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

[ceverett@ceverett.com]

There's no disagreement.  Counts 3 to 6 of the 8CD are certainly a
variation on back, open, front, side.

Christopher

On Sat, 25 Aug 2007 15:33:57 -0400, "Keith" <keith at tangohk.com> said:
>  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.
> 
> 
>