2705  milonguero vs. close-embrace salon

Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2004 21:20:13 +0000
From: Jay Rabe <jayrabe@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: milonguero vs. close-embrace salon

Sergio wrote:

Fallacy #11: Milonguero and Salon close embrace are the same thing.
The truth is that both styles use a close embrace, both use walks but they
are different in style and technique. Salon walks landing on the heel or
most frequently on the ball of the foot, brushing the heels as the feet pass
each other. It allows occasional "light" (a little separation) between the
partners to shift the hips during ochos and turns, etc. Milonguero steps
"flat footed", may allow some separation of the feet (S. Miller), the chests
are always together, there is no shift of the hips for ochos or turns,etc.
---------------

OK, now finally we are getting to the heart of the miscommunications or
differences in definitions of the terms.

I'd like some more discussion/explanation of the central theme: how does
close-embrace salon (CES)differ from milonguero?

Sergio from your post, it seems you are saying there are three differences:
1: milonguero never separates the chests, while CES ocassionally does
2: CES can step on ball or heel, but Milonguero steps flat footed
3: CES "collects," brushing ankles/heels, while Milonguero (presumably
leaders) stands/walks with some separation between the feet [as an aside,
Pichi said this same thing in a private post, explaining that the wider
stance was needed to maintain a solid base to protect the follower from
imbalance in the crowded BsAs dancefloors] Question on this point: do the
followers also stand with wider stance, not collecting?

Comments please.

J in Portland