Re: [TANGO-L] The Shape of the Molinete/Giro.

[Derik Rawson <rawsonweb@YAHOO.COM>]

Dear Melroy:

"As for the idea of a square molinete, stepping away
on the forward. This is interesting  ...... maybe he
is trying to solve the problem of the back step (Tom
mentioned this) which often takes the follower away
from the leader when not done properly, upsetting the
symmetry.  No, I don't see it!"

********

It is always a square.  The further away the follower
is from the leader, the bigger the follower's steps
must be to fit the square around the larger circle.

The problem I have found with "close embrace all the
time"  followers, is that their steps ARE ALWAYS
SMALL, because they were only trained to dance close
to their partner.  They have too little experience
dancing in open embrace further away from their
partner.  When they try to deal with a larger circle,
they use their tiny little steps to go around. This
not efficient.  A square is efficient, always.

"Close embrace all the time people" need to practice
taking very beautiful long and elegant large steps to
make the square fit around a large circle.  Then
things will work much better for them.

In general, as we have all heard before, the tango
embrace is like a bandondeon.  One can expand it to
play wild and exciting large notes, or contract it to
play small delicate notes. One needs to be able to do
both kinds of notes to play a bandondeon.  The same
principle applys to tango.

Whether music or dance, one needs to be able to cover
the wide range of possibilites and make use of the
entire dynamic range tht is available, to make things
really interesting.  Contrast,  surprise and
flexibility are very important. My opinion.

Derik
d.rawson@rawsonweb.com


--- Melroy <melroyr@XTRA.CO.NZ> wrote:

> Hi, now that we seem to be back on the subject of
> Tango .........
>
> My feeling / understanding / opinion, is that it is
> not necessary to think
> about how many steps you need to go around the
> leader. It is improvised so
> there could be any number of steps, once the leader
> has lead you into the
> giro it continues until you are stopped, or lead out
> of it.
>
> Once the giro has begun the leader does not have to
> keep leading it,
> although he can certainly alter its speed and
> intensity. It is a
> conversation, once begun you don't need to keep
> reminding each other what
> you're talking about.
>
> Petra has already explained some of the dynamics
> involved, and the followers
> perspective, with much less waffle than I can ever
> manage! Still I think I
> ll waffle a bit anyway ..........
>
> Each follower will have a different length of step
> according to their
> natural movement and the level to which they have
> practiced. When dancing I
> think you should just try to step as naturally as
> possible (as long as the
> leader lets you!) rather than try to fulfill an
> expectation to be or get
> somewhere.
>
> If the leader wants you to come closer to him during
> the giro, in order to
> do some tricky thing, he should lead you! As a
> leader he needs to turn
> within your circle making sure he knows where you
> are, and anything he does
> is in relation to you and does not interfere with
> your movement.
> Also if he wants to exit the giro at a certain
> point, say to continue
> walking in the line of dance, it is his
> responsibility to lead this.
>
> I have heard it explained that, during the giro, the
> follower turns the
> leader. I think this is a well known concept.
> Personally I don't go along
> with this.
> I prefer to control my own balance and turn, within
> that of my partners'.
> There is interaction but we are in control of our
> own balance and movement.
> In an ideal world!
>
> This is how I approach this particular aspect of the
> Tango. I think in any
> art form you eventually need to decide for yourself
> how you want to go about
> things.
>
> I know as a follower (I am a leader) when practicing
> it is natural to stop
> and want understand how this or that
> movement/technique works, in order to
> improve. We all need to do this.
> However, in the long run the leader must just lead
> this stuff.
> Followers' technique is hard enough in itself.
>
> As for the idea of a square molinete, stepping away
> on the forward. This is
> interesting  ...... maybe he is trying to solve the
> problem of the back step
>  (Tom mentioned this) which often takes the follower
> away from the leader
> when not done properly, upsetting the symmetry.
> No, I don't see it!
>
> I think it better to just practice doing the giro
> properly i.e. not stepping
> away on the back step, but making sure you are
> circling your partner.
> Then it is up to the leader to decide the shape of
> the molinete, roundish or
> squarish, whatever.
>
> That's all my waffle for now, at least I kept away
> from the coconuts.
>
> Thanks, Mel.
>
>


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