John and Cara Macdonald, Charlottesville Tango teachers, share class recaps, videos, and tango resources on their blog: TheTangoBeat. Below is an import of their posts. For full content, and to see video recaps, click on the links below to visit their blog.
WWOWW Day 5 Intro to Tango with MSA
I hope everyone enjoyed their Tango class. It was a pleasure teaching it. Here is the video that was shown today during chapel. Let' talk soon about building a Tango community at MSA.
WWOWW Intro do the Tango Day 4——-Take the Poll—————–>
Today was jammed packed. Here is a wrap up video from October about Intention and the Rock Step that applies to what we did today. Intention and the Rock Step
Okay here is another Chicho video for you. Mariano Chicho Frumboli and Juana Sepulveda, Tangomagia 2010
Tomorrow I will have our video to share on the blog. Tomorrow is also our last day. Think about where we go from here.
- Mr. Mac
WWOWW Intro do the Tango Day 3——-Take the Poll—————–>
We introduced the cruzada in class today. Here is an old video of our instruction that you can watch to review. Cruzada VideoI would like you to check out two videos and they don't have dancing. Instead they are videos of Tango Orchestras. The first if of Juan D'Arienzo and his orchestra. He was known as the King of the Beat. If it were not for his rhythmic interpretations of the music Tango might not have become so popular as it had. He was known for his overdramatic stage antics. "Loca" D'Arienzo
The second is of Pugliese and his orchestra. Pugliese's music was much more melodic. This video was taken at the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires. It is one of the top 5 theaters in the world. Check out all of the bandoneon players! "La Yumba" Pugliese
See you soon!
WWOWW Week Intro to Tango Day 2——- Take Poll———————>
Today we introduced the concepts of "opposition" and "disassociation"We applied these ideas with the ocho and outside partner left. I hope you liked the walking with Kung-Fu punches. I would like you to watch a few more videos for homework tonight. We will be discussing them in class tomorrow. Go back to the previous post and catch up on what you missed yesterday if you need to.The first is a stage performance by my favorite couple "Chicho" Frumboli and Juana Sepulveda. Each on of their performances is improvised, which means they do not follow a choreography. Watch how they express the music. This performance is one of their best. They not only express the music so well, they engage the crowd and have fun doing it, while still dancing for each other. Watch Chicho's footwork. Incredible! Chicho and Juana "Triqui Traca"
The second is the second part of the BBC documentary. In the middle "Chicho" is featured. Hey you just watch a video about him. The first two parts of the Documentary are my favorite but if you are still interested it will continue and play the rest of the series. I want you listen to what Chicho says about the Milongas and the people who dance in them. Be ready to answer questions tomorrow. "La Confiteria Ideal: The Tango Salon" Part II
Are you hooked yet? Please answer the survey to the right.
Tango Intro and Basic Foundation
Today's class focused on the concepts necessary to build a strong tango foundation. There are several important elements that make a good social tango dancer: Posture, Embrace, Step.
1. Posture – chest up, hips back, shoulders back, head level, axis straight from head to toe, feet together, engage abdominals, relax the muscles in the legs and feet, breathe.
2. Embrace – the connection with your partner is the way communication happens. It cannot happen without good posture. With the tango posture hug your partner gently. The closed side the embrace should just touch the fabric of the clothes without it crinkling between the fingers. Light and gentle yet firm. Find the connection in the torso with your partner. This is the main connection in close embrace. The open side of the embrace, leader’s left hand to follower’s right should be relaxed balancing the follower’s shoulder. Elbows down. To make the embrace work, see #1.
3. Expressing the music- Stepping on the beat, listening for the pauses, creatively expressing the music of the tango in the dance.
There are three essential components to the walking technique.
1. Always place each foot directly in front of the other when walking, stay centered. When walking back place foot behind standing leg. Think of a tight rope. Leaders step at your follower, no duck walking.
2. Lead with the chest, it how you connect with your partner and show intention. Keep your shoulders back head level.
3. Step solidly onto a straight leg and never onto a bent knee.
See photos of the these elements and descriptions from Tango and Chaos Blog Secretes of the Basics
Listen to tango Music! To become a better dancer you need to become immersed in the music. There are some links to the right on the home page if you want to listen and learn more about the music. Check out the "Tanda of the Week" link to right.
Here are two videos I would like you to watch.
The first is a video of "Tete" an Milonguero who danced in the dance halls of Buenos Aires all the way up until he died in his 70s. He was a legend. Notice his posture, his embrace with his partner, and how he walks.
The second is a BBC documentary on the Tango. To dance it well you must understand the cultural context of the dance and music. This is brilliant five part series. Here is the first part.
We used Ricardo Tanturi’s “Una Emocion” to practice our foundational movements. We danced on the strong beat and listen for the pauses. Go here to see the music notes. "Una Emocion" Notes (We will do this Thursday for my WWOWW week class)
