The Pivot is a very important detail in tango techniques.
Starting from zero position, for this movement put 100% of your bodyweight in the balls of one foot,(Big toe and small toe of your standing leg).
Connect your free leg to your axis, like in Zero position, while you rotate around your axis.
To finish the movement, settle down your heel.
There are 2 versions of pivotting:
1. Movement in a block:
The impulse for this movement is originated by the hips.
The torso moves in one piece: face, shoulders and hips are alined.
You may use this technique for small pivots to adjust directions.
Example:
small changes of direction,
circular walking
Exercise:
Rotate your axis with the impuls from the hips, while rotating in quaters, forward and backward.
Walking lateral with open steps and small pivots. Further we can ajust the direction with a little pivot.
The idea is, that the position of a step always keeps the same, it might be an open step, front or back, or a cross. Change directions with a pivot.
Walking circular; when we walk in a circle we adjust with a pivot on the leg which is close to the center of the circle while the other leg will not pivot.
2. movement in a spiral:
The impulse for this movement is is originated by the torsion of the torso. Starting from the top downwards.
With this technique you can do much bigger pivots. This technique is mostly used in ochos .
Example:
big change of directions and ochos ( we will discuss later)
Exercise:
rotate in your axis , impuls from twisting your spine , in half circless forward and back ward.
walking lateral with open steps and big pivots ( half circle )
Exception:
It is possible to use only the instep of your foot to pivot, the movement becomes even lighter and quicker. It is not recommendable for ladies with bunion problems.
Be aware of mistakes:
1. do not pivot while both feet touching the floor.
2. don’t forget to attach the free leg to your standing leg. Keep legs closed in the pivot.
3. Feel where the impulse is coming from. Understand the different techniques.
Join our intense ladies techniques camp in Bali , train for elegant tango .
Follow on with the next lesson : the tango walk
