[Tango-L] Tall Tango Dancers

[rockies@comcast.net]

 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Stephen.P.Brown at dal.frb.org
> Mash:
> 
> I'm not 6'5", but I am taller than many tango dancers.
> 
> Knowing Alex Krebs and having seen him dance with numerous partners that 
> are quite a bit shorter than he is, I don't agree with the assessment that 
> he alters his posture.  Look at Alex dancing with Luciana Valle on 
> YouTube.
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKm_fScjyWc
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJcuRuAj9W0

I know Alex reasonably well also,  he was one of my greatest influences as a teacher. You can disagree if you want. Alex rarely changes his posture, and was only relating what he told me personally, that for very short partners (whose chests only come up to his navel for example), he alters his stance. He only does it only in *close* embrace (milongeuero if you want to call it that) , also, and not for every follower. It was subtle, but there.  Your example videos are a flawed support for your argument. The first example video only showed open, and the second is a v type - salon style.  They have a few inches seperating them - obviously there is no need to alter his stance for this type of dance. Second,  there would be no need for him to change his stance for Luciana Valle - she is a superb follower, capable of making someone 7'4" look good. Her chest falls between Alex's navel and his chest, so she is not tremendously shorter. Luciana is most likely taking cues from other p
 laces 
on Alex than some followers would (off his arm -at one point you can see her shift the embrace there- or his back). Inexperienced followers would likely not be able to follow the alternate cues. Plus, she has danced with Alex as his teaching partner, previously (a LOT). They know each other's style well.
> 
> My suggestions for tall leaders are as follows:  Keep your posture at your 
> own height; don't bend down to lower dancers.  Lower your left hand to her 
> shoulder height.  Lead with the belly and chest as normal and recognize 
> that much shorter dancers may be less able to take big steps backward. Let 
> yourself get familiar and comfortable with each follower before asking 
> much of her and yourself.

Well, I agree with you on most of those points anyway. For a really short follower in close embrace, I personally find that it's most important to keep the body core firm when leading a very short follower off the stomach.

Cheers,
Randy