Dance: Well defined moves are much better than half-a**ed ones

Some time ago I wrote about how to look good instantly on the dance floor (at least when you are not moving).

5/3/2015, "Dance: Look Good Instantly"


This entry is to complement the entry. It's a part of hints for "how to move well".

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When I dance Tango with an advanced followers, one thing I notice first is that it is easier to dance with her than less advanced followers.

It's common among many dances. Dance with untrained and unpredictable dancers is usually difficult. From a leader's standpoint, only experience on troubleshooting and correction can help to dance with untrained and unpredictable dancers, and it takes time to develop the sense for troubleshooting.

Advanced dancers follow solidly. She will do ocho when she is led an ocho. Once we get used to each other, she might even "dance" ocho in the latter half of the Tanda.


The impression of "solid follow" comes from how "well-defined" her moves are performed.


Let's take ocho as an example. She takes a side step and shifts axis. Once her weight transfer is complete, she collects her feet. On her new axis she pivots. Then she takes another step with her moving leg nicely stretched, her foot finds a new landing point, she gets ready to stabilize herself, then shifts weight,....

All these processes are done without cheating or rushing. She takes her time, yet as a whole the processes flow smoothly one after another.

Execution of the each step is done solidly. When she is doing that, I call the state as "she is doing "well-defined" moves".


When you watch Tango in a milonga, you can see followers doing well-defined moves, and followers not doing them.

When she is not doing well-defined moves, her moves look half-a**ed, and the dance does not look as good as it could. 

You can find which one of the couple is responsible for the sorry state. Maybe it is her, rushing herself, or reversely, not responding to the flow of momentum and being late. Or maybe it's him, not supporting her, or rushing her weight shift so she has no time to do it gracefully.

A first aid? Slow down and take your time. Follow the music. Both of you.


If you feel your Tango is stagnant or not getting better as much as you like, check how well defined your moves are. Break down the moves into processes. Usually you are cheating somewhere, like you do not collect your feet nicely, or initiating next step without shifting weight completely, or  using arm connection to push/pull your partner instead of moving your upper body as a unit, or ...(this list can go on). And the "cheated" part is affecting your entire dance.

If there is a problem, divide it and conquer.


Once you learn well-defined moves, that means you have acquired the skills for on spot dance diagnostics. When you have skills for dance diagnostics, you can complement and correct the cheated part to improve the dance.

I don't recommend you to preach and teach your partner in a milonga at all. But if you become obviously good, your partner may ask you an advice. When your partner seeks advice and is willing to listen, you can give a comment or two.

Advanced dancers don't think about all these processes and steps when they dance. They internalized good habits, and don't have to think about them. But if required, they can explain them (or, a pro can, and an amateur may or may not. It's a difference between a pro and an amateur). Good dancing is a habit. How you build your good-looking habit is the question you can focus on to be a good dancer.

["Westerner and Arab practicing geometry 15th century manuscript" by Anonymous painter,15th century]