Re: [TANGO-L] Close embrace and long steps

[Igor Polk <ipolk@VIRTUAR.COM>]

Laurie said:

"In the US at least, close embrace dancers  are
generally taught to maintain their own axis and
balance. They may look  like they are leaning on each
other to an untrained eye, but it is an  illusion. If
women lean on you when in a close embrace, it might  be
because they are following your center, not your
strong lead. In that  case, your strong lead is shoving
them off balance, and they are just holding  on for
dear life."

No. ( "Never say no", yes? )

Many women I dance in San Francisco do actually lean in close embrace as it
supposed to be. It is not an impression. The lean is sometimes significant,
sometimes very small, but it always present.

Yes, there is a group of dancers who make impression of it mostly "keeping
their own balance" which means not leaning. This is another technique. This
is another world.

Yes. Strong lead "is shoving them off the balance". Exactly. But that is why
we lean! To compensate it.
We balance! We balance on a rope! We balance in a lean. It makes every step
a figure. And that is so pleasant!

Happy dancing,

Igor Polk.

PS. The more the lean, the easier to make long steps. Please, do not say
"nonsense", if you havn't mastered it.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Send "Where can I Tango in <city>?" requests to Tango-A rather than to
Tango-L, since you can indicate the region. To subscribe to Tango-A,
send "subscribe Tango-A Firstname Lastname" to LISTSERV@MITVMA.MIT.EDU.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------