[Tango-L] Leading with the right hand

[Trini y Sean (PATangoS)]

Sergio is quite right about various ways of leading.  But the pleasantness/unpleasantness of the sensation and whether it is appropriate or not is best gauged by the woman.  For example, a woman who moves like a piece of furniture might like a right hand lead.  A woman who moves like an Italian sports car would not like such a move.

For some older milongueras, Sean describes having to lead them as if they had buttons on their back.  Push this button, and they do back ochos.  Pushing another produces a forward ocho.  It was not how he liked to dance.

If you're thinking of using this lead, then I'd ask what message would you like to be sending your partners?  And would you encourage them to grow?  For quite some time, followers from a neighboring city would rave about some guy who had moved there.  One night he finally came to Pittsburgh.  Let's say the women here were quite unimpressed with what felt to us was manhandling.  Word is that he left disappointed that we didn't go gaga over him.


Trini de Pittsburgh
 

--- On Mon, 11/22/10, Sergio Vandekier <sergiovandekier990 at hotmail.com> wrote:

"He was saying that leading with the chest is a later invention and that old milongeros used the right hand lead." Anyone else is familiar with that?
 
Tango has many techniques as it is a complex dance that has many different styles.
 
The technique you use depends on the training you had and the style of tango you wish to dance.
 
Most great dancers of the forties and fifties danced leading using the whole body.  The right hand always played a big role in leading. There is absolutely nothing unpleasant about it, assuming that you know how to lead.
 
The lead is extemely subtle, only perceived by the woman, never seen or noticed from outside the couple.  The lead could be (like anything else) unpleasant if you do not know how to lead properly.