[Tango-L] Heel-first versus Toe-first, teaching history

[David Liu]

Jeff,

Some things come to mind:

THE EMBRACE
- The facing is more frontal, with her sternum and hips usually facing
the centerline through your body
- Her arms should have her elbows relaced and down, rather than up in
a traditional ballroom position, with a gentle pressure between her
left upper arm and forearm and the parts of your body that they
contact
- Her right arm likewise has the elbow down with a gentle pressure

WEIGHT CHANGES
- Ballroom dancers often change weight when they shouldn't - she
should only change weight if you lead a weight change, otherwise
everything else that happens is a step.  This often comes up when
transitioning in ochos or  a left-foot-basic for example.

Just a few common differences from Ballroom.

Best,
David

On 3/15/07, Jeff Gaynor <jjg at jqhome.net> wrote:
> Tom Stermitz wrote:
>
> <snip/>
>
> >My position comes from the fact that I am teaching normal, (mostly
> >middle-aged) adults. When I teach ballerinas or someone from
> >ballroom, I pull them aside for more specific words.
> >
> >
> Tom et al,
>
> One of the women who has recently taken up CE in our community is a
> ballroom dancer with quite a bit of experience. As I do not teach tango,
> could I trouble any or all of you for things I should watch for to help
> her? She is very motivated to learn but I know that she is frustrated.
>
> Thanks in Advance,
>
> Jeff G
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