Re: [TANGO-L] Milonga

[astrid <astrid @RUBY.PLALA.OR.JP>]

 Another
> definition of what constitutes a Quebrada is when the man leads the woman
to
> dissociate the torso in cut/stacatto/pulsating movements. While in an
> embrace hold and the couple are doing a walking step (Corridita)let's say
> the man performs a sudden stop as he freezes doing a "Corte", and he
begins
> using his upper torso to accompany the rhythm of the Milonga. The upper
> torso movements may be represented with slight rocking movement, these
> movements are done isolated from the waist. The best Quebradas depend on
the
> dexterity of the man in dissociating his torso from the waist, and
> transmiting the movements to the woman.

Oh, yes, I know those, and they are what I gathered, a quebrada would
probably mean. However, in all my tango years, I have met one or two men who
were able to lead this, and it just makes you melt away. I remember, how one
day, I tried to teach this to my partner, in his earlier tango days, when we
were practising alone (since noone I meet ever seems to teach this move in
classes) He started jiggling me in a way, that I thought, I could almost
hear my vertebrae rattle. ; ) "No", I said, "not like this, with more
feeling !" He tried again, a little more gently. "More gently, and slower
too !", I said. He tried again, slower, but still with a few jerks in it.
"You have to make more of a connection, you have to let me rest against your
chest !" Finally, after a couple more tries, we gave up, and I thought, I'd
ask him to try again in half a year or so. Still, we have been on friendly
terms ever since. ; )
It seems, this movement is only for those who can make a real conncetion
with their bodies, who know how to express love in the dance, who are
naturally affectionate, and, to make it easy, have some Argentine blood
running through their veins.
>
> The choreography language of Cortes and Quebradas may have been erased
from
> the minds of the people when these were banned in the dance halls as it
was
> considered a sinful dance associated with compadritos et al.
>
Yes, the "tango sin cortes y quebradas" phase. Pity that they did not
reintroduce it properly.

Astrid