Syllabus For Beginners
September 11- October 30, 2008
Instructors: Dawn and Dave Kasper, Xavier Marchena and Bethany Marshal
8:00pm-9:30pm, Thursdays
Imagerie Gallery, 910 Cherry 49506,
616 458 4226
- Week 1: Intro to Close Embrace Tango
This class will focus on how to develop balance, a musical sense of walking, and to find a close embrace with any partner. - Week 2 : Walking on the side
- Week 3 : Rock Steps
Rock steps serve an important navigational function in tango. - Week 4 : Pauses and Turning Corners
This lesson will focus on floor craft and how dancers can maximize the space on the dance floor. Pauses are an important musical element in tango, they feel good, and can be important for avoiding collisions. We will also work on 90 degrees corner turns to help us build navigation skills. - Week 5 : Intro to Close Embrace Cross System Walking (Ochos) An Ocho in tango is the movement made by the follower when she swivels her hips to get her leg around to match the foot on the opposite side of her leader’s body.
- Week 6 : Getting Into and Out of Ochos with a Quick Step
- Week 7 : Follower’s Cross from Ochos
Leading a follower to cross is a fundamental of tango vocabulary that is danced no matter what style a dancer is used to. - Week 8:: Ocho Cortado
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The Beginners Lesson Series open to all levels. No partner necessary. This class will introduce the mechanics and feeling of the Argentine tango embrace, how to dance comfortably with any partner, and develop a rhythmic walk that fits with the music. Tango vocabulary will be taught in small rhythmic pieces to allow dancers to retain what they learn in each class.
Syllabus For Intermediate Lessons
September 11- October 30, 2008
Instuctors: Carmen Maret and Andrew Bergeron
8:00pm-9:30pm, Thursdays
Imagerie Gallery, 910 Cherry 49506,
616-458-4226
- Week 1 : Exits and suspensions for the Cross
- Week 2 : Fun with Ochos
- Week 3 : Calecitas in Vals
- Week 4 : Sacadas
- Week 5 : Boleos
- Week 6 : Turns in both directions
- Week 7 : Milonga
- Week 8 : Milonga Traspie
The Intermediate Lesson Series is open to dancers with 3 months of tango experience or those who have completed the Beginner's Seminar. No partner necessary. This class will focus on musicality. The vocabulary taught will be based on turns, salidas, and cross system combinations.
Online Registration
- 2008 Fall Close Embrace Argentine Tango Series, 8 weeks, September 11- October 30, $70 for online registration, $75 at the door, 10% off for students with valid ID, must register by September 10 for online price
- Notes: Lesson Drop In: $12, Practica Drop-In $5 (no registration required)