Great Beginnings

This post, I’d like to dedicate to the our Beginner 1 and 2 students. The clip I have chosen features, once again, the fantastici Sebastian Arce and Mariana Montes, personal favourites. What is notable is its remarkable simplicity, which makes it a great study tool for beginners. The pace of the music too, allows the more inexperienced eye to catch elements which are familiar from classes. Each time you watch it, you’ll probably find something new to marvel at, and more importantly, something to imitate during your next lesson.

Elements to look out for (and this may require seperate viewings):

• the frame – notice how it never breaks. The dancers remain square on, both beautifully suspended from the core. I’m glad Mariana almost always wears a backless dress – you can feel yourself straighten up and pull up from the core just by looking at her!
• Note the shoulders are held back and relaxed, elbows pointed down. In this sense the embrace is gentle and relaxed. While practicing, check in with yourself and question whether you sense any tension in your shoulders and neck.  Ask your shoulders to drop and relax, your elbows to come down. Affirm the new feeling of peace and gentleness. This is a nice place for your partner to be. 
• I love the languid beginning. This is a nice thing to practice, during a slow piece of music played at a practica. Try a simple embellishment - the feeling of harmony will take your breath away. 
• As the walk starts (0.33  sec mark), observe the drive from the diaphragm for the lead, and glorious extension of the legs for the follower. This is what we mortals must strive for.
• For me the parada is a step which makes the woman feel so beautiful. The trick is perhaps not to get overexcited! Followers, hold back and allow your partner to lead you into the step. You can see one of the many wonderful ways to adorn this step. (from 0.55).   
• Another element to observe would be the giro (the turn). For this one, you almost need to focus exclusively on, the top half of the body first- note the connection and how completely unrelated it is to the flurry of activity that happens below. Leaders, see if you can observe how the chest initiates the lead, the legs follow. Secondly, and importantly for the followers, see if you can identify the “back, side, front, side” elements to this step. Again, completely seperate to the top half of the body. And like a beautiful merry-go-round, they spin. (2:17)
• Finally, the humble, yet super-stylish conclusion.

Okay, now that you’ve finished studying (quite intense, isn’t it?), you are allowed to watch whichever clips you please, and for however long you want.   ;)

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Tags: "square on", adornos, balance, basic step, be, connection, dance, dance tango, exercise, follow, giros, happiness, individual, meditation, presence, Sebatian Arce y Mariana Montes, synchronized, tango, technique, walking