3217  Tango Dialects: cross = mini boleo

Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2005 09:40:05 -0800
From: Iron Logic <railogic@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Tango Dialects: cross = mini boleo

I dont lead the cross, but I think it is easier to think of cross as mini front boleo.

From the leaders perspective, if you really want to lead a cross:

* Lead the front cross, interrupt early, like you are now going to lead a back cross

* Stop or lead a weight change before she uncrosses.



Ofcourse it is the same for women, it is as if she starts a front cross, then changes her mind straightens to face the leader.

you can explain the hip positions accordingly, hip position in the end is opposite of what it would be during a front cross.

I am in the "cross is front cross of turn to left" camp. Well if a beginner is going to be confused may be that is a different problem.

Jay Rabe <jayrabe@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:2 cents on several topics...

I agree with Astrid and others that, when you get to step #4, the woman is
going to take a step with her left foot, and the only step that maintains
the connection and brings her back in front of her leader is a fwd cross.
Yes, the grapevine/turn explanation works too, but that seems overly
complicated vs. the simpler principle of just maintaining the connection.
-----

I used to lead the cross all the time, with an extra rotation CW (sort of a
"wind up"), then returning with a CCW rotation as I close with my right on
5, bringing the woman back in front of me. But I find that it's very
situational, that is, sometimes, with some followers, especially beginners,
I have to almost "over-lead" it, to keep them from stepping back and losing
the connection, while with more experienced followers it's almost not
necessary to lead it at all.
-----

I too have seen some leaders, with sensitive followers who are not on
automatic pilot, lead a cross, then decline to lead the weight change,
giving the option of leading a reversal to a left side step, back step, or a
back ocho for the woman (Robin Thomas and Jennifer Bratt of NY come to
mind).
-----

While it's true that a cross is categorically equivalent to a front ocho, I
don't find that analysis helpful at all, since they differ so markedly in
the amount of hip rotation as to be quite different steps.


J in Portland
www.TangoMoments.com



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