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

[miamidances@aol.com]

 > From Manuel: . I've had some very well respected (Argentineans of high reputation) teachers and dancers tell me unequivocally to land "heel first". I've also been taught by other equally well known Argentinean tango teachers to step "toe first". I've learned that they are both correct depending on how one dances, what style one uses, the conditions of the milonga, etc. 
 
 First impressions are lasting. Whatever someone hears in their first lesson, they believe to be correct weather it is right or wrong. 
 
 If you don't have mirrors at your facility, I feel sorry for you. I've had to work without mirrors before, I now have mirrors. For those of us that have mirrors to use in instruction, I have never understood why people teach walking around the room in a circle. I use the mirrors for people to see how they walk going forward and backward. To see their feet on a parallel track, with their legs brushing together as each leg passes the other leg. It is amazing to see how poorly people walk. Seeing the funny things that they do with their legs and feet should be video tapped and sent to America's Funniest home videos. 
 
 However you dance is how you should teach. I'm astounded at the way demonstrators show one thing and do something different when they dance. 
 
 At the 2003 USTC Tango Fantasy event on Miami Beach, we held the US qualifying IDO Tango Championships. There was a tie for first place. Instead of a dance off, Juan Carlos Copes and Miguel Angel Zotto awarded first place to the American couple that respected the toe first method of footwork over the Argentine couple that used Heel first techinque. 
 
 If it feels good do it.
 
 Randy in Miami
 
 
  
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