3164 Tango Base
Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2005 14:20:56 -0700
From: Bruno <romerob@TELUSPLANET.NET>
Subject: Tango Base
To the tango list members:
Wonder if anybody will care to comment on what their tango base is. What
would the minimal requirements of a tango base be?
Best regards,
Bruno
Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2005 19:26:05 -0500
From: WHITE 95 R <white95r@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Tango Base
Hmmm, I don't know. 4 meters square for stage dancing and 1.5 meters square
for close embrace?
:-)
----Original Message Follows----
From: Bruno <romerob@TELUSPLANET.NET>
Reply-To: romerob@telusplanet.net
To: TANGO-L@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: [TANGO-L] Tango Base
Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2005 20:55:03 -0700
From: Bruno <romerob@TELUSPLANET.NET>
Subject: Re: Tango Base
Hi,
Forgive my lack of better choice of words.
The tango base = tango basic steps, i.e. 8 count basic, 6 count basic, 4
count basic, etc.
Wonder if anybody will care to comment on what their tango base is.
What would the minimal requirements of a tango base (tango basic steps)
would be?
Best regards,
Bruno
Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2005 16:22:15 +1100
From: Chanop Silpa-Anan <chanop@MAIL.RSISE.ANU.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: Tango Base
Step forward, step backward, step to the side, and pivot on one foot, perhaps.
Chanop :-)
On a good day of Thu, Jan 27, 2005 at 08:55:03PM -0700, Bruno wrote
> Forgive my lack of better choice of words.
>
> The tango base = tango basic steps, i.e. 8 count basic, 6 count basic, 4
> count basic, etc.
>
> Wonder if anybody will care to comment on what their tango base is.
> What would the minimal requirements of a tango base (tango basic steps)
> would be?
Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2005 00:27:13 -0500
From: WHITE 95 R <white95r@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Tango Base
No problem. The base of tango is IMHO, not any kind of "X count basic" but
rather moving (stepping) with the music together with your partner. First to
the strong beats, and then to the strong and soft beats. This way the person
learns to really dance tango. I prefer to use the strong, soft, strong steps
in threes (quick, quick, quick) then the strong beats can be danced in any
number of steps (this is a little tricky with Biagi as he accents the soft
beats).
After teies skills are learned, one learns the "arrepentida" or corte. You
can also learn to turn these steps. After this, you learn the code of tango
which is basically that the man dances around the floor while the woman
dances around the man. The woman is continually doing a molinete or
grapevine around the man (to either side). Usually the turn (grapevine) gets
interrupted pretty quicly producing the ocho cortado. This is your basic
close embrace repertory.
After one has learned these basic and rudimentary skills, then one can learn
(if one so desires) many more intricate and interesting steps and
combinations of steps and variations of these basic steps.
Solid tango bases to all,
Manuel
visit our webpage
www.tango-rio.com
----Original Message Follows----
From: Bruno <romerob@TELUSPLANET.NET>
Reply-To: romerob@telusplanet.net
To: TANGO-L@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: Re: [TANGO-L] Tango Base
Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2005 02:13:05 -0800
From: David <pachelbels_canon_in_d_major@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Tango Base
Bruno,
I tend to have the 8 count basic as my "base" (and as something that I
vary around).
That said, I also like doing "weight change, weight change, step,
weight change, weight change, step". Each "weight change" and step
takes 2 counts, and the steps can be in any direction (forward,
backwards, side).
Best,
David
> Subject: Re: Tango Base
>
> Hi,
>
> Forgive my lack of better choice of words.
>
> The tango base = tango basic steps, i.e. 8 count basic, 6 count
> basic, 4
> count basic, etc.
>
> Wonder if anybody will care to comment on what their tango base is.
> What would the minimal requirements of a tango base (tango basic
> steps)
> would be?
>
> Best regards,
>
> Bruno
Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2005 11:58:24 -0800
From: Trini or Sean - PATangoS <patangos@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Tango Base
I have found that a dancers choice of words when
thinking about the dance can cripple their dancing. In
my experience, the worst case is misusing the word
step to refer to a figure. The 8 count basic is a
figure, not a step. This may seem like an obvious and
trivial point, but the distinction is important. To
think of any figure as basic is incredibly limiting.
In my experience, leaders who think of figures as
steps are not able to improvise their dance.
Likewise, followers who think of figures as steps
are prone to anticipate.
