The missing link(s) in my embrace.
I’m frustrated, my balance is shot, and I’m unbelievably drunk! This was me last Saturday at a Viennese Ball as the clock rounded midnight.
Sporting half a tuxedo because I forgot to dry-clean my matching white shirt, I mope around the dance floor feeling like my Tango lead is slowly disappearing. My nerves get nervous each time a Tango song comes on and my mind and body are distant. The only leading going on is the frustration I lead my partner to feel when the music stops.
I’m disheartened and need a pick-me-up. Just then, Pete’s gut says to Pete:
Why don’t you call Jackie Stahl for a Tango tune-up? You met her at the Atrium Tango Brunch in Philly two weeks ago, remember? Do it now before your lead starts feeling like a dead fish!
I don’t mess with my gut; it’s always on point. I make the call, and Jackie saves the day! In my own words, here’s what I learned on during my refreshing lesson:
Tip 1: CONNECT AT THE SOLAR PLEXUS
Before the lesson, I would connect to my partner’s chest using my sternum. The problem with focusing on a sternum connection (aside from differences in partner height) is that everything below it has a greater chance of losing emphasis during your embrace.
It can become loosey-goosey. My back rounds, head slouches, and butt sticks out. To top it off, my hips move farther from my partner and decrease the effectiveness of my lead.
A solution?
Connect at the Solar Plexus! By focusing attention just a few inches below my sternum, I stop slouching and correct the alignment of my neck and spine. With this improved alignment, my head and shoulders get out of my partner’s space and let my hips do their natural job of being a solid base for my chest and head.
A Solar Plexus connection, and the alignment it creates, allows a clear separation of the head, chest, and hips giving you better control and independent range of motion. More range of motion means more responsibility, but it’s okay, Allison’s smiles during my adjustments let me know I’m on the right track.
Tip 2: ESTABLISH A SOLID ARM-BODY CONNECTION
When it came to creating a body connection on the side (my right, her left), I foolishly let my right elbow stick out like a chicken wing. Not only did this open a huge gap that Allison could fall into, but it encouraged balanced issues during walking and side-stepping if I wasn’t careful.
A solution?
With my Solar Plexus connection in place, I extend my arm between the space of Allison’s ribcage and armpit, making sure the inside of my right arm touches the left side of her body. From a side-view, it looks like I’m extending my hand past her back to shake someone’s hand.
After securing a snug fit, my right elbow bends so my forearm makes contact across the middle of her back and my right hand grips gently on her right side below her right armpit. This arm-body connection not only helps Allison stay in front of me when we turn, it also helps me keep my arm and shoulder in a more relaxed position.
Tip 3: CLOSE THE OPEN SIDE OF YOUR BODY
This part is simple. After I execute the previous two tips, I invite Allison to place her right hand in my left in order to close the open space on the remaining side of our bodies. To remember the height and angle of where my left hand should be, I think of holding a small mirror in it so she can see herself comfortably.
“But, Jackie, where does my head go?”
I actually didn’t get a chance to get her opinion on this topic, but serendipity lead me to My Tango Diaries where I read Head Position in the Tango Embrace (yes, the link means you should check it out, too).
“What about Ballroom Tango?”
Jackie concluded her talk on connection by comparing a Ballroom Tango frame to what she had just taught me. Ballroom Tango establishes its dance hold – I wouldn’t describe it as an embrace – with space created through leverage.
I don’t dance American or International Tango, but I’m surrounded by it constantly and do notice that you can park a motorcycle between a couple dancing Ballroom Tango. Instead, Jackie taught me to use compression as the conduit to exchange the signals of lead and follow.
I love the way that sounds.
I had a great time and learned a great lesson. Next time you’re in Philadelphia, contact Jackie and expand your Tango knowledge. If you live near Philly, try your hand at our latest contest and The Tango Notebook will pay for your lesson with Jackie when you win!
Keep dancing,
Panayiotis Pete Karabetist
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{ 6 tango-induced comments… read them, love them, and add your 2 cents! }
Great post and great advice (as always)!
I’d add one tip for the ladies that I got from Mardi Brown, a tango teacher in Central Texas. Stand up tall, relax your hips and lean just slightly forward – enough to put your weight more on the balls of your feet (but not rocking forward or losing your axis.)
Then lift your arms like you’re reaching for something on a high shelf. Feel where your ribcage is – and the alignment of you back. Keep that position in your torso, then lower your arms. I’ve found that little exercise so useful in keeping my energy directed upward and not being a sort of obstacle that my partner has to “move”.
That’s what I’m talking about: a woman’s perspective! I’d love to hear what Allison about the lesson and what she learned from it.
Everyone tries teaching the same thing differently and the principles can get skewed along the way, so I’m interested to hear what notes you and her could exchange.
Great blog! Looking forward to next lesson, to try this stuff out! : )
Mari,
Gray? Soggy!?
This is how I feel about you not having a chance to submit an entry yourself
I’m glad the community put a much-needed smile on your face, though.
I must agree; Jackie really did help with our Tango embrace! Pete was dead on when he was talking about how awkward we both felt at the Viennese Ball the weekend before our lesson with Jackie. We both knew that something had to be done, and Jackie’s lesson was just the ticket to helping both of us make a little more sense to the close embrace. Props to you, Jackie! You made dancing with Pete that much more enjoyable
Ditto