Comments on: A follower’s walking path

By: Royce

Royce — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 05:24:04 +0000

Hi Giedre, I think the best way to know is to take a private with Julio and Corina. I did that with a friend of mine, we ended up learning the same thing – walking. We had different issues and we rarely dance together during the class. And what I like a lot and I find very useful is how to walk with my full body but not just only focus on my legs’ movement.

By: Giedre

Giedre — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 15:47:26 +0000

Hi, I really enjoy all the thoughts I read here – they are so close to my own understanding. During one lesson of Mazen and Sigrid (young dancers), Mazen told a really special thing that I just loved. He said, “I do not need a follower, I need a partner”.
I think this is how it has to be – partnerwork, not leading and following. Lady has to have some initiative and energy to make the man’s lead easier. During lessons I sometimes take some ladies to explain some movement and do it as a leader. So, I DO know how hard and heavy they can be and you almost need to push them into the step – in my opinion, this is not how it should be.

I just would like to ask, what about this way of walking that Julio and Corina taught? I am dancing almost 6 years, but I also learn walking all the time

By: Royce

Royce — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 17:31:14 +0000

Well… of course that’s part of the leader’s job. But if we follower do nothing, then leaders will probably find themselves pushing (or dancing with) a big fridge or stone when they dance. I suppose that’s not something nice!

Anyway, what I was talking about is part of the training and concept a follower would get through when she learns the dance. When it comes to real dancing, the mechanism is never that simple, and that’s another issue.

By: Krasimir Stoyanov

Krasimir Stoyanov — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 16:54:47 +0000

“walk properly (push with the supporting leg)”

If you use the supporting leg for anything other than “support” you effectively lead, which is far from desirable. Why not just leaving the job to the leader?

By: Belinda-Tang

Belinda-Tang — Mon, 07 Nov 2005 07:21:56 +0000

The walk is the key. We learn to walk before we run – it stands to reason that the same logic applies in tango. It is not surprising the importance of the walking technique in a dance as finely tuned as tango.

It is fascinating to read about your walking progress. You clearly broke it down into small, distinct elements. In a step-wise manner which is useful.

Great inspiring stuff for those committed to the walk!