[Tango-L] "You'll both be in a lean.."

[astrid]

> Is not the "energy" rather forward force then downward weight? At the
point of the axis the force, energy, weight is equal. From what I have read
it that you are supporting each other, but not to the extent that if you
were to walk away the other would fall dramatically. Also this then becomes
an issue of trust, the follower trusts the leader to support them but not to
drop them. What I understand of allowing a leader to "hold" the followers
weight is that the leader provides a means for the follower to be lighter on
their feet. This allows them to pivot and be provided a lighter more free
structure to move within. One which without being lifted and supported they
would not have.
>
> 'Mash
> London, UK

A fairly good description. Now, this is getting really complicated, but I
think that the energy is more like a presence, a readiness in the follower
that can be directed in any direction and is not limited to "forward".
To be light on one's feet is achieved by directing some of one's own weight
upward, meaning lifting the body off the tight connection in the pelvic
joints, pulling the torso away from the pelvis. Leaning slightly forward in
that position shares some of the weight with the leader but not all of it,
and the way the leader should respond is by sharing some of his weight with
the follower, and then, Jake Spatz, you would not have anything to worry
about. This is the dynamics of a pyramid. Putting weight on a leader who
won't move a little forward but instead insists on stasnding on his heels,
or worse, does not have a strong axis, is really scary !
But being "lifted" by the leader, no, I usually don't like that at all, that
can really take away your balance except for a few moves where this lift is
really required. I lift myself.
>
>
>
>
> On Sat, Jun 09, 2007 at 02:40:00PM -0400, Jake Spatz (TangoDC.com) wrote:
> > Hey list,
> >
> > steve pastor wrote:
> > >   Regular dancers are almost always better off to share some weight,
or
> > >   forward energy, with their partner. At the very least their weight
> > >   should be toward the leader. The more weight is shared, the closer
> > >   you get to using the label "apilado"
> > Can we just call it "forward energy" that should be shared-- or better,
> > given to the partner? I mean, one's weight should be on the floor, NOT
> > on one's partner, if this lean is going to work at all. To angle the top
> > of one's axis into the embrace still requires it to be an axis... and if
> > that axis is straight, it will be conducting the upper body's weight
> > downward _through the dancer's own body_.
> >
> > To give one's partner (again, as opposed to the floor) any weight almost
> > always results in discomfort, if not disaster. No?
> >
> > Jake Spatz
> > DC
> >
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