4261  Energy -- Grabbing the Floor.

Date: Wed, 10 May 2006 00:12:51 -0700 (PDT)
From: Ming Mar <ming_mar@yahoo.com>
Subject: [Tango-L] Energy -- Grabbing the Floor.
To: tango-l@mit.edu

Evan Wallace writes:

>The same argument can be made with the term "energy,"
>which is used all the time in dancing in ways that
>are so vague as to be, at best, completely useless,
>or, at worst, misleading.

When used by tango teachers from Argentina, "energy"
means tensing the muscles.


Neeraj Korde writes:

>2. Since evan brings out the topic of vague
>exressions in tango teaching, can someone explain me
>what does 'Grabbing the floor' mean ?

It means curling your toes as if you were grabbing the
floor. In as much as your toes are in your shoes, you
can't curl them much, but tensing the muscles in your
foot helps you avoid being pushed over.

Date: Wed, 10 May 2006 02:55:21 -0700 (PDT)
From: Michael Figart II <michaelfigart@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] Energy -- Grabbing the Floor.
To: tango-l@mit.edu

"Energy" is not tensing the muscles. The way I look at
it, the term "energy" is generally used in reference
to a highly focused connection. I try to focus all my
energy through our connection into my partner's
"center", or "nexus" (my term), which I envision as a
point roughly 2 inches behind the sternum. The actual
direction of the movement can be anywhere, or nowhere,
but the more two dancers can focus their intention and
concentration (energy) on their partner's center, the
better the communication.
While muscles must of course be used in dancing, the
more relaxed the better. The unnecessary tension of
muscles dampens the ability to communicate, and is
unpleasant to your partner.

Grabbing the floor? I missed the context in which it
was used originally, but is this not the same as "into
the floor"? I'll never forget a famous teacher on her
hands and knees trying to "will" her feel for the
floor into my feet. A leader should feel "planted";
actually into it, under the surface of the floor, part
of the floor. Toes should never be curled. Feet should
be relaxed, made as big as possible, as much contact
as possible; the goal is ultra-stability. I envision a
hobbit; short creature with stumpy legs and big bare
feet (hobbits don't wear shoes). Just try to knock a
hobbit over!The concept is same for followers, but to
a slightly less extent, as they must remain a bit more
nimbly responsive.

Just my thoughts,

Michael Figart II
Houston Texas



--- Ming Mar <ming_mar@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Evan Wallace writes:
> >The same argument can be made with the term
> "energy,"
> >which is used all the time in dancing in ways that
> >are so vague as to be, at best, completely useless,
> >or, at worst, misleading.
>
> When used by tango teachers from Argentina, "energy"
> means tensing the muscles.
>
>
> Neeraj Korde writes:
> >2. Since evan brings out the topic of vague
> >exressions in tango teaching, can someone explain
> me
> >what does 'Grabbing the floor' mean ?
>
> It means curling your toes as if you were grabbing
> the
> floor. In as much as your toes are in your shoes,
> you
> can't curl them much, but tensing the muscles in
> your
> foot helps you avoid being pushed over.
>
> protection around
>

Date: Sat, 13 May 2006 02:48:17 -0700 (PDT)
From: Ming Mar <ming_mar@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] Energy -- Grabbing the Floor.
To: tango-l@mit.edu

Michael Figart II writes:

>"Energy" is not tensing the muscles. The way I look
>at it, the term "energy" is generally used in
>reference to a highly focused connection.

Several years ago, the late Hern?n Obispo showed me
the difference between fuerza and energ?a. For energy
he placed his hand close to my head and tensed up the
muscles in his forearm. For force he (gently) moved
my head.

The other place where I encountered the word "energy"
was in Solo Tango's "As? se baile tango." In one
scene Osvaldo Zotto is shown pivoting and the
voice-over says to put energy in the leg. It's been a
few years since I watched the tape so I don't remember
what the figure was or which leg the voice-over
referred to, but the only thing that makes sense is
tensing the muscles.

My explanation for "grabbing the floor" also comes
from Hern?n. He didn't take off his shoes to show me
what he meant. He used his hands: one hand to
represent the floor and the other hand to represent
the foot.

In those days women here were taught to lean forward
or to push against their partners. Unfortunately they
weren't told how much of a lean nor how much of a
push. The result was that men ended up with sore
arms, sore backs, and being destabilized. I
complained to Hern?n about it, and he said that, yes,
it was a big problem here. I asked him what I could
do to protect my back. He said that after the dance I
should say, "Gracias. Hasta la pr?xima vida."