1  Running Away...

From: adm [adm@SMCAR.COM.AR]
Sent: Freitag, 9. Februar 2001 16:38
To: TANGO-L
Cc: adm
Subject: Re: Running Away...

> Hi friends,
>
> Clifton wrote:
>
> > I also will be working towards finding a solution to the pointed
> > star problem because every time my follower moves further away
> > during her back ocho, she pulls me with her and I can't do
> > a lapiz or enrosque.

This problem has arisen in our tango classes, the woman leaving
further away as the space shuttle from planet earth.

One indication our teacher Norma constantly reminds us men is
to lead with the hands also. When the woman starts giros , if she
goes to the right of the man, the man has to use his left hand to
lead the woman to his right hand, the "receiving" hand . Otherwise
the woman feels a weakening in the lead , and the giro goes out
of spin .
If the woman goes to the left of the man, the "receiving" hand is the
left hand of the mand , and the "sending" hand is the right .Sending
and receiving is not by means of pushing or pulling , but with gentle
movements , suggesting the giro pattern.

I remark "hands" , and not "arms", because another thing teacher
Norma point out, is not to use the arms for this movements, arms
has to be relaxed, tension is only at the hand.

A last comment: of course, there is also more than the hands involved
at the giro, both for man and woman ( torso, hips, legs, feet ).
But part of the "loosening of gravity from mother earth and the shuttle",
is lying at weak grip of the hands when leading a giro.

Warm milonguero regards
Alberto Gesualdi
Buenos Aires

From: ramiro9 [ramiro9@YAHOO.COM]
Sent: Samstag, 10. Februar 2001 00:33
To: TANGO-L
Cc: ramiro9
Subject: Re: Running away

Nelson and listeros,

--- Nelson Fleet <roadraat@YAHOO.COM> wrote:

> How do I discourage my partner from running away from
> me, especially on her back steps?

When I started out in tango, I used to dance Really Really
slowly. So, I got plenty of chances to learn how to deal with
"runaway followers."

Now that I am a more experienced, faster, dancer, and dancing
Really slowly, it's much less of a problem, but I still remember
the tricks.

> The thing that I want most out of dancing tango is
> simply to preserve a connection.

That's where you start. If the connection is solid in the first
place, you are less likely to lose it. If your partner is
feeling connected to you, and enjoying that connection, she will
be Highly Motivated to maintain that connection.

> Sometimes I have it
> with a partner and everything seems to work like
> magic. (I have lapses, though, like when I'm changing
> direction. If I'm going to rock back, I typically
> send my hips forward without my chest on the prior
> forward step.)

If you are "pushing" your partner away with inappropriate
leaning, or some other break in your frame, or an out-of-sync
lead that sends her away, ... it's not her fault, it's yours.
Fix it and don't blame your precious partner.

> What about a partner who steps consistently ahead of
> my lead, pulling me along in fact?

Unfortunately, no matter how well you lead, you will
occasionally encounter some of this.

> I try not saying anything...

Good idea. Great idea.

> but instead do a lot of things that she
> wouldn't be able to predict, trying to encourage her
> to keep her weight forward towards me.

Sometimes this works; sometimes the ladies will resent being
mousetrapped.

I slow down, then stop and wait. Slower. Slower. Lots of
waiting. It gives
us a chance to get "in sync", to get our steps together, to try
and reestablish a connection. Sometimes the added time allows
the ladies to feel more, to become more aware of what is going
on, and less preoccupied by whatever they are thinking that
keeps them from feeling my lead and following me.

This only works sometimes. Like any other field, I know of no
perfect solutions.

> First I do cadences ... My instinct
> is to hold her back, but I suppose that pressure on
> her back is probably not a good idea, right?

Should you muscle her into line, dominate her movement using
brute force? Is that what you're asking?

> There has been recent discussion about waiting for the
> lead. Is there any non-verbal way of encouraging
> that?

In fact, occasionally, with certain followers, I might take the
liberty to whisper in a melodramatic tone, "Will you waaaiiiit
for meeee?" like a movie soldier, about to go to war, talking to
his sweetie. I can usually get a giggle out of that. This is
another partial solution. Time, place, and circumstance. It can
do more harm than good, said the wrong way, or to the wrong
person. But sometimes it can do a lot of good, too.

It can be a learning experience. I have learned that leading the
cross with one of these "runaway followers" is a completely
different technique. If you can learn how to compensate for
their movement, you will have more arrows in your quiver.

Good luck. Persevere, and you will get it.

ramiro


=====
ramiro garcia
ramiro9@yahoo.com
---
Men are qualified for civil liberties, in exact proportion to their disposition to put moral chains upon their appetites: in proportion
as their love of justice is above their rapacity.
- Edmund Burke