And so the love affair with tango continues.
As the feelings of bliss increase with every lesson, so do tiny revelations like you can tango to Tom Waits and Damien Rice. One of the bigger concepts that I'm presently working on is the Collect.
Simply put, it's taking a step and then bringing your feet together. Remembering to place your feet in the coquettish "v" and to lift the heel, of course.
As I'm discovering, the Collect is one of the most basic and important steps in tango. It's a transition step that allows you to shift your weight and keep your balance between step. It's also a preparation between systems of movement. Without the Collect, the tango dancer cannot gain the flexibility needed for the next step.
Tango babies often pause too long in the Collect because our brains have something to say or we're unsure of what to do next. This interrupts the flow of the tango not because it breaks the momentum. Tango doesn't work on momentum - all movement comes from the core and the balls of the feet - so it's definitely not the momentum. What it does is break the sensual line of the leg, because a long pause generally causes the leg to lose the tone, poise and flexibility required for the next move.
As you improve, it becomes easier to move more fluidly through the Collect. However, you must also be careful not to push through the Collect too quickly. When you do, you lose control of the leg and your feet start to fly out as if you were in a salsa class.
It's all about finding the mid-point.
I'm learning the mid-point right now and the challenge suits me fine.
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SUMMARY FROM WEEK 10:
- It's important to give yourself into transition points, as they give you the flexibility and preparedness for all future movement.
- If you hesitate too long, you will lose focus and strength.
- If you move too quickly, you will behave in ways that are unbecoming.
- Equilibrium is key in every thing.
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5 comments:
I see this is something with principles that can be applied to living in general...#3 is a mistake I make all the time, and have a hard time controlling...because of #4, my lack of equilibrium. *sigh*
The rules are applicable to drawing too - although I think you may have already admitted as much in your blog recently :)
A basic and critical element which is also often overanalyzed. Though you "bring your feet together", there must be no tension on the weightless leg or it will interfere with fast direction changes. As you have observed, it's all about finding the balance.
A wonderful teacher reminded me that the point of the collection is really your inner thighs, and your knees, and that your ankles will naturally draw in as a consequence. I think, for me, this helps with the balance of it as well as maintaining the energy for me to follow through with the next lead.
Currently, I can collect but am sometimes off balance when the feet come together. I will try to focus on the inner thighs this week. My yoga experience tells me already that it will probably work.
Thx!
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