Easy Transitions - A Minimal Entrance To Drag

Being able to do drags smoothly so that they don't involve much starting and stopping but are rather one motion from beginning to end really adds a very nice dynamic. With movements like a drag, there is a danger of it not being dancing but rather a matter of placing her feet and doing the step. We would like you to work on smoothly out the edges so that the drag can be more a dance expression.

Artist Name:: Trio Garufa
Song Title:: Tango a Trois Temps
Album Title:: El Rumor De Tus Tangos
Artist Website:: http://www.triogarufa.com

From website: Trio Garufa is an international ensemble dedicated to performing authentic Argentine music. They have performed across Argentina, Canada and the US. Trio Garufa performs traditional Argentine tango, modern tango styles such as Astor Piazzolla's music or electro tangos, original tango compositions, and Argentine folk music. Their music is exciting, virtuosic, and rooted in the dance. They are the only tango ensemble in the US to have performed extensively in the milongas (tango dance clubs) of Buenos Aires. The group includes Guillermo García, guitar (Argentina) Adrian Jost, bandoneon (Switzerland) and Sascha Jacobsen, string bass (California).

00:04: So, normally, a drag involves this big long setup, the way I teach it, right?
00:08: So, I say:
00:09: You step side, you pivot her, you pivot her some more.
00:13: You turn out your foot, you stop her.
00:15: He shifts, he grabs with his foot, he shifts her back, and then he drags.
00:18: Right? There's a lot involved.
00:19: But, the truth is, you don't need all that setup.
00:22: So we can be right here and we can say, "Oh, there's her foot, let's drag it".
00:28: And I can drag him back from this position, if I want to.
00:31: And because I'm naughty, as a follower, as a leader, sometimes, when there's the drag...
00:35: Give it a go, fuzz,
00:36: Yeah, he is naughty.
00:38: I'll pop my foot, just 'cause. I'm a troublemaker. Troublemaker.
00:42: But, so, the point I want to make is that the minimal entrance to drag is just that
00:47: The woman is on one foot, and typically, the man is on the opposite foot, but doesn't have to be.
00:52: But, for now, we'll do it that way. And then you just grab the foot. And you push it. That's it.
00:57: So, minimal entrance to drag is really no entrance to drag.
01:00: And what does that mean?
01:02: Well, if we have this really minimal entrance, that the only thing we need is I'm on my left and she's on her right.
01:06: Nancy: There are tons of times when we're like that.
David: Her right, and the hips are sort of at right angles.
01:10: So, that there's one other thing I didn't say, right? So our hips have to be sort of here.
01:14: If she's on her left, and I'm on my left,
01:18: Right.
01:18: Yes, no, you're on your left and I'm on my left.
01:20: Then it's a little hard for me to drag her foot from here.
01:23: Maybe I could, but it wouldn't be that easy.
01:26: So, you want to be roughly in this sort of body configuration. But, given that, you can do it any time.
01:31: Any time in that position. So, for example, if you take a left-foot basic...
01:35: We're here, we go side, he changes, here's our left-foot basic.
01:42: Then, at any point after the "He changes, side, he changes",
01:46: David: Here, you can grab the foot, you can drag it.
Nancy: Yes, we're in the drag position.
01:50: That's really cool!
01:51: And let's say you pull the foot out of the way - there's the cross.
01:53: Or, for example, let's say you're doing front ochos.
02:00: Right here, if we turn so that our hips are in that position, I can grab her foot and drag her.
02:06: Maybe freno, or something like that.
02:07: Really, you guys should practice that one. Just try it. ecause it's hard to understand until you get it in your body.
02:12: But, remember two key things, and that's it.
02:17: Do whatever you do, stop, make sure your hips are offset with a man, what is this, - on the left hand, on the left side,
02:25: And make sure he's on his left, and she's on her left. That's it.

Series:: Easy Transitions
Tags:: Drag, Intermediate