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Mini training log

Note: This log will no longer be updated but is only kept for historical reasons.

2005

Warm-up exercises (approximately 24-26 mins)

  1. Walking to Di Sarli (x2)
  2. Walking to D’Arienzo (x1)
  3. Walking to Di Sarli with change of rhythm (x1)
  4. Forward/backward ochos to Canaro (x2)
  5. Grapevine down the room to Di Sarli (x1)
  6. Molinete to Di Sarli (x1)

7/10/05: torsion and pivoting (90 ° per turn then 180 ° for more advanced dancers).

14/10/05: leading without contact; leading molinete while remaining in centre, feet closed.

21/10/05: torsion by holding then turn when upper body-twist reached the limit; forward ochos – forward ochos moving backwards for more advanced dancers.

28/10/05: walking with emphasis on chest.

4/11/05: walking with improvisation – fixed number of steps (simple) or follower makes the calls (advanced).

11/11/05: improvisation according to your level: e.g. sacadas after fixed number of steps, and using exercise from Tango Discovery.

18/11/05: improvisation according to your level: e.g. sacadas after fixed number of steps, and using exercise from Tango Discovery.

25/11/05: walking with emphasis on ‘attitude’ with chest, for both men and women.

2/12/05: walking techniques, done in bare feet.

9/12/05: using the basic cruzada as starting point, extend in terms of different footwork and timing.

2006

29/6/06: new set of exercises for Guided Practica at IXI Danza.

  1. Weight changing exercise (on the spot) to Di Sarli (x1)
  2. Walking forward/backward to medimum-paced D’Arienzo (x1)
  3. Slow walk to Di Sarli – one step every 4 counts (x1)
  4. Walking to D’Arienzo with change of rhythm (x1)
  5. Forward/backward ochos to Canaro (x2)
  6. Traspie to slow milonga (x1)
  7. Molinete to Di Sarli (x1)

2007

Guided practicas before The Art of Tango II Workshop

Grounding exercise (Pancho style) ~5-6mins
Stand on one leg – adjust angle of toes if necessary: move ankle, then knee, then hips
Change leg
Turn in “one block” by following the energy of the leg
Lapis out and back in

18/10/07

  1. Explain pressing into floor (di sarli)
  2. Quality of steps: slow (calo)
    • Slowly come to centre
    • Keep back leg moving constantly
    • Follower going backward: release quickly but withdraw at same time as lead, ie pass through centre at the same time
    • Double-time, single-time, half-time
  3. Engagement, demo
    • Types of follower: dry leaf, cement block, dynamic
  4. weave in parallel, and weave in cross
  5. (Optional??) Turns: press into floor (calo), followed by giro exercises and rock step turn
  6. Follower: slow down the steps and you can move faster around the man

25/10/07

grounding exercise

explain the difference between dry leaf and “running away”, use example of engagement at start and powering of own self later

posture
– vertical lift
– counter examples: rock back and forth (heel and ball unstable)
– move weight forward but soften the knees
– example, can be touching but dancing in own axis and therefore in “open” style

rodriguez
press into the floor and walking backward
engagement
engagement in close
walking forward
walking backward
boils down to “waiting”

1/11/07

grounding exercise

posture
– vertical lift
– counter examples: rock back and forth (heel and ball unstable)
– move weight forward but soften the knees
– example, can be touching but dancing in own axis and therefore in “open” style

di sarli
bandoneon ochos
ocho to cross foot walk

fullly grounded turn to the left
– left forward, right “tucked behind”, turn clockwise, engage all the way
– follower wait, and increase stability from making more contact

fullly grounded turn to the right

rock step turn, to do and to lead
– do a V step, press into the floor
– stay center to center

swish turn
– for follower, finding where the partner is, and slow down the V step
– leader/follower, grounding to indicate center -> active follower

cruzada in curves
work on: variations – in size and direction

15/11/2007 Dissecting Vaz rhythm

If you can’t hear it, you can’t dance to it
– adapting Kim Soon’s exercise, clap to 1, look for 2, then 3
– walk to 1

Explain briefly concept of syncopation
– emphasize a beat that is not emphasized in the music directly

Walk to 1-2.. 1 rhythm
– side by side
– practice hold

Walk to 1..3-1 rhythm
– side by side
– practice hold

Share the characteristics of two forms
– accelerate
– lazy, catch up

Take a simple figure
– cross basic, do 1-2-1 and 1-3-1
– rock step turn (v-step), change from 1-2-1 to 1-3-1 (swinging effect)

Corrida (small run)
– 1-2-3-1 at a trot, small steps