[TANGO-L] Leaning Forward?

[Leonard Kunkel <image10 @SWBELL.NET>]

I would like to clear up the idea about leaning forward.

When I was beginning tango years ago an instructor kept saying for the
class to lean forward.
I witnessed students trying to go forward to the point of holding
themselves from falling with their toes (speaking of men) There was
some, as I remember, freakish sights. Guys were stumbling around. This
leaning forward encouraged legs to be stiff and knees locked.

The correct instruction I have found is to instruct dancers to be on the
balls of your feet. Your upper body is centered over the balls of the
foot. The heel should rest on the floor but without weight in the heels.
There should be flex in the knees. (And yes there are times when your
weight will be in your heels but that is a small percentage of the time
depending on the movement)

This does give the impression of leaning forward as you can witness by
looking at yourself in the mirror. But this is not the same as saying
lean forward. A better way to instruct is to say shift your weight
forward over the balls of the foot. Such a stance is solid but then also
giving you the ability to instantly take that next step or immediately
pivot.

Have a tangorific day!
Leonardo K.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------