[Tango-L] why learn the eight count basic?

[hbboogie1@aol.com]

I am not a teacher however I feel the 8 count  basic is important as a 
teaching tool for those wishing to learn salon. It gives  the follower the 
opportunity to take a forward step a right side step a back  step another back 
step leading into a cruzada finishing with a back step out of  the cruzada a 
side step to the left and finishing back to the starting position.  All the 
essentials of dancing in all 4 directions.
The B8C done right is not  as easy as one might think. I would say the 
majority of teachers will spend  perhaps 20 minutes on the 8CB and then move on 
to figures. 
An excellent  teacher will teach every aspect of tango using the 8CB 
starting with posture,  balance, embrace, axis and floor craft. After learning all 
this you're ready for  that first back step… but wait not yet. You first 
need to learn how to very  gently compress down into the floor sending a 
signal to the follower that your  getting ready to take that first step back and 
don't forget the position of the  foot as you step back…...blah blah blah 
you get the picture and that’s just step  #1 in the 8 count basic.

Good is learning the 8CB in twenty  minutes
Excellent is learning the 8CB in one year.
Good is the greatest  enemy of excellence

David