[TANGO-L] Molinete/Giro

[LGMoseley@AOL.COM]

Two points:

1. I have always thought that a Giro/Grapevine was fundamentally a 4  step/4
beat movement i.e. Slow Slow Slow Slow. Of course, a different tempo can  be
led. A common variant is Slow Slow Quick-Quick Slow. Indeed, some women seem
to know nothing else -the man starts to turn, and she sets off  automatically.
We call such ladies Giro Machines. There is nothing wrong with  the SSQQS
tempo if it is led, but if it is not, it causes problems. Most of the  variations
(Sacadas, Enrosques, Planeos, Drags, etc.) depend on the two dancers  moving
to the same tempo, and often the man cannot complete his moves if the  lady has
charged off round the circle with an unled QQ.

2. The Mollinete. I learned the Giro first. However, when I learned  the
Molinete, the lady's steps were not a Grapevine i.e. not  Forward-Side-Behind-Side
or Side-Behind-Side-Forward etc. As one would expect  from a Little Mill
(e.g. a pepper mill), which is what Molinete means, I  understand, the blades do
not go backwards at any point. Rather the lady's  steps consisted simply of
walking round the man  -  Forward-Forward-Forward-Forward.. For the clockwise
forward Molinete the man  will commonly simply cross his right leg behind his
left, and the pivot on  alternate feet to unwind.   It is commonly easier to do
clockwise than  anticlockwise, because tof the asymmetry of the frame. Giros
and Molinetes are  both lovely figures, but they are two different ones.

Frankly, I do not know which of the appellations is historically accurate.  I
do know that there are these two (and probably other) ways of a lady circling
 round a man.

Abrazos tangueros

Laurie (Laurence)