[Tango-L] How to initiate the lean

[Laurence Moseley]

I have always found that the way to initiate the lean is similar to the 
way in which the man can stop a lady who has turned into an automatic 
ocho machine - by lifting her ever so slightly. That does not mean that 
you lift her with your hands or arms. Rather you raise you solar plexus 
and let the connection do the work.

The effect appears to be that she is standing on the ball of her foot 
(often the left) with her calf muscles temporarily slightly extended. 
She is then unable to walk until you once again return her to ground 
level.

 From there you can lead a lean and add all sorts of possibilities. Step 
back right and bend left knee slightly invites a catch round the 
outside of the left knee. Step back left invites a catch round the 
inside of the right knee. Walk round at a constant distance produces a 
callesita, often with beautiful decorations from the lady. If the lady 
chooses to let her free leg circle low to the floor, the man can offer 
her free foot (obviously without weight) and she can choose to do a 
drag of her own. Turning the shoulders can often produce a volcada ... 
and so on. I like holding the lean and rocking a tiny amount backwards 
and forward to the tipping point, in time with the music. It's a lovely 
moment especially in the Vals.

The softer your knees are, the easier will it be to execute such a 
move. The easier her knees are, the more choice she will have in how to 
react to your lead.

Of course, the indication is just that. Like every other lead in Tango, 
it is an invitation, not a command. The lady may ignore it if she 
wishes, or even fight it. One hopes that the latter will be rare.


Brazos


Laurie (Laurence)



----- 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
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