If you can accept that figures are not steps, then we
can discuss the basic steps with an eye toward
improvisation. I have heard many different ideas about
what the basic steps are, but for me, the best
explanation came from Briggitte Winkler at a workshop
she taught in Ann Arbor last May. She introduced the
idea that there are only 3 steps in Tango (and all 3
can be considered basic). These are: open, cross
forward, and cross back.
The open step is pretty straight forward: the free leg
moves away from the axis, either forward, to the side
or backwards. In the cross forward step, the free leg
crosses the bodys axis and passes between the body
and the partner. In the cross backward step, the free
leg crosses the bodys axis in the space opposite the
partner.
When combined with your partners 3 steps, these three
steps give 9 basic possibilities for movement with
your partner: (L = leader, F = follower o = open, xb cross back, xf = cross forward)
Lo+Fo, Lo+Fxb, Lo+Fxf,
Lxf+Fo, Lxf+Fxb, Lxf+Fxf,
Lxb+Fo, Lxb+Fxb, Lxb+Fxf
This is a nice tool to develop improvisational skills
without getting bogged down in too many ideas. If you
always lead back ochos Lo+Fxb, try Lxf+Fxb, or
Lxb+Fxb. These possibilities require pivots and/or
shifting between parallel and crossed systems. But it
is not necessary to think about either pivoting or
footwork. Choose a different basic step, and let your
body make the necessary accommodation.
Earlier I mentioned that an open step can go in any
open direction. For simplicities sake, consider that
there are 8 possible directions to travel in: forward,
backward, to either side, or in any of 4 diagonal
directions. In addition, the follower can move either
with the lead or counter to the lead. Theoretically,
with 9 basic step pairs, 8 directions for the leader,
and 2 follow dynamics, there are 144 options. I say
theoretically because there are some that I just cant
make work.
Of course, we can vary the size of the steps too. For
simplicities sake, lets use 3 sizes: tiny, average,
and large. Multiply 144 theoretical possibilities by 3
sizes, and we have 432 options, using only 3 basic
steps. Of course, I shouldnt have limited leading the
follower to the same size step as the leader. That
eliminated another 864 options
Sean
=====
PATangoS - Pittsburgh Argentine Tango Society
Our Mission: To make Argentine Tango Pittsburgh's most popular social dance.
https://www.pitt.edu/~mcph/PATangoWeb.htm
Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2005 23:43:24 -0700
From: Bruno <romerob@TELUSPLANET.NET>
Subject: Re: Tango Base
Does the base of tango consist of a predetermined number of steps?
It appears that historically around 1915 that common sets of figures were
composed of six steps or 6 movements; however this did not mean that one
dancer had to step on every compass of the music, but rather one dancer had
to complete the six steps or movements within 4 compasses (measures) of the
tango music. Some of the steps were equivalent to one compass of the music,
whereas other steps were equivalent to 1/2 of the compass.
This would explain that for music such as from early Canaro for example, the
base of tango would have consisted of 6 movements or steps.
I do not have the liberty to quote a source, but this person kindly
explained to me that the base of tango as taught by Mr. Copes consists of
six steps or movements, not sure if Mr. Copes still teaches this base of
tango.
The point is not so much whether the base of tango is composed of 8, 6, or 4
steps or movements, but rather how do the dancers manage to complete the
base of tango, or figure within the 4 compasses (measures) in the tango
music.
The idea or logic behind the base(s) of tango then and now are not so much
distant because they were designed to correlate to particular tango music.
Thus, the 8 count basic would relate better to slow tango music such as Di
Sarli from the late 40's and early 50's for example.
If anybody would care to comment on my post please by all means.
Best regards,
Bruno
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2005 11:21:35 -0600
From: Hector <maselli@GATE.NET>
Subject: Re: Tango Base
On Jan 30, 2005, at 2:00 AM, Bruno <romerob@TELUSPLANET.NET> wrote:
Subject: Re: Tango Base
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2005 11:21:35 -0600
From: Hector <maselli@GATE.NET>
Subject: Re: Tango Base
On Jan 30, 2005, at 2:00 AM, Bruno <romerob@TELUSPLANET.NET> wrote:
Subject: Re: Tango Base
> Does the base of tango consist of a predetermined number of steps?
>If anybody would care to comment on my post please by all means.
Excruciatingly boring and transparently self-serving.
