[Tango-L] Do I have to invent every step of the dance, even her's ???

[Michael]

Mario:
When a dance doesn't go well, I assure you the woman knows. You don't have to bring it to her attention. Silence is golden.

Just because a figure worked on youtube doesn't mean it's going to work for you. Every woman is different. Some require a firmer lead. In fact, it's difficult to see the lead. If all you're doing is looking at the feet, you're not going to learn tango. Men don't lead with their feet. I remember my teacher showing me somthing Saturday afternoon at 1 and it worked fine. For some reason, it didn't work at the milonga the same night at 9:30.

Yes, you have to know what the follower is going to do because you're leading. That's what leading means-communicating what you want the woman to do. Yes, there is creative space but not every space is creative space. It depends on when and where you give the space. How are you communicating to the woman to "do her own thing." I don't open my stance to signal play time. I'll loosen my right arm and see the woman's response. Some  women want to play and some don't. And, if the tanda went as badly as you wrote, why would you expect the woman to show creativity when there are rough spots?

Michael
I'd rather be dancing Argentine Tango

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mario" <sopelote at yahoo.com>
To: <tango-l at mit.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2008 5:57 PM
Subject: [Tango-L] Do I have to invent every step of the dance,even her's ???


 At the end of a not-so-flowing dance, I blurted out to my partner; " There
  were some rough spots in that one, wasn't there?"  Well, on youtube it worked.

I was hoping that she  would just make something up..like a forward ocho or something...
   So, the question is; do I have to know exactly what the follow is to do
  at all times? Is there no 'creative space' where the lead can open his 
  stance and just let the follow invent?