Hi,

tango basic count SSQQS, if I do twice basic box, forward and backward, should it be SSQQS SSQQS ? the second set will start with R foot backward ?
Thanks,

Keh,

Sounds like you have it about right.

In the beginning, the focus is to simply teach the student how to find the beat, and then to teach them where the "1" is. The concept of phrasing is usually taught a little later on.

The American style syllabus deals with this by doing all of the phrasing for you; All of the figures come pre-packaged in neat, little phrases. The Int'l style seems to just let it go, at least for the time being. Although there have been many Bronze groupings assembled throughout the years for competitions and exams which are phrased... not to every 8 (that would be impossible with the available figures), but to each 16 or 32. Remember, you don't need to line up every single 8 with a new beginning. This would be like pulling over to rest at every single exit on the I-5 on your way from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

Phrasing is a rather complicated topic, but here it is in a nutshell: Every pair has a strong and a weak member. The first is always the stronger, the second the weaker. This is true of beats, half-measures, measures, pairs of measures, four-measure groups, eight-measure groups, and so on. Beat 1 is stronger than beat 2. Beats 1 and 2 are stronger than 3 and 4. Measure 1 is stronger than measure 2... You get the idea.

When you phrase our your dance to your music, the stonger the section, the more it demands accounting for. Measures 9 and 25 don't necessarily need much of anything. Measure 17 might get some sort of a "beginning" type action. Once you get to 33, it's definitely time to show a new phrase.

The way you show phrases is a whole other topic. With Bronze figures, the simple answer is this: Begin figures at the beginning of the barline whenever possible, but especially at the stronger barlines (17, 33, etc). Compose them in such a way that you're not halfway through a figure during the stronger barlines. Use figures which have a natural pause or cadence (such as Tango Close, Closed Finish, Brush Tap, etc) to finish off phrases.

Jonathan

I don't know if you know the open box steps yet. And I assume you are talking about the American style Tango.

Here it goes. After 2 walks( the SS in the basic steps ) start to do open box steps ( open reverse turn ). If you are a leader, your steps will be forward-side-back while making half of a reverse turn with your partner ( partner step outside to your right on the last step, tempo will be QQS ) then proceed to step back-side-forward continue to turn left till you are facing LOD again in QQS tempo ending that you step outside your partner. Finish with tan-go-slow ( last part of your basic )

I'll add a couple other things:

Make sure you don't transfer weight onto your left foot at the end of the basic, whether it's forward or back. On the final S just drag your left foot in toward your right, but keep your weight on the right. Then you're ready to proceed on the left foot. If you keep "drag the left foot in, but don't change to it" in mind when you're doing the basic step, you won't have any trouble with which foot to start the next step on.

If you go into a back basic, make sure you have enough room! As Blair said, suddenly moving backwards on a crowded dance floor will probably cause you to crash into someone (or at least cause someone to have to think fast to avoid you) unless you're sure the coast is clear. But a back basic can be fun to use every once in a while when space permits.

Jonathan:

Thank you very much !! I am going to work on the phrases by using any combo I can mix together. With your post now I get a general understanding of what phrase is. Thanks.

Keh Gough

After you dance the first tango basic your left foot will be free. Regardless of whether you move forward or backward at this point you have to step with your left foot. Remember that tango is meant to be danced progressing down the line of dance. Dancing it forward and backward like you suggested will cause problems avoiding other couples.

At the highest levels, the only real difference between AS and IS tango is that American tango allows variations of the dance position including open positions. At lower levels, there are some differences in the figures that are taught. For example, there is no "Tango Close" in IS. This also applies in general to the differences between all American Smooth and International standard dances.

Blair

Hi, Jonathan:

I am not a musician to understand the difference on beats, measures and bars. In digesting your most recent post, I need to clearify a few things.

My understanding of measures is such:

In Tango, it takes 8 beats to form a measure.
In V. Waltz, it takes 6 beats (123,456) to form a measure.
In Slow Waltz, it takes 3 beats to form a measure.

My son (dances too) who plays instrument in high school told me not to use 'bar' in discribing measure. For me bar and measure is the same thing. But he said bar is something more to it that I won't understand so just don't use it.:(

To me in your previous post as you mentioned measure 25 and 33, I took it as beats # 25 and # 33. If I am wrong on that please clear me.

Allow me to continue explaining in beats for now. When dancing Int'l Tango, I would go 2 walks, then progressive side steps, so far I danced 8 beats which is quite nice to end at 8. (as I did too much American style Tango)

Then I would dance back rock, SQQS,QQS, ending feet closed, now I used up 10 beats. Followed by 2 walks ending with promenade 4 beats ( now I am in promenade position ), continued to dance natural twist or promenade fallaway ( both 8 beats ), then add close promenade (6 beats) to end my phrase(?). Total of the beats from back rock to here are 28 beats.:confused: How do I plan my steps so that my phrases will end nicely hamonizing with the music on beat 16, 24, or 32?

Regards,

Keh Gough

Hi, Thanks for the answer. I know the open reverse turn, but it's not exactly what I try to do.
Let say I want to do one basic toward, and one basic backward ? ( a bit strange but ... ) while open reverse turn is always toward ?

BTW, what is the difference btw american and int'l tango ?

Thanks,

Hi, Jonathan:

My understanding of American Tango is always very much confined to the 8 beat counts. When doing some advanced variation in AS there are 12 counts and 16 counts. Or even 4 counts + 8 counts( or 16) and ended with 4 counts as Tango close.

While in the International style, there are steps dancers need to totally ignore the 8 beats. Such as 6 beats in "close promenade" and "back corte", 2 beats in "progressive link", 4 beats in "progressive side steps", 4 beats in "2 walks". The concept seemed to me just dance to each of the beats on time but not to worry about the ending of 8 counts.

What do you think?

Keh Gough

Blair,

There is actually a "Brush Tap" in Int'l Tango, which is for all intents and purposes the same thing as a Tango Close (with a slightly different foot action at the end).

The main difference would be context: Int'l style dancers do not use a combination of two walks + a Brush Tap as a basic movement to be repeated again and again around the floor like American Style dancers do with their Tango Close. So I would not say that Int'l style basic syllabus differs from American in that it has no Tango Close. I think it would be more accurate to say that it does not employ a repeatable basic step the way American style does.

One might say that I'm splitting hairs, but I think it's a notable distinction.

Sincerely,
Jonathan Atkinson