Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Tango - Progressive Side Step Reverse Turn

As the Progressive Side Step Reverse Turn starts facing Diagonal Centre for the man, I have added two walks on to the beginning of the figure to allow you to curve yourself into the appropriate starting angle. These are not technically part of this step, however, we haven't really looked at any steps which would naturally have you end DC.

Remember that in Tango, all steps should be done with flexed knees and that there is a natural curve to the Left in most figures. 


Leaders'/Men's Footwork

Starting Diagonal Wall with the two walks forward on your Left then Right feet, you should curve these walks more than you are used to in order to end up facing Diagonal Centre. Continue to curve as you take a third step forward - on your Left foot in CBMP. (Slow, Slow) Your next step is the one that gives this step its name as you step side and slightly back with your Right foot. (In the diagram, this looks like side and slightly forward, however, remember you have transferred your weight onto the Left foot during the third step - so the right foot has already been tracking underneath you and moves side and slightly back compared to where the Left foot currently is. It is not in relation to where the Right foot WAS.) Continue turning during this side step as well so that as you step forward again with your Left foot, you are almost facing Against the LOD. (Quick, Quick, Slow)


You have one more step forward (still curving) on your Right foot before rocking back onto your Left foot, forward onto your Right, and back onto your Left again.(Slow, Quick, Quick)


To finish, you have four steps which are essentially a Back Corte. Take a smallish step back onto your Left foot (pulling your left side back at the same time) and then another step back on your Right foot - leaving your shoulders where they were so that you are in CBMP (this step begins to turn you back towards facing Diagonal Wall - which means that the step itself is Diagonal Centre). Next, take a side step with your Left foot (your toes should be pointing Diagonal Wall but your body isnt there yet) and close your Right foot to your Left to finish facing Diagonal Wall. (Slow, Quick, Quick, Slow)


Followers'/Lady's Footwork

Because of our added two steps at the beginning of this figure, you begin backing Diagonal Wall. The first two steps are taken, Right and then Left, stepping backwards and curving in towards the centre of the room. Take one more step back on your Right - this will be in CBMP. The next step is to the side and slightly forward on your Left foot, before taking another step backwards on your Right to face Against LOD. (Slow, Slow, Quick, Quick, Slow)


Take one more step backwards - on your Left foot - then rock forward onto your Right and back again onto the Left. These rocks should be done along the LOD. (Slow, Quick, Quick)


Then finish the step with what is essentially a Back Corte. Step forward on your Right foot with your Right side leading, forwards again on your Left in CBMP, side with your Right foot to Back Diagonal Wall and then close your Left foot to your Right. (Slow, Quick, Quick, Slow)




Notes for both the Leader and the Follower:

- The angles here are the ones given in the technique book. While you are first learning this, do not worry too much about where you are facing in the middle of the step as long as you start and finish at the right alignments. Once you have the feel of the step, then you can go back and try to get the angles more precise.

- Gents, remember that your lady needs to get around you on steps 11 and 12, so help her out by not taking a huge side step!

2 comments:

  1. I'm a little confused on this one. Are you changing the orientation of your pictures throughout? I think your diagrams would be more helpful to me if I could always see the direction of the Line of Dance. If you could give us an arrow, kinda like the compass on maps that clearly defines North, that would really help!

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  2. Hi Esther, it can be hard to show turns when the steps get split up into sections... as they are above, but showing things in one main image is sometimes too convoluted to make sense to anyone! Sorry if this has confused you... I will try to put a LOD indicator in the new posts when I manage to get them up.

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