[Tango-L] Strong Lead - resistance effect

[Krasimir Stoyanov]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Daniel Lakeland" <dlakelan at street-artists.org>
To: <tango-l at mit.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 11:20 PM
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] Strong Lead - resistance effect



> The bodies act 'as if' a force is acting
> between them, but not because the leader is applying a physical force
> to the follower.

REALLY? Isn't there a simpler explanation? That the bodies DO experience a 
force in-between?

Why so many people are afraid of the simple truth - there is a force 
(forces), no matter the style or the embrace - that's why is practically 
impossible to dance tango without contact - being a contact dance, it 
implies a connection - a mechanical connection. And a connection is needed 
to transfer forces. And all the good dancers transmit the actual energy for 
the step, not just some information carrying force signals. Otherwise, it 
would be impossible to stay in sync and in common balance - even in slow 
tempo.

The really working quick and presize path for the lead is:

Leader's mind > Leader's body ( > strong signal via good connection > ) 
Follower's body.

There is an important extention::
Leader's mind > Leader's body > Follower's body.> Follower's leg (with the 
cooperation of Follower's mind).
The follower responds with stretching the leg, but is already receiving 
(directly through the chest/embrace) the energy for it and for the movement 
(the step) afterwards. Thus there is no delay, the movement starts 
immediately, just the leg is a bit slow. And there is no deciding, because 
the rule is to stretch the leg completely - nothing to think about.

Observe that the bodies are united through the connection. They don't need 
to act as one, simply because they are already one.



The other "solution" is the so called active following:

Leader's mind > Leader's body ( > weak signal here > ) Follower's body > 
Follower's mind > Follower's body and leg.

The bodies are not united - no strong connection. And, as the goal is to act 
as one - the follower desperately tries to do it. But . . .

Look at the part, when the follower must sense the intention (via weak 
signal) in miliseconds, calculate the precise movement is milliseconds, and 
execute in milliseconds. It sounds almost impossible - and it is. Some 
couples that have danced together for years, may be able to use active 
following - simply because the follower knows the leader so well, that there 
is sixth sence between them. But still, this is not what tango is about.

You can measure your reaction here:
http://humanbenchmark.com/tests/reactiontime/index.php

In pressing a simple button, the delay is about 200ms (my best result was 
180, but I had some 300ms from time to time). And this is for very simple 
reaction - not decision making. The follower must decide the size, the speed 
and the direction of the step. Although a trained mind may be quick in 
this - relying on the weak signal (mark) to lead and follow will be a 
disaster when the leader is not well known. The delay would be about half a 
second, and the reaction not so correct. Even if the leader is known, the 
moment he decides to do something new, all will go wrong. To me, this is not 
the way tango should be danced. And noone actually dances this way - but 
strangely, many people promote it with their words.

So leaders, try it on yourself. Find someone to lead you (in real tempo, 
freely improvising) - first try to be active followers (connect very 
loosely), you will see upon yourself how difficult and stressful is to 
follow this way. Then, if you are lucky to have a qualified leader that 
knows the Tango, try to just let him induce the step to your body directly - 
you just cooperate with the free leg only, don't try to help in the 
movement, and don't do over-balancing - and see the difference.

For me, a leader would NEVER be a good one without some experience as 
follower.