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Basics Argentine
Tango is about looking and feeling good
when the couple, engrossed in one another
and the music, move as one body with four
legs.
The
leader interprets the feel of the music
and passes this on, inviting her to
follow his body movements and react with
hers. Communication of intent is vital.
Many
people learn the basics using a sequence
of eight steps, which demonstrates
elements of linear tango. They progress
from this Basic 8 to the giro - the
basis of the legplay that is
so central to rotary tango.
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| Walking smoothly
as a couple in time with the music is a
key part of Tango; feeling which foot is
carrying your partner's weight and how to
transfer it, moving your torso gently but
firmly in the desired direction to show
your intention before moving off,
reaching out with slightly out-turned
toe, bringing the torso forward - or
backward - to transfer weight to the new
foot, and - when stopping - collecting
the rear foot alongside the other. all is
helped by keeping your feet close
together and close to the floor except
when they need to be elsewhere.
Moving
to either side is similar; reaching out
with a toe then square up as weight
transfer takes place.
All
made much more difficult when working as
a couple in a dance embrace, trying to
keep a constant distance - sometimes zero
but with constant pressure - between
parallel chests. The embrace of follower
by leader varies from full torso contact,
either directly in front or slightly
offset, to a more open hold in which the
couple's arms form a frame within which
they manoeuvre.
Mastering
walking - forward, backwards, and
sidewards - as a couple and in time with
the music is almost enough to make a
basic Tango.
A
little more interesting is the famous Basic 8 or 8
count basic step.
Once
he had mastered the basics, it was
time to consider progressing to lessons
at intermediate and medium levels.
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