[Tango-L] How to initiate lean

[Jack Dylan]

----- Original Message ----
> From: Igor Polk <ipolk at virtuar.com>

> After she steps forward, then there is time when she brings the back leg to
> the "collect" position. At this time you move faster and initiate the lean.
> Once she feels the lean, she will not be able to move to the next step.
> Besides, your foot is already in appropriate position. 
> 

Sorry Igor but I just don't get it. I'm probably misunderstanding but the whole 
idea of 'moving more quickly to initiate the lean', seemingly before she has time 
to react and step forward just doesn't make sense to me. I like to use Carpa a 
lot but it's always done in a slow and controlled manner. IMHO if you step back, 
you have to do something positive to stop your partner from making a forward 
step. As Michael and I have commented and as agreed by Trini, suspension 
works fine but I'm sure there are other ways.

----- Original Message ----
> From: Trini y Sean (PATangoS) <patangos at yahoo.com>
> 
> While suspension is one way to signal the woman not to step forward, I prefer a 
> technique in which the man steps back but leaves the his chest more-or-less 
> where it was so that the woman feels his support.  Essentially, he gives her his 
> weight so that they have a shared axis.  If the woman feels the man's chest 
> going away from her, she will naturally want to follow and she'll step.
> 

Hmm, sorry Trini, I think I understand what your saying but your decription seems 
to defy the laws of physics. If you step back and leave your chest in place, all your 
weight will be transferred to your partner but without giving her the chance to lean 
in order to provide the counterbalance that is essential in Carpa. IMO, both partners 
must lean at exactly the same time. When I step back into Carpa, I keep my chest 
up and my knees straight. Any flexing of the knee or lowering of the chest will cause 
the girl to step forward.
 
But something I like to add is a slightl rotation my torso left while stepping back. 
This has the effect of causing the girls left foot to move behind her right foot and 
reinforces the message that I don't want her to step forward. 
 
Sorry to be so long-winded but, btw, if I'm going directly into a Valcada with lady's 
Front Boleo, the mechanism will be very different to that described above.
 
Jack