Expanded Intermediate Vocabulary - Forward Sacada Basics

Probably, by the time you are watching this video, you are moderately into tango. It's an interesting thing to think about why you like tango. The obvious answer is to say, "well, it's fun." But then you can ask, "what's fun?" Is it the social life that's fun? Is it the dance? Is it the different types of music? We'd really love to know. Write (under comments) and tell us your story. Short story or long, we really want to know.

Artist Name:: Alex Krebs
Song Title:: Llevatelo Todo
Album Title:: Stumptandas
Artist Website:: http://www.tangoberretin.com/

From website: (Alex Krebs) Has been studying the bandoneon since May 2001, directed the tango band "Conjunto Berretin." (with 2 CD's recorded) from 2003-2008, and currently is arranging/directing a tango sextet and arranging/directing an Orquesta Tipica for the Portland Tango Festivals in Feb. and Oct.

00:06: So with Sacadas, they’re - this is terrible to say,
they’re hard until they're not.
00:11: They’re hard until they're easy, like everything else.
00:13: Everything is hard until it’s easy.
00:15: The trick for the leaders is finding a unison...
00:19: ..in the movement of the upper body
and the lower body.
00:21: Because in your upper body,
when you’re leading, you have to do one thing…
00:23: ..whereas in your lower body, you’re doing a different thing.
00:27: And so, making that feel natural is,
I think, the biggest key.
00:31: For the followers,
what would you want them to focus on?
00:35: Balancing completely over the ball of our foot and then...
00:39: ..having our back foot just barely react to
whatever crazy thing the leader is doing.
00:44: If we just show first.
00:59: So that’s with her stepping side and I grab those sacadas.
01:02: The idea…
01:04: Notice he used both feet. Not at the same time.
01:07: I know, you could.
01:10: I couldn’t resist. So - but don’t land as hard as I did,
it’s sort of hard for your joints.
01:15: So, as I rotate my body to my right,
that will cause her to step side.
01:20: So, I can just rotate to get her to step side to side,
it doesn’t matter what foot I’m on.
01:24: And then I can touch with either foot,
to displace the leg she has.
01:29: And then what’s going to happen is
I’m going to step to that foot…
01:32: And see how I just barely react to it.
01:36: And we can do that exercise where
I’m just stepping her side to side...
01:39: ..and then going to that foot with either leg
and we can do it with either of my legs.
01:45: So there I did it, right leg to her right leg.
01:49: Here I’m doing it left leg to her right leg.
01:52: Here I’m doing it - oh I have to switch gears...
01:56: ...right leg to her left leg or you get the idea.
02:00: Left leg to her left leg, and that’s with her stepping forward.
02:03: The idea is - sideways.
N. Sideways
02:06: The idea, once again, though, is,
you’ll see I’m leading her one way, then the other…
02:11: ..and then when I'm ready, I go forward.
02:14: And, in the lower body, there’s a sense of
finding that co-ordination.
02:18: So, for the leaders, when you’re practicing this
at home in front of the mirror…
02:23: ..with your tango music playing in the background,
maybe this song…
02:25: ..you can see music, it’s listed there…
02:28: ..in the upper body you rotate
as you extend the foot.
02:32: That’s a good thing to practice.
02:34: And eventually - and that’s if you just want to touch.
02:36: And, if you want to actually grab the sacada
with the weight shift...
02:38: ..the you rotate as you step forward.
02:41: And for the followers, shall we?
02:45: Let's...
02:46: When the leader touches your foot,
because you’re going around…
02:51: ..not a lot happens.
02:54: Can you show the wrong?
02:56: Do the other side.
02:58: Oh!
02:59: That was a good wrong, right?
Was that a good wrong?
03:02: It’s sort of like, if the guy gives you
a little bit and you do this…
03:07: ..that’s sort of disproportionate.
03:09: In this instance.
We do say sometimes that in the lead,...
03:13: ..the leader gives a little,
the follower gives a lot back…
03:16: ..but not disproportionately.
N. Yes
03:18: One other thing, it will be a long video…
03:21: ..leaders, you can do this when the followers does front ochos...
03:24: .. or stepping forward, as well side…
03:26: ..it doesn’t have to be front ocho.
03:27: So same idea, I’m just going to show one way…
03:30: ..but if she steps forward here,
I can go to her back leg with either foot.
03:34: Or from another angle,
here’s this showing without the weight shift.
03:39: And then, you can imagine that, if I step to it,
we have the same thing.

Series:: Expanded Intermediate Vocabulary
Tags:: Intermediate, Vocabulary, Sacada