2735  Wet noodles and couple more connection styles

Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2004 03:39:20 +0000
From: Oleh Kovalchuke <oleh_k@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Wet noodles and couple more connection styles

Elemer in Redmond wrote about overcooked Italian dish:

"On the leaders connections the one I hear often is "wet noodle", when the
leader leads like a wet noodle."

I have heard about wet noodles lead when I was taking salsa lessons long
time ago. It applies to any dances where man leads with arms: salsa, open
embrace tango etc. and has no good tonus in his arms, hence his arms eqaul
to wet noodles. I am curious about different connection qualities from
follower s perspective in close embrace.


Updated list (I have remembered two more styles I have encountered and
rewrote some descriptions):

Listed below are some of connections I have experienced. I describe the
followers styles only since I have not had a chance to experience different
quality of leads. Everything applies to close embrace only of course.

* Steady presence - the most common. Experienced with the close embrace
followers who are aware that they need to be present but not comfortable
enough with the lead cues to start fooling around with connection. Very easy
to lead. Can ranges fom flat to trance.

* Dynamic, horizontal axis - strong presence in the beginning of the stride
somewhat lesser by the end of the stride (Alicia Ponce).

* Dynamic, diagonal axis - dangerous vulnerability, like a sword twisting
and unfolding - experienced with one follower only. How does she do it? You
fall into trance and do not wish to get out.

* Fluid connection - the most challenging to lead and to follow. Quite a bit
of twisting in the upper body. The most fun for milonga. Should be used by
advanced dancers only and even then only when they are comfortable with each
other s lead and follow habits after the first dance in the tanda. The
person has to be naturally wicked to follow this way. Do not force it
otherwise it will be percieved as a lot of body noise.

* "Love me now, you fool" connection - not always possible to reciprocate.

* The big momma connection - does not necessarily correlate with body size,
however usually does. The follower puts you in her motherly embrace and owns
you for duration of the dance. Later on she might mention: "oh, your lead is
so cute".

* Fleeing connection - it's like stepping into thin air. Experienced with
advanced dancers trained in open embrace who have no problem doing the
footwork however essentially dance with themselves. Not all advanced
followers who started with open embrace dance this way however I am yet to
find a follower who started with close embrace dancing with fleeing
connection.

* ? - Experienced with some beginner-intermediate level followers trained in
open embrace style. They often simply ignore the torso lead and either
proceed with what they think might be implied or wait for the arms to
push-pull.

* Soft connection - response was like leading a pillow and I am not talking
about cup size here no hard edges whatsoever. Not for Pugliese, could work
with later Fresedo I guess.

* Flat connection (as soda without bubbles) - usually comes from the
followers who are aware of necessity of presence but prefer to chat while
they dance.

* Connection with refrigerator - it's like pushing refrigerator around the
floor. Experienced once only. Embrace was entirely superfluous.

* Trepid connection - beginners, who literally tremble in your arms. This
stage passes as experience gained, usually.


Cheers, Oleh K.
https://TangoSpring.com


PS At no time was I tempted to take a look which way the followers toes
pointed: 45 degrees outside, straight forward or anywhere in between (well
in one case I knew for sure the feet where always pointing straight down
through the floor - how can she walk like that?).

Did the followers step on their heels, toes or entire foot? I do not know
and the truth is I do not care.