From: astrid <astrid @RUBY.PLALA.OR.JP>
Reply-To: astrid <astrid @RUBY.PLALA.OR.JP>
To: TANGO-L @MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: Re: [TANGO-L] how different? - open, closed (was Just two styles)
Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2003 23:37:56 +0900
Oleh wrote:
> >Where in open embrace follower has to rely significantly on eyes,
> >intuition and significant pool of memorized steps (sequences), in
> >close embrace all she need to learn is to listen with her torso,
Eero Olli wrote:
> I disagree with the above presentation of the nature of the open style.
I
> enjoy both the open and the closed embrace, and find no fundamental
> difference in the lead and follow. The description above sounds more
like
> the 'beginner' version of open style, and not something one would
actually
> want to dance.
>
> I prefer the same type of focus on weight and center both open and
closed
> embrace. The most important change is which bodyparts are in contact.
There
> is no reason to make communication in open style any poorer than in
closed
> style (or why one should rely on eyes, intuition, or memorized
patterns).
>
> However, I must to admidt that in open style it requires a lot of
> sensitivity in hands to be able to read each other's bodies with
sufficient
> presision.
IMO, Eero Olli is more or less correct, while I do not agree at all with
Oleh.
If the follower had to rely on eyes, intuition and memorised steps, she
would be able to sort of follow, while avoiding being stepped upon or
stumbling over the leader, but not not much more than that, and execute
every step with a certain delay (or a little two early, based on her own
guesswork rather than his lead). To achieve a complete connection, where
both partners move in one synchronised, harmonious flow of movement, eyes,
intuition, and memorised steps are by far not enough. The memory of steps
can actually get in the way of following. To be able to lead and follow in
an open embrace, pretty much the same skills are required as in closed
embrace: a strong axis, balance, proper weight shifts with the right
timing,
fully completed steps (not step combinations, but complete movements
finished by closing the ankles), and precisely executed movements. The main
difference is, that in a very close embrace, a good leader can almost
maneuver a follower around with the help of his body with her not doing
much
more than maintaining her balance and letting him lead her,while in open
embrace, the connection is more indirect, and she has to move her weight
almost completely on her own. But the dynamics of the connection are still
basically quite similar. "Listening with her torso" is required in both
ways, Oleh.
Astrid
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