4130 Teaching tango in Tango-L
Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2006 22:16:21 +0000
From: Sergio Vandekier <sergiovandekier990@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Teaching tango in Tango-L
There are many things that amaze me in this list.
Those of us that were in the list from the early 90s. which are very few :
Steve Brown, Tom Stermitz, Manuel from Atlanta, Timmy Tango from Cleveland,
Barbara Garvey from Puerto Vallarta, over the years have discussed most of
the aspects of tango.
We have discussed most topics of general interest and remain in the list
only to help the new comers. We make an effort to patiently repeat things as
many times as it seems to be necessary.
But then you get certain people that considers what you talk about
uninteresting and repetitive and proceeds to discuss "How to teach tango to
beginners" a subject that also was discussed a million times.
Now talking about teaching tango, most people that I know including myself
start teaching musicality, tango walk, different way of walking to the music
with and without double timing, exercises for proper frame, to walk unison
together, walking to the cross, back ochos, front ochos, and then figures
that use a combination of both of them such as "the sandwich" and "the half
moon". Proper navigation of the floor, good posture, open and close
embrace.
Introduction to the music of tango, milonga and vals. Instruction in walks
and figures that can be used in any of the three dances.
Walking in any possible way, parallel and crossed, in front inside or
outside.
Simple turns (different types) including Calesita first then walked right
turn from the cross with sacadas.
Milonga simple steps and then with traspie.
Vals.
Molintetes to the right and to the left.
Arrastres, Boleos, Amagues, Ganchos, done in different circumstances and
included in the molinetes turns.
Enrosques with foot back and foot in front.
Different types of sacadas, heel sacadas. leg wraps.
Embellishments for the woman and the man.
Gliding to the right and to the left.
Introduction to other tango styles, canyengue, Nuevo and miolonguero.
Introduction to stage tango, lifts, jumps, cuartas de final, etc.
Some instructors of nuevo tango start instruction with the front ocho.
Amazes me to hear that the front ocho is forbidden in some places. We
probably are talking about different moves, (IMO) the front ocho must be one
of the figures that gets done more frequently in any milonga.
So here I am patiently discussing tango teaching for the zillion time
because it is of interest to somebody.
I apologize for my grammar, English is a secondary language for me.
Best regards, Sergio.
Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2006 17:56:08 -0700
From: Iron Logic <railogic@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Teaching tango in Tango-L
Dear Sergio,
You bring a lot of historical perspctive of tango to list. We all like it very much.
I would personally appreciate if you would talk a bit more about specific elements, concrete techniques to help aspiring dancers and less trivia and topics of academical interest. These are nice but not always. How about some input that will actually help dancers.
My humble opinion, ofcourse we are all free to discuss anything here and any input is welcome.
Best
IL
Sergio Vandekier <sergiovandekier990@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
There are many things that amaze me in this list.
Those of us that were in the list from the early 90s. which are very few :
Steve Brown, Tom Stermitz, Manuel from Atlanta, Timmy Tango from Cleveland,
Barbara Garvey from Puerto Vallarta, over the years have discussed most of
the aspects of tango.
We have discussed most topics of general interest and remain in the list
only to help the new comers. We make an effort to patiently repeat things as
many times as it seems to be necessary.
But then you get certain people that considers what you talk about
uninteresting and repetitive and proceeds to discuss "How to teach tango to
beginners" a subject that also was discussed a million times.
Now talking about teaching tango, most people that I know including myself
start teaching musicality, tango walk, different way of walking to the music
with and without double timing, exercises for proper frame, to walk unison
together, walking to the cross, back ochos, front ochos, and then figures
that use a combination of both of them such as "the sandwich" and "the half
moon". Proper navigation of the floor, good posture, open and close
embrace.
Introduction to the music of tango, milonga and vals. Instruction in walks
and figures that can be used in any of the three dances.
Walking in any possible way, parallel and crossed, in front inside or
outside.
Simple turns (different types) including Calesita first then walked right
turn from the cross with sacadas.
Milonga simple steps and then with traspie.
Vals.
Molintetes to the right and to the left.
Arrastres, Boleos, Amagues, Ganchos, done in different circumstances and
included in the molinetes turns.
Enrosques with foot back and foot in front.
Different types of sacadas, heel sacadas. leg wraps.
Embellishments for the woman and the man.
Gliding to the right and to the left.
Introduction to other tango styles, canyengue, Nuevo and miolonguero.
Introduction to stage tango, lifts, jumps, cuartas de final, etc.
Some instructors of nuevo tango start instruction with the front ocho.
Amazes me to hear that the front ocho is forbidden in some places. We
probably are talking about different moves, (IMO) the front ocho must be one
of the figures that gets done more frequently in any milonga.
So here I am patiently discussing tango teaching for the zillion time
because it is of interest to somebody.
I apologize for my grammar, English is a secondary language for me.
Best regards, Sergio.
Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2006 06:43:49 -0700
From: burl burl <burlq7@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Teaching tango in Tango-L
Sergio;
I have to say, that there is alot of bad information in Tango-L. It took me a few months to realize just how much.
I practice tango with four or five people each week and I am concerned not to give my followers bad information (for instance, I tell them not to read Tango-L). But sometimes they really want to know simple things that I can't completely answer--for instance, how exactly should they step backward. They have usually been told 3 different things by three different guys who have no idea, and now they want a forth opinion.
They want to know: do they step back first, leaving both hips level with the floor and then bring both hips back over their feet? Should their hips start moving back as they are stepping back or do they wait until the back leg is straight. Does the traveling foot go up on their toe as the foot brushes past the planted foot? Is there ever a time when both legs are straight or is only the back leg straight when the heal comes down? How does the woman's back step differ from the mans? Is it all much simpler than this and she just has to walk like a cat and forget about details?
If you aren't sure you know the answer (or you don't have the time), don't answer of course (and that goes for the rest of you as well).
yours
Burleigh
Sergio Vandekier <sergiovandekier990@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
There are many things that amaze me in this list.
Those of us that were in the list from the early 90s. which are very few :
Steve Brown, Tom Stermitz, Manuel from Atlanta, Timmy Tango from Cleveland,
Barbara Garvey from Puerto Vallarta, over the years have discussed most of
the aspects of tango.
We have discussed most topics of general interest and remain in the list
only to help the new comers. We make an effort to patiently repeat things as
many times as it seems to be necessary.
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