2104  basic steps

Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2003 15:50:02 -0600
From: "Frank G. Williams" <frankw@MAIL.AHC.UMN.EDU>
Subject: Re: basic steps

Heyo Friends,

Speaking of 'basics' what do you folks consider to be THE basic in MILONGA?!
...not so much standardization there, I'd wager... ;-) I've seen several,
the best of which is not great but uses 6 beats to dance a rectangle. What
'basics' do you know of?

Frank - Mpls.

PS. Alternative 'basic' in tango:
Armando O. taught a useful little basic that he called the 'club basic' for
crowded situations - 8 or 5 beats. If memory serves, the mechanics are:

Leader/Follower
1. side left/side right
2. forward & lead pivot to right/back & pivot left
3. change weight, pivot right/forward ocho
4. (and) 5. cut her ocho & change weight*/ pivot right, reverse pivot, cross
6. resolution natural, or not...
*of course, there are many little variations in leading cut ochos, just so
leader finishes 5. weighted on right, facing reasonably close to LOD

Frank G. Williams, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota
612-625-6441

Department of Neuroscience
6-145 Jackson Hall
321 Church Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Department of Veterinary Pathobiology
205 Veterinary Science
1971 Commonwealth Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108

Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2003 17:20:48 -0600
From: Stephen Brown <Stephen.P.Brown@DAL.FRB.ORG>
Subject: Re: basic steps

I have seen people teach each of the following the step patterns as THE
basic of milonga:

First approach (steps 2 through 5 of the 8 count basic):
1) side step: woman right, man left
2) walk outside: woman back left, man forward right
3) woman back right, man forward left
4) woman cross with left, man close with right

Second approach (a zig-zag walk):
Man rotates couple to his left (counterclockwise as seen from above)
1) walk outside: woman back left, man forward right
2) side step: woman right, man left
while rotating to man's right (clockwise as seen from above)
3) close: man right, woman left
4) walk outside: woman back right, man forward left
5) side step: woman left, man right
while rotating to man's left (counterclockwise as seen from above)
6) close: man left, woman right

Third approach (inline walking with pauses):
Walk inline with the man going forward and the woman going backward for
two or three steps, close on the third or fourth step. Make three or four
rhythmic weight shifts between feet, Resume walking...

Fourth approach (a box that advances two steps forward and retreats one
step backward):
1) side step: woman right, man left
2) walk outside: woman back left, man forward right
3) woman back right, man forward left
4) side step: woman left, man right
5) step against line of dance: woman forward right, man back left
6) close: woman left, man right

With best regards,
Steve