[Tango-L] To lead or not to lead the cross

[Keith]

 Dear All,

 Leading the cross is certainly an interesting subject.

 Manuel and Huck are adherents of Gustavo’s theory that the first 5 steps of the 8CB, up to and including the cross, follow the
 code of the Giro to left. As a result, at the time of the cross, the lady will turn her hips a little to the right and this is how Gustavo 
 teaches it. He specifically states that for the woman to turn to the left is wrong, as this is contrary to the code of the Giro.

 But, recently, Christopher and Sergio have both stated that to cross is best led by a body turn to the left. 

 Can I ask how Manuel and Huck lead the cross and whether they think, like Gustavo, that Christopher and Sergio are
 wrong? Or, are there many ways to lead the cross and Gustavo's theory is not set in stone?

Keith, HK


 On Sat Aug 25 23:40 , "Sergio Vandekier"  sent:

>
>If you want to lead the cross in tango you may do so, and this does not 
>interfere at all with the dance.   All you need to do is at step # 4 of the 
>base, you walk slightly diagonally away from the lady and turn your chest 
>slightly from your right to straight to the LOD (as described by somebody 
>before).
>
>>
>There are many ways to dance tango.
>
>Best regards, Sergio


Christopher writes on 24 August:

If he twists his spine so that his chest points a bit to the 
right of the LOD at an angle, then she need not cross to keep
the frame. In that situation, I would expect her to twist her 
to the right so our chests remain parallel while she walks in 
the direction I lead. If so, when she steps back with her 
right leg, it will open a bit, and when she steps back with 
her left leg, she will cross in back a bit. 

If the man should decide he does after all want her to cross, 
then all he has to do is untwist his spine so that it points 
directly down the LOD again, and she must cross to stay in 
the frame.