2718 close embrace; milonguero; salon; club
Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 00:40:36 -0500
From: Michael Figart II <michaelfigart@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: close embrace; milonguero; salon; club
Hello List,
Cool conversations regarding style.....all the following my opinion
only.....and I'll avoid, to some extent, using absolutes, notice all of
the "almost always"!
Sergio, I don't know where you came up with this idea that <<<<<<Walks
flat footed on two parallel lines, the feet do not brush heels as they
pass each other, rather they are allowed to be apart in order to obtain
better balance. This form of walking may cause the movements to be less
elegant.>>>>>>>>
You don't "brush heels" anywhere in tango; this would make one to appear
quite awkward, with toes sticking out all over the place. I brush
ankles, and yes, all milongueros should always collect and always pass
through ("brush") the ANKLES. This causes the movements to be much more
elegant. And I don't ever walk "flat-footed"; this would imply a totally
upright posture with no "hinge" at the ankle. Nobody dances
"flat-footed"; at least not Argentine Tango! ALWAYS collect, and step
straight toward your partner's sternum.
"Apilado", as far as I know, or am concerned, is generally synonymous
with "milonguero".
Oooh, Dude, obviously you've never experienced "hip shifting" in a
milonguero embrace, by an experienced "hip shifter!!!!!"
Sergio did not address adequately the difference between salon and
milonguero. The first defining difference is that when danced in close
embrace, salon tango's embrace is an "open book", or a "v" between
partners, with the follower not centered, but off to the right of the
leader's chest (leader's nipple centered between follower's breasts).
Salon tango can alternate between open and close embrace, generally
close, but separating occasionally, only to the minimum distance
required to do some movements that cannot be accomplished smoothly while
connected at the chest, but pretty much always danced with the
afore-mentioned "off center" orientation between partners. Even when in
"close embrace", the orientation is off-center.
Tango Milonguero is ALWAYS close embrace, and this embrace is almost
always dead on center to center, sternum to sternum, (headlight to
headlight!") and is maintained throughout the dance, even in turns, etc,
by the use of contra-body movements on the part of both partners. There
are occasions when milonguero partners will "slide" back and forth just
a bit, ALMOST into a salon-style close embrace, but this is kept to a
bare minimum, and used only in the most extreme circumstances. As I
gradually become more proficient, I find that this "slide" becomes less
and less necessary. In addition, lovers of Tango Milonguero will
generally prefer older music; DiSarli, D'Arienzo, Calo...etc, and
generally use more seemingly simple steps and combinations. I say
"seemingly" more simple, because salon or stage dancers may think
Milonguero is simplistic. But just plaster them together and let them
try to accomplish some of these "simple" steps. They'd be stepping all
over each other. It's an amazing feeling when your partner attaches
herself to you just like the shirt you're wearing, and follows you like
your own shadow.
Almost always, salon tango is danced with each on separate axes, while
in Tango Milonguero, there is only one axis, shared between partners.
There has been a huge reluctance here in the U.S. to admit that, even
sometimes among good milonguero teachers. I was very heartened in
Missouri to hear Robert Hauk and Barbara Durr express this sentiment in
class; lean forward till your weight is on the balls of your feet; all
the way until it's uncomfortable, and you're almost ready to fall over;
THEN RELAX into your partner. Support each other, on one axis. I myself
go even a step further. All the way forward, until its uncomfortable,
and then ANOTHER inch, and then relax into your partner. Of course this
varies with step and position, but I want my follower to just rest
herself on my chest, and wait, wait, wait. If I send her to an upright
position, and hesitate, there is very little pressure, but if I send her
forward, staying where I am, and ask her to come back, (e.g. volcada,
etc), there is a lot more pressure. Not weight, but pressure.
Jay in Portland; ball or heel, etc ???? Weight is almost always forward
on ball of foot. When executing forward movements I never put weight on
heel, always staying forward on the ball of my foot, even though heel
will be down. When just changing weight, or stepping side, or turning,
many times my heel is down, but the hinge point of my body to achieve
this single axis is at my ankle, and still most of the weight (60-70
percent) is on the balls of my feet, just a little weight on the heel.
In Tango Milonguero, you never (here's an absolute!), never allow your
weight to get back on your heels. That will really throw off your
partner, and kill the dance. Yes, heels should be on the floor for
stability, but always keep most of your weight on the balls of your
feet.
And to answer your other question, Jay, always collect. In a standing
posture, yes, leader's feet should be shoulder width apart, but he
should always collect before moving, and then always aim for his
partner's middle. The follower should be the "point on a slice of
pizza", feet and ankles very close together. She should always be right
in my middle, and before I take a step, any step, I should collect to
make sure that she knows right where I am, and where I'm going. My
collecting my feet, and passing through at my ankles, makes sure she
doesn't get any mixed message about where I'm sending her.
Leading by use of arms or hands should never be necessary. I was very
lucky early on to take lessons with a milonguera who forced me to dance
with my hands behind my back for many, many sessions. Who needs hands or
arms when you have hearts and bodies?
Feeling? Connection? Spiritual elevation? I've danced salon (yeah, I can
do that, too!), with some very fine tangueras. It's not "similar", as
you say, its not even comparable, Sergio. I know; I've been there, done
that!
Warm regards to all; see you in Denver Friday! This is just my
2-cents......
Michael
