This Saturday 29th July at Tango E14, Tony and Anita will revise the very practical advice and material given to us by our recent visiting teachers: Soledad Nani and Hernan Brusa.

1 – 2.30pm Class on connection/ embrace and milonga lisa

Soledad emphasised the importance of the connection, the embrace, between the partners. We need to know how to achieve this quality embrace so that we can receive and give the information we need to be able to really dance together. Tony said that the top old teachers would often say:

‘The leader invites the follower to move, the follower moves, and then the leader accompanies that move.’

Soledad replied that it is even more sophisticated than that. Both partners have to develop through their connection a total understanding of where they both are at all times. Then they become able to create ‘sacadas’ and other interruptions or improvisations at will, whether as a leader or follower. She also made the point that it is not necessary to change the physical embrace of the couple in order to change role, eg; from being a follower to a leader. Either partner could, even just momentarily, assume the lead and for example do an unexpected unchoreographed sacada or interruption.

So, the action of ‘Intercambio’, or swapping roles, by physically changing the embrace from ‘leader’ to ‘follower’ or vice versa, is not strictly necessary. Furthermore, that short action does take a small amount of time, so not doing it gives the couple more scope to dance ‘together to the music’.

Hernan gave us some straightforward ideas and patterns that fit Milonga, and which we can do in ‘Lisa’ mode. In tango ‘Lisa’ means smooth and not too fast. The opposite is ‘Traspie’ which literally means to stumble, but in tango refers more to quick changes of the feet, or rapid feet movements. A simple example is when the leader swaps very quickly from one foot to the other to lead an ocho. So, today we will revise Hernan’s moves, test whether we can use them in Tango, and see if we can swap roles (Leading and following) while doing so.

We, Tony and Anita at Tango E14, want you to enjoy tango and to learn to play with it.

2.30 – 5pm Milonga with DJ Andy Warner

Summer closure

Be aware we are closed 3 Saturdays over the summer on August 12th, 19th and 26th. You are welcome to dance on Saturday 2nd September when we restart again with a Tango E14 normal afternoon from 1 to 5pm in our usual venue: St Johns Community Centre.

Private tuition available 

There are slots of an hour before or after this Saturday event for private tuition suitable for couples. If you are interested in booking a private class please ring Tony Lane on 02075383852.