Comments on: Musings on the embrace http://tango.yyquest.net/2003/07/16/musings-on-the-embrace/ Let the embrace do the talking Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:26:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Cherie http://tango.yyquest.net/2003/07/16/musings-on-the-embrace/comment-page-1/#comment-2129 Cherie Sun, 29 Jul 2007 14:17:11 +0000 http://www.yyquest.net/wp15/?p=114#comment-2129 Great question! There are many ways of leading, including the chest lead, and leading subtely with arm cues. Some milongueros do one, some do both, some don't lead at all but dance with intention. My opinion, after dancing ten years in Buenos Aires, and now teaching here with my milonguero partner, that it's best to get a firm foundation in the milonguero close-embrace style before (and if) moving on to more open salon style. If you can lead your partner to do improvised steps to the music in a tight embrace, then it's easier to learn choreography and dancing with distance. It's more difficult to move from open to close, which tends to freak out a lot of people (especially men). And lastly, for sure, when the years pass and you are 60 years old, you will want to return to the comfort and connection of tango in the close embrace, which is all about your partner and the music and nothing to do with athletics, ganchos, or kicks. Great question!
There are many ways of leading, including the chest lead, and leading subtely with arm cues. Some milongueros do one, some do both, some don’t lead at all but dance with intention.

My opinion, after dancing ten years in Buenos Aires, and now teaching here with my milonguero partner, that it’s best to get a firm foundation in the milonguero close-embrace style before (and if) moving on to more open salon style.

If you can lead your partner to do improvised steps to the music in a tight embrace, then it’s easier to learn choreography and dancing with distance. It’s more difficult to move from open to close, which tends to freak out a lot of people (especially men).

And lastly, for sure, when the years pass and you are 60 years old, you will want to return to the comfort and connection of tango in the close embrace, which is all about your partner and the music and nothing to do with athletics, ganchos, or kicks.

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