3305 Colgadas.
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2005 19:09:09 +1300
From: Melroy <melroyr@XTRA.CO.NZ>
Subject: Colgadas.
Hi, I went to a class at CITA 2001 with Fabian Salas where he taught
Colgadas'.
I wondered what the hell they could be!
One of the ways he taught to lead a colgada was to initiate the follower to
sweep the leaders foot.
Then, as Jay descibes:
'When the leader places his foot right next to the follower's
weight-supporting foot,
and transfers weight to it while turning, the colgada just happens because
of the centrifugal forces generated by the turn.'
The sweep is used to generate momentum which transfers into centrifugal
force as the couple turn or pivot around the shared axis.
This is one way to get into a colgada.
It doesn't have to be a huge spinning out thing and, as has been mentioned,
it can be tiny and gentle and nice. Or big and fun if want too!
I personally have not seen the butt-sitting variation and only know the
'straight-spine-and-legs, hanging-angle-at-the-shoulders axis' version.
I think I'll keep my butt in for now.
Mel.
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2005 09:09:44 -0800
From: Trini or Sean - PATangoS <patangos@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Colgadas.
That's an interesting entry to try.
Daniel uses centrifrugal force all the time during the
dance - turns, boleos, etc, - not just for specific
vocabulary. (Hola Daniel!) It is based more on the
embrace than where one's foot is.
I think that instructors may teach certain vocabulary
to introduce a specific technique, but they may not be
adept at or have the time for expanding that technique
for general use. In Daniel's case, we did two
workshops to explore that technique, although one was
sufficient to introduce the concept.
One issue we are currently addressing is how to adjust
the embrace, specifically, allowing the women to fill
(and trust) the man's right arm. (I have too many bad
memories of brutal right arms on my back to teach
beginning students that.) Colgadas are useful for
teaching that to close-embrace dancers who are used to
connecting at the chest. I've noticed that by
focusing a lot on the chest, the arms tend to get
weak.
Trini de Pittsburgh
P.S. To anyone who took Homer & Charity's alterations
class at Valentango. I was in Pittsburgh while Sean
took the class. He is indicating the alterations
fine, but I am having trouble getting out of the
alterations with energy after he catches me. I feel
slow. What are we missing?
--- Melroy <melroyr@XTRA.CO.NZ> wrote:
> One of the ways he taught to lead a colgada was to
> initiate the follower to
> sweep the leaders foot.
> Then, as Jay descibes:
>
> 'When the leader places his foot right next to the
> follower's
> weight-supporting foot,
> and transfers weight to it while turning, the
> colgada just happens because
> of the centrifugal forces generated by the turn.'
>
> The sweep is used to generate momentum which
> transfers into centrifugal
> force as the couple turn or pivot around the shared
> axis.
PATangoS - Pittsburgh Argentine Tango Society
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Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2005 09:45:54 -0800
From: Igor Polk <ipolk@VIRTUAR.COM>
Subject: Re: Colgadas.
Colgadas are not only "off-axis" elements.
Apilado is also "off-axis" only tilted toward a partner, in opposite
directions than Colgadas.
Also, lead of molinetes can be "off-axis". I saw it many times, some of the
best do it. And some other elements.
Instead of "off-axis" I would use "off-vertical-axis", this is more precise,
since
"Axis" is something related to rotation, not to vertical orientation.
I like the term "shared axis". During all rotational movements a couple
shares one axis.
Colgadas brings it to extreme. It seems to me thinking about "shared axis"
is the cornerstone
for a follower as well as for a leader.
I might be mistaken, I do not dance colgadas.
Tell me, am I right?
Igor Polk
Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2005 18:00:08 -0800
From: Igor Polk <ipolk@VIRTUAR.COM>
Subject: Re: Colgadas.
Why not to continue in the same thread?
I believe Colgada is not just an element. It is the whole style of dancing.
Look what I have received this morning from A:
"""""
"Dear Igor, sorry for the delay in writing to you, but I am rarely on my
computer....
The first time I learned a colgada or a volcada was in a class with Tete, on
his first visit to the USA, which I believe was in 1995 or 1996. He didn't
call them that, but he taught figures using both, and he was certainly
dancing
them socially at that time, if not before. I'd be very willing to bet that
he
never "learned" them from Gustavo - who, at that time, was still
professionally
paired with his ex-wife, Olga."
"""""
Igor.
