Tango with spurs.
There was an interesting discussion here a few weeks back about the meaning of 'milonguero/a', which focussed on posture. The close hold, 'apilado', certainly helps define it. But, watching again closely the teaching videos Tete and Silvia made with Daniel Trenner in the mid-90s, I'm struck that walking forwards defines the type of moves. We're always taught that tango is a walking dance, but we're also taught to start everything by stepping sideways, to the left for leaders, hardly a conventional walk. Much of Tete's dance starts in 'parallel' – he's walking with his partner. Then as he steps forward with his left foot (his partner back with her right) he turns her so her left foot is behind her, continuing to lead forwards with his chest. As her left foot touches down he steps forward with his right, which brings her to the cross. This is the 'milonguero' lead to the cross: no side step is involved. Tango evolved on crowded floors, and this is certainly economical with the space. On a crowded floor there's no room for a side step preceded by lots of baroque flourishes.
And a bit of fun, and maybe more. I came across this ages ago, laughed, and forgot about it. Recently, thinking about the lack of film of early tango, I took a second look.
1921, so this is one of the first pieces of dance on film. Sadly the music has been added: of course, 1921 was pre-talkie. Valentino was well known as a taxi dancer in New York around 1916, and could dance any current dance, including tango. His tango looks like a cross between canyengue (the bent knees) and later tango (the arm positions). There are also recognisable steps although her giro doesn't use the back step. Whether he'd want to dance for long with a partner who hangs on his neck, or whether she'd want to dance for long with her head thrown back... well, this was Hollywood. & dig the spurs. The film starts in Buenos Aires, then young Julio signs up to fight in World War 1, reforms and dies in a war which is shown as devastating. Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, 1921.
2 comments:
I prefer the one without a sidestep. It's much easier to follow. The way Paul Lange teaches it, it's just one step being longer - that's what rotates the woman, by just outstepping her a little. I can't see the vid from here (teabreak) but from your description it sounds like the same thing.
Sounds the same. I had to describe it because I was watching T & S's teaching video, which isn't on YouTube. Tete uses it a lot so I'll try and pick it out from YT and post it.
The video on that page is of Valentino dancing 'tango' in 1921, so it won't help you much!
Thinking of the discussion about music and the timing of steps at a bus stop this morning (it's where I practice) and remembering a lovely thing Ricardo Vidort used to use, in which he steps on every beat for 9 or 11 beats while leading his partner in ochos in which she steps on every other beat. Of course he knew the music inside out and back to front, and knew exactly which phrase of which tango it suited.
Happy tea break!
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