2219  Why beginners move toward the center

Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2004 17:00:32 GMT
From: michael <tangomaniac@JUNO.COM>
Subject: Re: Why beginners move toward the center

I can answer that question. If the woman doesn't collect her weight, her right foot goes backward NOT in a straight line but in a diagonal, in the direction of the center of the floor. If she brings her knees or ankles together, she will move backward in a true straight line. When the man steps outside the woman (to go to the cross) with his right foot, beginners don't hook their foot so that they stay close to their partner. Their right foot goes out on a diagonal to the left, towards the center of the floor.

Think of a trapeze walker. Each foot finishes its step directly in front of the other foot. It should be the same way in walking to the cross. Unless the man hooks his right foot to bring it back in line with the left foot, he moves diagonally to the left. Another problem is when a man is afraid of stepping on the woman's foot. He moves his left foot deliberately in a left diagonal so as not to step on her foot because he doesn't understand it's upper body first.

I'm not suprised with what Bilal describes. I see that numerous times in the classes I assist teaching. I also remember I used to do the same thing. It's amazing what can be fixed with good instruction and practice.

Michael Ditkoff
Washington, DC


-- Bilal Barakat <bilalbarakat@WEB.DE> wrote:

But for some reason beginners seem to have a tendency to drift inwards,
so practicing control over this and staying on the outside should help
them assume better command over their movement across the floor.