[Tango-L] Axis vs. Balance

[Euroking@aol.com]

At the risk of over analyzing, I think we need to agree on some basic  
definitions. I will posit the following with the knowledge there are exceptions  and 
expansions but IMHO are at best marginally useful to this thread.
 
Axis: Is a vertical imaginary line running through the  dancer's Center of 
Mass and is perpendicular to a point on the floor at any  instant of time. 
(dynamic or stationary)
 
Balance: Is the ability of the dancer to maintain their  center of mass over 
that point on the floor without assistance from another  dancer or object.
 
Shared Axis or Shared Balance: When the dancers become  dependent on each 
other or the other they create a common center of mass for  themselves. When this 
occurs we no longer worry about individual axis but  move on and around the 
shared axis. 
 
I recognize that this may not be the basics as outlined in the depths of  
science, but I think it is close, IMHO.
 
Just some thoughts,
 
Bill in Seattle
 
In a message dated 5/8/2006 11:59:01 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
tangomaniac at cavtel.net writes:

I've  read the "off axis" messages. I got the impression that some were using 
 balance and axis synonymously. They're not. Here's an experiment. Take a 
belt  with a heavy buckle. Put the end without the buckle in your sternum. (This 
is  the indentation in your chest). Put your feet together.  Stand on your  
right foot.  The belt buckle will move over your right foot. Now shift  all your 
weigh to the left foot. The belt buckle will move over your left  foot. Your 
axis is over the foot you're standing.

Now stand with your  feet apart. Shift as much weight as you can to your 
right foot. The belt  buckle won't move completely over your right foot because 
some weight will be  on the left foot because the feet are apart. In this case, 
your axis is  somewhere between your feet because all your weight ISN'T on one 
 foot.

You have balance AND axis in both cases. However, your axis isn't  in the 
same place when your feet are apart compared to when they are together.  This is 
why your feet have to be together before pivoting. If the axis isn't  over one 
foot, your turn will not be completely circular (such as the man  leading a 
molinete). If a woman's feet aren't together, as she pivots for an  ocho, some 
of the momentum from the pivot will send her outside the  circle.

Hope this helps.

Michael Ditkoff
Washington,  DC
Hated geometry in high school. Maybe I'd be a better dancer if I  understood 
it better  XX years ago.


I'd rather be dancing  Argentine Tango
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