5645 There are no side steps
Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 13:03:35 -0400
From: "Nussbaum, Martin" <mnussbau@law.nyc.gov>
Subject: [Tango-L] There are no side steps
To: <tango-l@mit.edu>
Cc: damian.thompson@gmail.com, jackdylan007@yahoo.com
<DDA0C1BA83D32D45ACB965BA82FD81C7055EFD73@LAWMNEXV2.LAW.LOCAL>
Sorry I did not reply to Damian and jack last Thursday post sooner, I
was in Montreal for the fest.
Jack Dylan quoted Damian, and said,
Another thing - everyone seems to agree on the mantra ...there are
3 possible steps and there are only 3. Forward, backward and sideward.
Damian asked should we remove all side steps? I say Yes.
There are only three steps in tango. Forward cross, back cross, and
open steps. This is the only structurally logical way to view the
dance. Everything else is less precise.
If this is not controversial enough, and since I havent had sleep in
four days I am feeling ornery, I will tell you another secret, that
proves my above statement - every single step in tango is part of a
giro, either clockwise or counterclockwise. Ie, every right front cross
or right back cross is part of a giro clockwise. What you might call
walking forward in line with a partner is simply leading her to a
continual series of open to open alterations, or cambios.
Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 10:52:22 -0700 (PDT)
From: Jack Dylan <jackdylan007@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] There are no side steps
To: tango-l@mit.edu
> From: "Nussbaum, Martin" mnussbau@law.nyc.gov
> There are only three steps in tango.? Forward cross, back cross, and
> open steps.????.... ?I will tell you another secret, that
> proves my above statement - every single step in tango is part of a
> giro, either clockwise or counterclockwise.>
Actually, your second statement doesn't 'prove' your first statement
because you're simply repeating yourself. If there are only 3 steps in
tango - forward cross, back cross, and?open step then, obviously every
step in tango is part of a Giro because a Giro is made up of only those
3 steps.
But, suppose we're walking directly?in-line in parallel feet - are?the lady's
backward steps back crosses or open steps?- and which is which and why?
Jack
Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 18:47:10 +0000
From: Sergio Vandekier <sergiovandekier990@hotmail.com>
Subject: [Tango-L] There are no side steps
To: Tango-L List <tango-l@mit.edu>
"I will tell you another secret, that
> proves my above statement - every single step in tango is part of a
> giro, either clockwise or counterclockwise.>
"But, suppose we're walking directly in-line in parallel feet - are the lady's backward steps back crosses or open steps - and which is which and why?"
Giro means "turn" so when you are walking straight ahead you are not doing a giro but *you can think that each one of the steps are part of a giro*. So for analytic purposes you can think that way but in actuality when you walk ahead you are not doing a giro (turn) you are walking in a line.
When the woman is executing a giro to the right she always crosses with the right leg and opens with the left one. When she is executing a giro to the left she always crosses witht the left leg and opens with the right one.
So when she is walking backwards in a straight line each time she "crosses" with her right you can think of this being part of a turn to the right and when she is "crossing" with left you may think of that particular step as being part of a turn to the left.
So when she is walking back to the cross she steps forward with left, opens with right and *then she crosses with left*. You may think of this as being part of a left turn.
May you have many interesting giros,
Sergio
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Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 20:02:15 +0000
From: Jay Rabe <jayrabe@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] There are no side steps
To: "tango-l@mit.edu" <tango-l@mit.edu>
> From: jackdylan007@yahoo.com
> But, suppose we're walking directly in-line in parallel feet - are the lady's
> backward steps back crosses or open steps - and which is which and why?
It depends on where the man is stepping. The test is, if the man and woman turn their bodies to fully face each other, keeping feet stationary and only pivoting as needed, do the legs become more crossed or do they 'open' up. For example, if the woman steps straight back with her R, and I step with my right to her right side, she is doing an open step and I am doing a front cross. If I step in the same place with my left, we are both doing open steps. If conversely she again steps back with her R and I step with either foot to her left side, then she is doing a back cross.
This is the system of analysis developed by Naviera/Salas et al that has been labeled Nuevo Tango. It is certainly not the only way of analyzing tango steps. The unqualified statement "there are no side steps in tango" is false in its stated universality. You could say with validity something like, "In the system developed by Naviera, in which all steps are reducable to a step in a giro, there are only three steps, front and back crosses and open steps." In my personal analysis system, I differentiate between side steps and other types of open steps. I really think most dancers do the same. The definition of open steps obviously has utility for analyzing patterns and positions and options, but it's clearly counterintuitive for most people who recognize the difference between stepping "to the side," as in the direction of the line of the hips, vs other types of "open" steps. If you insist on dealing only with front and back crosses and open steps, then the step that most peop!
le call a "side step" is simply one type of open step. However clearly not all open steps are side steps, so IMO it's valuable to discuss the properties and use of side steps as a special case of open steps.
J
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