently and effortlessly with this partner and most others, as well. Only then will you be certain that your lead is effective.

Caveat: Don't force the issue

Making adjustments does not mean applying more force. Never, ever, ever try to get the follower to do the step by applying more force or more muscle power. If anything, you probably need less force.

When the tango is working properly, the technique is almost effortless. If it's not effortless, it's probably not working properly.

You must remember this, Don't lull yourself to bliss...

Professional golfers practice putting every day. Professional basketball players shoot baskets every day. Professional musicians practice scales and arpeggios every day. Professional actors practice getting into character every day.

Why? Because keeping skills sharp requires constant, mindful work, work that focuses on a desired outcome and monitors the effectiveness of the actions that we use while striving for that outcome.

Never assume that you're too advanced or too experienced to need work on your lead. Just because you own a Steinway doesn't mean that you'll never have to tune it.

Leading is like anything else in life. Success favors those who work consistently and who face their weaknesses honestly. Let the follower's response indicate when you might need to do some more fine-tuning.

¡Buena suerte, amigos, y muchas gracias!

Daniel

exploringtango.blogspot.com