Re: [TANGO-L] 10 count basic

[Stephen Brown <Stephen.P.Brown @DAL.FRB.ORG>]

Daniel Trenner was quite creative in developing the 10-count basic about
8-10 years ago, but I am not sure that he still teaches it.  The 10-count
basic eliminates the back step, but it still does not eliminate the
problem of treating tango as a series of memorized figures.  If we
recognize tango is an improvisational dance, learning to dance it as a
series of rote figures is a problem, particularly when people venture out
onto a crowded dance floor and try to execute a 10-step sequence only to
find that another couple is in their way.

Even if one is willing to accept the use of choreographic elements in
social dancing, the 10-count basic is hardly compelling choreography. The
10-count basic is created by adding what Daniel called a reversed tango
close (a three-step movement) to the end of the the 8-count basic that
starts on the side step .  The 8-count basic ends with a standard tango
close.  So we see a standard tango close followed by a reversed tango
close.

If we are insisting on teaching/using a basic-step pattern like the
8-count basic, why not replace the first backward step of the 8-count
basic with a weight shift onto the man's right foot and woman's left foot.
 This approach has the advantage of eliminating the back step and relying
on a smaller choreographic element.

If we expect our students to be able to improvise, how about breaking the
8-count basic into three elements that are taught separately and later
combined: walking to the cross, a tango close, and a salida that consists
of a weight shift and a side step?

With best wishes for the holidays,
Steve

Stephen Brown
Tango Argentino de Tejas
http://www.tejastango.com/