Effective Tango - Synchronization

Let's Get Together

One of the elements that makes the Argentine tango so beautiful is the level of synchronization between partners. When the leader and follower's movements are well synchronized - in terms of timing, energy, quality - their dance projects an intimate and appealing quality. They look as though they are enjoying each other, and they probably are.

On the other hand, when the synchronization is off, the dance looks awkward and tentative. There may be some stumbling and bumping, some stopping and starting and apologizing. When you watch a couple struggle like this, you can be pretty sure that they're not having a whole lot of fun.

How can you make synchronization work for you? How can you make your dance look smoother and more polished while having more fun with your partners?

First of all, you have to think about it. You can't just assume that things will take care of themselves. You have to be aware of timing - including the timing of the music. And you have to focus on this actively while you are dancing or practicing.


Leader Tips

If you're a leader, you have to know when you want to step. You have to know when you want your follower to step. And you have to communicate that timing information effectively through your lead. 

Also, please make sure that you always give the follower enough "lead time" to execute the movement. No one can move instantly. Communicate your intention early enough so she'll have time to respond to your cues.

How do you know if you're leading effectively? Because your follower is in sync with you. She moving precisely when and how you want her to! - Don't get discouraged. Practice makes perfect.


Follower Tips

Focus on the lead. Is the leader encouraging you to move not just in a particular direction, but at a precise instant in time? If he is giving you timing information, please don't ignore it. Feel it, embrace it, and work with it.

Oh, and I hate to say this, but it has to be said. Some leaders will NOT give you adequate timing information. They may be unaware that they should be doing so. In that case, try to execute all movements in time with the music. Hopefully, the leader is aiming to do the same, although that's not always the case (sadly).

Finally, it's never a good idea to perform any step automatically. If you do, you run the risk of ignoring the leader's timing suggestions, which will only discourage him. As an example, many followers get used to crossing at one speed and the cross at that speed all the time regardless of what they lead is communicating.

It helps to be a little obstinate as a follower. Think: "I'm not going to move unless you move me." Make the leader work for his dances.


The Music Factor

All of this is going to go much more smoothly if both partners are actively listening to the music and trying to move in concert with its rhythms and phrases. That said, musical interpretation and awareness is a big topic, and it's challenging for many people. But you can improve. The most important thing is to pay attention to the music while you are dancing. 

Let the orchestra be your tour guide as you travel around the floor. Those guys are working very hard to create beautiful music for you. Please do them - and your partner - a favor. Listen to that music. Find its timing and move with it instead of against it. Everyone will be happier. Even the people sitting and watching will be happier when you and your partner and the orchestra are all in sync.

¡Buena suerte amigos, y muchas gracias!

Daniel

Copyright © 2017 The Exploring Tango Blog

www.exploringtango.com

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Blind: Strength In Vulnerability - A Review

Not Your Father's Tango Show

Forget about the bordellos and bar fights of Buenos Aires. You won't find them here. Rather than relying on familiar techniques and sentimental nostalgia, 'Blind: Strength In Vulnerability' forges ahead with a fresh new vision for tango performance in the Twenty-first Century. Unlike more traditional productions, 'Blind' is not a show ABOUT tango, but rather a conceptual view of human interaction told THROUGH the techniques and emotions of this highly expressive dance.

Presented on a minimalist stage with no props, except for two small chairs and elements of the dancers' clothing, 'Blind' unfolds as a series of abstract, geometrically choreographed sequences that explore the dynamics of intimacy and partnership, the highs and the lows, the pain and the joy, expectation and frustration. 

Created by dancers Diego Blanco and Ana Padron and their musical collaborator, bassist and composer Pedro Giraudo, 'Blind' offers a bold and exhilarating examination of life and connection through the art of dance.

To understand what 'Blind' is, we first must acknowledge what it's not. As mentioned above, this production is not nostalgic. It is not a costume piece, nor is it a showcase for technical brilliance. Each of the eight principal dancers is a brilliant performer in his or her own right, but technique is not the focus of the show. You will not walk out of 'Blind' mesmerized by the number of boleos and ganchos that someone managed to do in some small quantum of time. What will impress you is how well the dancers connected with one another. 'Blind' is a study of emotion rather than a frenzy of motion.

The surprising and well-conceived choreography unfolds in layers. The show opens with the most fundamental elements of Argentine Tango performed in daring fashion with geometric precision. Basic elements are then modified slowly and deliberately until increasingly complex variations emerge. At the highest level, the dancers perform the dazzling tricks and lifts of tango fantasia. But again, it's not about the technique; it's about the emotional interaction of the performers.

Those emotions are expressed most clearly in the featured duets. Each couple performs beautifully choreographed tango sequences. - There are multiple partner changes, so the show is not limited to four duets. - But the really fascinating elements of choreography happen in between the dances. I don't want to give anything away, but it's the quiet moments, the moments when the music isn't playing, that make 'Blind' so special.

The original music for the show, composed by Mr. Giraudo, is tasteful and elegant and follows the dynamic changes of the performances brilliantly. Mr. Giraudo brings a bassist's sensitivity to his compositions and arrangements. The music supports the conceptual motives of the production without ever getting in the way or taking focus away from the dancers. A+

I have only two minor criticisms/suggestions to share. First, I would have liked the show to have been a bit longer. One way to achieve this would have been to extend the same-sex sequences. These interactions were fascinating; I would have liked to have seen them developed further. Secondly, the ending came as a bit of a surprise. Initially, I thought that it was an intermission. Again, I believe that a slightly longer running time with a clearer build up would have helped.

'Blind' is an adventurous and enjoyable production. It's definitely not your father's tango show. It's bold. It's daring. It takes chances and delivers a satisfying emotional payoff. Sadly, the initial run at the Brooklyn Academy of Music has closed, but I hope that it will come back. It's well worth seeing. Kudos to the creators for avoiding clichés and bringing a new, exciting, visionary production to life. It's clear that 'Blind' was a labor of love. Mission accomplished. I loved it.

¡Buena suerte amigos, y muchas gracias!

Daniel

Copyright © 2017 The Exploring Tango Blog

www.exploringtango.com

All Rights Reserved