[Tango-L] ocho cortado, ocho milonguero

[Janis Kenyon]

Jake Spatz wrote:
I just taught an advanced class on precisely this topic (ocho cortado as
choreography vs. as improv), after considering it extensively, analyzing it
during practice and social dancing, and looking at it in as many ways
as I'm capable of. >> <<This led me to realize that ochos-- let alone a more
"scripted" sequence such as the misnomered "ocho cortado"-- are
choreography, at least initially. >> <<In short: I'm beginning to wonder
what would happen if I taught my beginning students the ocho cortado, and
how to be creative with it, while teaching my advanced students the tango
embrace.>>

What is this step called ocho cortado or ocho milonguero?  Is it a creative
step for the woman to choreograph?


I attended workshops for women with Graciela Gonzalez in March 1997.  One of
the four workshops included ocho cortado variations.  This was before I had
even learned the difference between tango salon and tango milonguero.  Years
later I realized that Graciela taught us various ways she observed women
dancing ocho cortado in the milongas, i.e., tapping the feet together,
flapping the feet, pivoting, etc.  Not necessarily good dancing or what we
needed, but it was class material.

I attended Nora Dinzelbacher's tango festival in 1998 where I remember Nora
saying very clearly that the purpose is so the man can check on his right
side.  It made sense to me.

An interview of Fabian Salas by Keith Elshaw in 2001 relates that Gustavo
came up with this idea of calling the ocho cortado or the cut ocho. Susana
Miller, because she was taking classes with Gustavo, and she came up with
his terminology, ocho cortado, and she taught this all over the
world....Ocho cortado is just a name that tells you that you are cutting the
ocho somewhere. It doesn't tell you anything about the structure of the
step.   www.totango.net

If you think you know how the ocho cortado is danced by the woman, wait
until you see how it's done El Beso style.  You may not recognize it.  It
has been transformed into a butt-swinging movement enhanced by pivoting and
foot flapping.  It is the style in one milonga, so if you don't know it, be
prepared to watch and learn it to fit in with the crowd.

Ask any milonguero about the ocho cortado, and he won't know what you're
talking about.  To him, it's a quarter turn to his right -- that's all.

Jake, I suggest you teach your beginning students the tango embrace so they
will enjoy dancing from the start.  They can work on being creative
themselves once they have learned how to walk well to the music.