[Tango-L] leading w/fingers on back

[Andrew RYSER SZYMAÑSKI]

Dear All!

Below is the way I was taught as well. However, I have
since empirically found out that most of the "old
guard" who teach this way don't actually apply it when
on the dance floor, but lead "with the body" without
being aware of it. The most important element in the
dance, whatever the style, is the Centre of Gravity.
It would appear that we lead from the chest, but this
is only to project the CoG forward: our partner can
feel this and moves accordingly. As a consequence I
have now for many years been making my men keep their
right hand in their pocket, and lead from the CoG from
the very beginning. The use of the right hand to lead
usually degenerates into shunting the woman like a
sack of potatoes, as well described by Tine:
"....personally I don't enjoy a lot of hand action on
the back. I have felt the pinch, the claw, the knead
and the piano hand and I don't know what it means so
it doesn't make me do things other than look
puzzled....."
Actually, this way of leading, being very mechanical,
desensitises the woman and is quite tiring for the
man.

Cheers,

Andy.


--- Martin Waxman <martin at waxman.net> wrote:

> For me, the leader's right arm and hand are live --
> they move 
> position and indicate leads depending on what I am
> leading and the 
> experience of the follower.
> It is all done very lightly -- a subtle
> indication/suggestion to the 
> follower, using position of the right hand on the
> followers back, and 
> using the fingers and heel of the hand.
> And, it is done in conjunction with the leader's
> body movement.
> 
> In my opinion, not tacky, but a positive lead.
> 
> Marty Waxman
> New York City's Thursday afternoon and Friday
> mid-morning practicas.
> 
> 
> At 10:08 AM 5/4/2006, Michael Figart II wrote:
> >Good morning list,
> >
> >This was posted a while back, and it has stuck in
> my mind...I know this
> >method is used frequently and maybe it's effective,
> but to me it really
> >looks tacky. I'd like to find out what the
> followers think about a
> >leader who guides with fingers of right hand; what
> does it feel like? Is
> >it bad? Or am I just biased because I have no
> fingers to use? (I
> >understand that fingers can be used as part of
> hand/arm/whole body...I'm
> >talking about the really obvious stuff where leader
> looks like he is
> >pushing buttons or switching levers).
> >
> ><<<<<< Then you place your hand on her back and
> explain to the beginner
> >tango dancers that the right part of her back
> controls her Rt. leg and
> >that the Lt. part of her body controls her Lt. one.
> Then you proceed to
> >show the correct lead of a front ocho. You touch
> the lady's rt. side of
> >her back with the fingers of your right hand 
> applying a slight pressure
> >(no stubbing here) and the lady advances her rt.
> leg. to your right.
> >Then with the area of your rt. hand close to the
> wrist (the tennar
> >prominence of the hand) you put some pressure on
> the lt side of the
> >woman's back so that she pivots and advances her
> lt. leg finishing the
> >second half of her front ocho.>>>>>>>>
> >
> >What do you think, ladies (or guys too, I guess)?
> And thanks for your
> >input!
> >
> >Michael from Texas
> >
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
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> >Tango-L at mit.edu
> >http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
> 
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> 




Andrew W. RYSER SZYMAÑSKI,
23b All Saints Road,
London, W11 1HE,
07944 128 739.


		
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