argentine tango rules of engagement 2

     looking over a stranger's shoulder and dancing backward in heels---- it's argentine tango night                                                                                                                                                                         at tonight's lesson, we learned la cruzada (the cross) the goal being to walk to the cross well. the cross is tricky, because like all moves and positions it is dictated by the man and all balance and weight change on the feet depends upon his cue.  the cross is when you cross your left ankle over your right and gracefully change the weight to your left crossed foot in preparation for whatever he decides to do next.  a learned partner will give you time to do this, a beginner... maybe not. 

  

after the lesson, we stayed for the practica. this is where you can practice on your own (beginner + beginner)on one side of the dance floor, or go solo on the other side of the dance floor with a more learned partner.  if asked to dance, and you agree, you are committed to a tanda (a set of 3 or 4 songs of similar musical style, followed by a cortina (curtain) very different sounding musical style that signals that you are off the hook with this partner (if you want to be).   alex and jorge had their own styles. both were patient.  jorge's involved very little personal space. 

note.  in a practica when asked to dance, if you are new to the tango it is correct etiquette to say "i am a beginner" NOT "sure i'll dance with you but i have no idea what the hell i'm doing."  alex tutored me in this.   when it came to jorge, i knew what to say upon accepting his hand.  when i said i was sorry the FIRST time i stepped on him, he said "don't worry, in tango if their are any mistakes, it is always the man's fault."   i gladly told him that i could live with that.