1705  Boleos and the follower's lower back

Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2003 15:29:29 -0600
From: Brian Dunn <Brian@DANCEOFTHEHEART.COM>
Subject: Re: Boleos and the follower's lower back

Sergio said:

>This note is intended to be read by beginners or by those that do not know
>how to execute a boleo.
>
>Boleo is an adornment (un firulete-un adorno). It may be executed by the
>man and by the woman. It may be done with either leg. It may be done alone
>or in combination with other adornments.

Then Tom said:

>>>

...he is describing a particular form where the body does not spiral..it is
wicked fast...My personal preference is boleos where the body spirals and
the supporting foot pivots on the ground. The leader's body either goes with
it or counter to it. The energy contained in a counter-body boleo is pretty
awesome...So, for me, a boleo is a rebounding, spiralling action, led by the
leader executed by the follower (an interrupted ocho).
<<<

I'm with Tom on his description of the underlying dynamics of the led boleo
(as opposed to an adornment-boleo(?)).

However, with all the discussion addressed to beginnersof high-energy
boleos, I am compelled to mention one critical element: developing skill in
TIMING of the boleo lead so as not to (eventually) injure the follower.

With a patient, skilled and willing partner, one can lead boleos with SLIGHT
and GENTLE variations in timing (a LITTLE early, a LITTLE late) and discover
amazing things. Small variations in timing of boleo leads result in GREAT
differences in how much force is delivered to the follower's lower back, and
how comfortable the boleo is for her.

With the right leader's timing, BOTH leader and follower experience a VERY
satisfying snappy rebound-whipcrack of her free leg with no extra force in
her lower back. If the timing is off, the LEADER can still experience a
satisfying boleo that snaps "on time," but the follower will experience more
stress on her lower back. Leaders with great musicality whose timing is
slightly off can end up exerting much more force on the follower's lower
back than necessary, because they unconsciously seek to make up for their
timing errors by increasing torque on the follower's spine to make her boleo
"snap" on time.

It can be very painful to watch inexperienced leaders deliver
hard-enough-to-almost-hurt boleos one after another to their willing
followers, and watch the grin of satisfaction they get as they feel her leg
SNAP around right on the beat, training themselves to be unnecessarily
brutish because the followers won't really feel it in their lower back until
later in the evening.

Leaders, ESPECIALLY beginners trying boleos with (temporarily!) willing
partners, might consider checking in early and often with their followers
("was that comfortable, or was it harder than necessary?") in practica
settings to discover the "sweet spot", or take private lessons with an
experienced follower whose boleos they like to watch, to make sure they are
not intoxicating themselves with snappy boleos at the expense of their
partner's vertebrae!

Happy boleos to leaders and followers alike,
Brian Dunn
Dance of the Heart
Boulder, Colorado USA
1(303)938-0716
https://www.danceoftheheart.com

Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2003 17:23:47 -0700
From: Huck Kennedy <huck@ENSMTP1.EAS.ASU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Boleos and the follower's lower back

Brian Dunn writes:

> However, with all the discussion addressed to beginnersof high-energy
> boleos, I am compelled to mention one critical element: developing skill in
> TIMING of the boleo lead so as not to (eventually) injure the follower.

Indeed. And I would also like to add that it
is important for the follower to have a relaxed,
easy follow that is almost delayed, if anything.
After perceiving the lead, too often beginning
followers stiffen up and try too hard to force the
boleo to happen, instead of just relaxing and letting
the natural consequences of the physics of interrupting
the ocho make the boleo happen almost automatically.

Huck

Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2003 20:23:54 -0600
From: Brian Dunn <Brian@DANCEOFTHEHEART.COM>
Subject: Re: Boleos and the follower's lower back

Brian Dunn writes:

> However, with all the discussion addressed to beginners of high-energy
> boleos, I am compelled to mention one critical element: developing skill

in

> TIMING of the boleo lead so as not to (eventually) injure the follower.

Huck replies:

>>>

Indeed. And I would also like to add that it
is important for the follower to have a relaxed,
easy follow that is almost delayed, if anything...
<<<

Very true - many beginning followers want a "good boleo" so badly they're
ready to do it all by themselves, regardless of the physics of the lead,
with a tense stiff leg that kills the rebound completely.

Or, they're a little scared of the force of it, and they lock up their leg
to protect their back.


Huck continues:

>>>>

...After perceiving the lead, too often beginning
followers stiffen up and try too hard to force the
boleo to happen, instead of just relaxing and letting
the natural consequences of the physics of interrupting
the ocho make the boleo happen almost automatically.
<<<
I notice this in classes a lot, when followers know way in advance that the
boleo is coming because the leaders have fallen into a drill-pattern.
Sometimes teachers don't empasize enough the need to surprise the follower,
even in classes. Luciana Valle likes to say, "A follower shouldn't be aware
of a boleo until it's over." Ideally, she's so surprised she doesn't have
TIME to get stiff.

In non-class settings, the same thing may occur because I may be
inadvertently "telegraphing" way in advance when my boleo lead is coming,
maybe because I'm stuck in "boleo patternitis". Leaders tend to be unaware
of just how predictable many of their leads have become to followers who are
familiar with them. This will be fine with a follower who knows good
relaxed boleo technique as you describe. But if a follower who knows my
dance is "tense" in her boleos, it may mean that she knows well in advance
what I'm about to do, and doesn't have the "relaxed boleo technique" you
describe yet, so she sort of does it "herself" at about the time of the
lead, more or less with the music...etc. By learning not to telegraph my
lead in advance through a pattern, I'm more likely to surprise her.

All the best,
Brian Dunn
Dance of the Heart
Boulder, Colorado USA
1(303)938-0716
https://www.danceoftheheart.com