[Tango-L] The Cross :: revisited

[Trini y Sean (PATangoS)]

Hi Alex,

A comment you made in your private response led me to some
additional thoughts that might be useful to you or perhaps
give the guys who are working on following something to
try.

It sounds as if you dance the same way I do - with the
femur (upper thigh) turned slightly outward in its natural
position with the free leg kept relaxed.  So staying
crossed does feel awkward whether it's a short or long
pause after the actual cross.

However, when I first started tango, I didn't have my femur
turned out (nor did my normal walk).  So staying crossed
did not feel awkward to me.  I now know that staying
crossed when my spine is at neutral means either
contracting the inner thigh muscles or stretching those
calf muscles all the way down to the heel.  And so much for
freeing up your right leg for the man to direct!

Staying crossed can make for more drama by creating
tension, but only if the man invites a subsequent forward
step.  Perhaps "slowing down the unwinding as he leads the
forward step" would be a more accurate of phrasing it.

As for a stance, I prefer a position with the instep of my
right leg angled against the heel of my left leg.  And if
it's a really juicy pause, the right foot might decide to
be a little flirty.

Trini de Pittsburgh  



PATangoS - Pittsburgh Argentine Tango Society
  Our Mission: To make Argentine Tango Pittsburgh’s most popular social dance!
  http://patangos.home.comcast.net/
   



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