Sincerely,
Hector
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2005 18:05:36 +0000
From: Oleh Kovalchuke <oleh_k@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Tango Base figure
Sean have already wrote about the tango "base" figures:
https://pythia.uoregon.edu/~llynch/Tango-L/2003/msg06490.html
What's there to add except to reiterate that your basic assumption is
entirely off base: the 8-count "basic" figure does not fit any and all music
from the 40-50s and therefore is not basic? Since it is not basic there is
nothing to discuss.
Cheers, Oleh K.
https://TangoSpring.com
>From: Bruno <romerob@TELUSPLANET.NET>
>Reply-To: romerob@telusplanet.net
>To: TANGO-L@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
>Subject: Re: [TANGO-L] Tango Base
>Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2005 23:43:24 -0700
>
>Does the base of tango consist of a predetermined number of steps?
>
>It appears that historically around 1915 that common sets of figures were
>composed of six steps or 6 movements; however this did not mean that one
>dancer had to step on every compass of the music, but rather one dancer had
>to complete the six steps or movements within 4 compasses (measures) of the
>tango music. Some of the steps were equivalent to one compass of the music,
>whereas other steps were equivalent to 1/2 of the compass.
>
>This would explain that for music such as from early Canaro for example,
>the
>base of tango would have consisted of 6 movements or steps.
>
>I do not have the liberty to quote a source, but this person kindly
>explained to me that the base of tango as taught by Mr. Copes consists of
>six steps or movements, not sure if Mr. Copes still teaches this base of
>tango.
>
>The point is not so much whether the base of tango is composed of 8, 6, or
>4
>steps or movements, but rather how do the dancers manage to complete the
>base of tango, or figure within the 4 compasses (measures) in the tango
>music.
>
>The idea or logic behind the base(s) of tango then and now are not so much
>distant because they were designed to correlate to particular tango music.
>Thus, the 8 count basic would relate better to slow tango music such as Di
>Sarli from the late 40's and early 50's for example.
>
>If anybody would care to comment on my post please by all means.
>
>Best regards,
>
>Bruno
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2005 12:01:24 -0700
From: Bruno <romerob@TELUSPLANET.NET>
Subject: Re: Tango Base figure
Oleh Kovalchuke wrote:
>What's there to add except to reiterate that your basic assumption is
entirely off base: the 8-count "basic" figure does not fit any and all music
from the 40-50s and therefore is not basic? Since it is not basic there is
nothing to discuss<
The base of 8 steps or movements corresponds to 2 musical phrases 2x4=8
compasses (measures).
The tango rhythm follows the 2 x 4 rhythm
If one does not know the rhythm one is left on their own to find it, and
most likely will be found dancing out of rhythm.
The compass (measure) is like a heart beat, which is permanent.
From what I gathered is that there was and there is a base of tango, which
these days is called "technique". It did not guarantee one will learn to
dance to the tango music compass, but minimize the possibilities of dancing
out of it.
Cheers,
Bruno
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2005 08:56:19 +0200
From: Heini-Elina Soutamo <helisot@LUUKKU.COM>
Subject: Re: Tango Base
I strongly agree with you Chanop. A dancer - no matter leader or follower - is always a part of the orchestra (IMO). The base is to walk left -right-l=
eft-right as we usually do, don't we. Walking along a street you might turn around, take a side step to avoid a bump to someone in front of you etc. W=
hat ever you do on the floor you shouldn't mess with music nor with other dancers. And here we come to the listening of music and letting it take you =
somewhere with your partner.
DAncing is letting something happen. You hear sound and let it move you. You have to trust to the music - and as a follower you also msut trust to the=
learder. For many it's a big leap as we (at least in Scandinavia) are very much indipendent and self-directed as women.
regards,
Heini
Chanop Silpa-Anan kirjoitti 28.01.2005 kello 07:22:
> Step forward, step backward, step to the side, and pivot on one foot,
> perhaps.
>
>
> Chanop :-)
>
> On a good day of Thu, Jan 27, 2005 at 08:55:03PM -0700, Bruno wrote
>
> > Forgive my lack of better choice of words.
> >
> > The tango base = tango basic steps, i.e. 8 count basic, 6 count basic, 4
> > count basic, etc.
> >
> > Wonder if anybody will care to comment on what their tango base is.
> > What would the minimal requirements of a tango base (tango basic steps)
> > would be?
>
Heini-Elina Soutamo
050 338 2025
helisot@luukku.com
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