[TANGO-L] ?-count basic

[Crrtango @AOL.COM]

Philip Seyer wrote:

"This way, you never need to walk against the line of dance. He changes

weight on every step in the "academic" version of this 10 count basic.

One disadvantage is that the pattern doesn't match musical phrasing as well

as an 8 count basic."




Using an 8 - count basic or a 10 - count basic ( and how they fit in the
music phrasing ) is really very relative when dealing with the music. You could
just as well dance a 6 - count basic. It isn't always necessary to begin and end
figures within the set musical structure or phrasing, either instrumental or
vocal. Perhaps for a performance and choreography but on a busy social dance
floor, navigation and music combine into something more complex and subtle. It
is better to not be too rigid about using that pattern. It is only a framework
for people to begin constructing a foundation for many other figures. It is
important to learn it as a beginning but in reality you will use it less and
less as you learn more. It is meant to be broken down and reassembled.

Not dancing to the musical phrasing is a little more sophisticated. By the
time you master that you probably won't be using a simple 8, 6,10, 9, 7, or
whatever basic. As you learn things like pauses and other moves you dictate it's
structure anyway.

I start to the side sometimes; I start to the inside sometimes; I start back
sometimes; I start with a molinete in place sometimes; I start with a rock
step then a resolution sometimes; I pause a lot; instead of stepping back at the
resolution, I go forward after changing weight; etc. etc. As a rule, beginning
to the side is more or less classic salon tango and I usually dance that way
but it really doesn't matter, just be concerned about the quality of your
dancing. You can be very elegant with a basic count figure if you allow it to be
something flexible and organic.

Cheers,
Charles