Tango Walk – Ladies Techniques 5

Is Tango just walking ? Yes my friends, simple as this. But sure, there are some little techniques to comprehend , some details to respect ,  little secrets to be discovered  and lots of embelishments to appreciate and you may enhance your daily life walking into an elegant tango walk.

First, let’s break it down in linear walking forewards and backwards.

from zero position, with weight in one foot, we elongate in the line of axis and present the free leg, involving a slight rotation from the hip joint. Instep and shin are facing upwards.

The big toe has contact with the floor from the beginning until the end of the presentation .

The free leg is completely stretched, without any weight.

Keep the knee of the standing leg softly, that you can easily anticipate the size of the step the leader will ask you to do.

All weight is still on the standing leg.

 

 

for small steps it is not needed to glide over the floor, you just shift your weight into the prepared leg.

The knee of the standing leg keeps soft but no flexing is needed.

After shifting weight you arrive in this order  : toe – metatarse – heel.

Transfer all your weight until your departing leg has become totally straight ,  your toes shall be pointed, before you collect and pass zero position to prepare for a new step.

Exception: toe – heel – metatarse.

after presenting with the toe connected to the floor, you may lift the toe in the moment you settle your heel. This is just a question of style or variation.

Important is, that the toe keeps down until the leg is totally stretched.

you prepare your free leg like in Preparation (1).

Then flex the knee of the standing leg softly.

Now push into the floor from your standing leg and your free leg glides over the floor .

You arrive in the same order like before : toe – metatarse – heel.

Transfer all your weight until your departing leg has become totally straight until your toes are pointed , before you collect and pass zero position to beginn a new step.

The walk backwards is actualy the exact opposit of the foreward walk. It is just a little bit harder to do , as we are not used to go backwards, normally. Further, men have longer legs and are on a frontwalk which the follower needs to compensate.

from zero position ( collect hehind ) the toe of the free leg searches for the middle line and stretches out as fare as possible without changing any weight and without loosing the connection to the floor. The big toe has contact with the floor from the beginning until the end of the presentation . The free leg is completely stretched and without any weight. In the same time all weight is still on the standing leg, which flexes softly the knee.

with a slight flexed knee prepare for a full presentation before projection

Now push into the floor from your standing leg and your free leg glides over the floor . You arrive in the same order like before : toe – metatarse – heel. Transfer all your weight until your departing leg has become totally straight, before you collect and pass zero position to beginn a new step. the departing leg will leave the floor in exactly the same order backwards : heel – metatarse – toe. The toe is always the first or last point of contact with the floor in the movement. It is helpful to lift the kneecap while collecting the free leg in order not to produce noise on the floor with your heel.

when we practice the walk , we always exercise linear and circular walking, forward and backwards .

In linerar walking  we apply  slight counterbody movement  ( opposit shoulder and leg moving together )

In circular walking we apply a slight dissociation in the torso and small pivots to adjust direction.

Musicality aspects will discussed at an other session .

1.Follow the shape of your standing foot with the heel of your free foot for a foreward presentation.

2.Step close to your middle line ( axis ), touch the line with your heels.

3.Make sure you stretch your free leg until the toe, before you collect.

4.Collect behind first  before or after passing zero position to find the middle line.

5.Lift your kneecap before you collect your free leg .

6.Roll down the foot in 3 steps : toe – metatarse –  heel and lift the foot : heel – metatarse- toe

7.Always touch knees and heels slightly while passing zero .

8.Transfer your weight in the strong beat, this is a short  and precice action.

1.Avoid walking with open legs.

2.Avoid a choppy walk, keep the free leg moving.

3.Do not “sit” while walking backwards.

4.Avoid walking with flat feet.

5.Never lift the big toe from ground when walking backwards. Always keep it connected with the ground like an anchor.

6.Do not “fall” into the heel.

follow to the next lesson : the Front Ocho