Re: [TANGO-L] beginners tango teaching

[Oleh Kovalchuke <oleh_k @HOTMAIL.COM>]

Astrid asked a while ago:

"By the way, I have a question: I was forced to act as a leader in a small
practica I was invited to in Berlin, and was taught to lead for a couple of
hours. All went well, except for the ochos: the same thing happened again
like last time I tried it in Tokyo- as soon as I give the woman a little
push, she starts off ochoing on autopilot, one ocho after another, like a
clockwork kicking in, even though she had waited for my lead on all other
steps. Why do women do that?"

No answer was given at the time so here is what I think:

Beginner followers do that because they are taught the mechanics of back
ochos without their leaders. Occasioanlly with the wall as a partner. They
often practice static back ochos without partner. Therefore they forget (or
do not learn from the very beginning) that they need to wait for the lead.

Once I show the mechanics of the step in my class I have to remind the
followeres that back ochos are led like any other step. And then... remind
it couple times more.


Cheers, Oleh K.

http://TangoSpring.com

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