[Tango-L] cintura

[Tom Stermitz]

Cintura means waist in Spanish, so that is above the pelvis.

In terms of skeletal structure, that would actually be the spine,  
correct?

Moving the waist or spine, means rotation, arching or bending side-to- 
side of the spine. (There is also the idea of stretching the spine,  
but I'm not sure that helps the discussion.)

I understand rotation of the spine and how that is important for tango.

I strongly feel that arching the spine while doing ochos is a quick  
path to back injury, perhaps not when you are a 20 year old ballerina.

I do not think bending side-to-side helps much in tango.





Again, when i watch bodies move (men and women) in the milonga. I  
notice that their hips move.

All of them, not just some of them. Not just the bad ones.

Some of them maybe too much; some of them in ways that are too stiff  
or too loose. Some of them in ways that will cause injury in someone  
older than 20 years.



On Jan 26, 2007, at 5:58 PM, Deby Novitz wrote:

> Do not confuse the movement of the cintura (waist) with movement of  
> the
> hips.  Cintura is what Geraldine rotates not hips.  This is also
> referred to as isolation of the upper body or disassociation.  The  
> upper
> body stays in front of the man while the lower body through the waist
> not the hips rotates.
>
> It takes years to develop cintura.  If you had ballet early in life  
> and
> you are young and flexible enough you develop it.  Some women never
> develop cintura.  Some women think that it is the hips that move.   
> Keep
> your legs in place and rotate your upper body to the side as far as  
> you
> can.  This is cintura.  (Without dancing or a partner)  In this  
> position
> (when you are dancing) you can do a wide giro and various other
> movements.  Women who cannot disassociate move their hips.  It is not
> the same thing.  I know exactly what Janis was talking about.  These
> women have poor upper body posture,  they stick their butt out, and  
> they
> move their hips. Feo, feo, feo.
>
> The upper body maintains good posture while the lower body carries the
> dance.  Watch elegant dancers such as Marcela Duran.  She  
> disassociates
> her upper and lower body, she does not move her hips.  Swaying hips in
> tango is a no-no.  That is for after when invited for a cafecito.
>
>
>
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