Re: [TANGO-L] TANGO-L Digest - 23 Dec 2003 to 24 Dec 2003 (#2003-340)

[Gary Fay <gtf_ctim @yahoo.com>]

--- Automatic digest processor
> Date:    Wed, 24 Dec 2003 00:03:46 +0000
> From:    Oleh Kovalchuke <oleh_k @HOTMAIL.COM>
> Subject: Re: beginners tango teaching
>
> 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


That is where the "sudden lead change" and "death grip
leader" comes it. Shock the follower a few times with
a change up or don't let her move until ready. It will
become painfully obvious that following is expected.
As one dance instructor I had in the country and
western scene descibed it. "Positive and negative feed
back, if it hurts, don't do that or don't leave the
foot there. If it didn't hurt, well it may not be
right, but at least it didn't hurt!"

Gary

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