[Tango-L] In defense of the basic eight count steps

[Mario]

Anyway, after two classes, I am seeing side benefits to the basic eight study..
    It boils down to the idea that; one needs a context around which to start to build some Tango form.
   1. It's helpful to know where in the basic eight steps an ocho cortado would start from..
     ie: I was taught the ocho cortado in one class (without basic 8) and it was just an isolated
      form that was out there twisting in the wind, I didn't know where/when to use it. When I 
        was told to start it after step four, it made sense somehow...it existed in a context.
    2. By being corrected on my posture and direction, collection etc etc....I am getting better
      form...the basic eight was good to use as a context within which to only face in two 
       different directions (90 degrees) during the whole sequence..I learned something..I got
        less sloppy.
     3. Timing..this is a biggie..one, two, threefourfive, six, seven and eight...or however they
      break down the timing..I am now dancing to timing in Tango..it is making my moves 
       sharper and snappier...it is more 'tango'.
      4. Improvisation...this is another side benefit suprise...sometimes when I make a 
       mis step, I find that the timing continues, produces an alternative step and voilla we are
        still stepping and have completed a new series of steps without missing a beat and can'
         now start back to the originally intended series ..or not..   ok..not intentional  improv
          but it led to a natural improvisation..I'm not sure what produced the smooth adaptation
          but it may have been all the practise with timing or just the snappy steps...I don't know
            yet but something worked better than had been working before.