Easy Transitions - No "Transition" Needed

Ganchos are a lot about the relative positioning of the hips. Boleos are about momentum. Leans are really about giving weight. And all of this can happen without taking a step.

Not only is a transition sometimes not needed at all but, in tango, if you get into trouble or tangled up, you always have the option of stopping completely, looking meaningfully at your partner, and then starting again. Maybe choosing something really cool that doesn't need a transition.

One of the many wonderful things about tango is that your cannot get yourself into an impossible position.

An Impossible Position

Artist Name:: Narisco Saul
Song Title:: Los Ejes De Mi Careta
Album Title:: El Tango de Narisco
Artist Website:: http://www.narcisosaul.com.ar

From website - loosely translated: Born in Buenos Aires on June 21, 1957. He began studying music in 1965 starting with the piano and later dedicated to the electric guitar. In 1975 he began to study classical guitar and harmony and in 1977 entered the Juan José Castro Provincial Conservatory, having as teachers Enrique Belloc, Graciela Pomponio, and Pedro Miguel Angel Girollet Chiambaretta among others. Graduated in 1985 with the title of Senior Lecturer of Guitar. Since 1978 works in popular music. In 1979 he began studying jazz with guitarist Mario Andreola. Since 1980 he is professor at the Universidad del Salvador, (Faculty of Music Therapy) and since 1988 the Conservatorio Municipal Manuel de Falla.

00:05: In the earlier chapters, our examples sometimes involved a shift of weight,
00:10: She had to be on the right foot, or I had to be on the right foot.
00:12: In this chapter, we're going to talk about basically, only volcada and...
00:18: Boleo?
00:19: And boleo.
00:20: Although there may be others, I have to think about it.
00:22: But my point is that, in some instances, it doesn't matter what foot either of you are on.
00:26: So, we can be doing anything. You know, whatever. we're doing ocho.
00:29: So, usually, when we teach a lean, then we say side, he changes weight, lift up, over, lean on each other.
00:36: And it's always here. But it doesn't have to be.
00:39: So, we could do, you know, front ochos, for example, just to pick something else.
00:43: And then right here, if you wanted to, you in-up, and there's your lean, in a different position.
00:50: Or, for example, we could be doing a drag.
00:54: A drag! OK.
00:55: You know, most people, they get really fancy, they go into a lean, and then they do a drag.
01:01: But we are going to do a drag, and then go into a lean.
01:04: OK,
01:06: I get this skeptical-sounding voice.
01:08: So, here's our drag, I'll lift in and up, and I'll take her to me.
01:15: That's so cool.
01:17: And then, who knows what could happen.
01:20: Lots of things. We'll work it out.
01:22: Anyway, so, my point is that no matter where you are, a lean can happen.
01:27: All you have to do is you lift up, and you lean towards each other.
01:30: It works better if one of you can back away, usually the leader.
01:34: So, wherever she is, basically, you lift up, you back away.
01:37: Same thing for boleo, it doesn't matter where you are.
01:41: Which is the knee that is better bending?
01:44: This one.
01:44: Left knee, OK.
01:45: So let's say, for example, that we're doing... Why not, back ochos.
01:51: Oh, that's a shock!
01:52: What a shock.
01:56: And we stop, and we say, "You know what, I feel like throwing a boleo".
01:58: I don't have to think, "Oh is she on the right foot?" I'll just pivot her away from her standing leg.
02:06: And it could be... Lets do it with a drag.
02:08: Odd place to do it, but why not?
02:09: Very odd.
02:11: And we don't have to do that whole side thing, right? I'll just grab the foot and I'll drag it.
02:15: David: And because... I could throw a boleo right now by pivoting her away, and it would keep her on the right foot.
Nancy: Yeah, you could.
02:21: David: But because her right foot doesn't bend so well, we're going to take a step first.
Nancy: My right foot doesn't bend at all.
02:24: So we'll step first, and then we'll say, "Oh, we can do a boleo here".
02:30: So, the point I want to make is, with a boleo and gancho, and a few other steps,
02:34: I'm sorry, not boleo and gancho, boleo and lean, and a few other steps,
02:38: It doesn't matter where you are, and it's actually really cool to say,
02:42: "Let me do it in this arbitrary place, and see what I create."
02:44: Yeah, that's very cool.

Series:: Easy Transitions
Tags:: Intermediate, Advanced