Since I last posted, I had two private lessons with my two partners, as well as a number of practicas, and a smaller number of milongas.
First of all, I have been focusing on my technique and feet placements. I learned all over again, how important working on the simple walk is, alone, and with a partner.
Secondly, I have been working on my following, and improving connection.
Those two are of course, tightly related. Although, I believe, as a social dancer, it is more effective to put the following and the connection first.
I have got quite a few insights during my lessons and practice sessions.
Some important things I learned, and wanted to make a note upon:
Slowing down my follow does not come merely from moving slower or dragging my feet on the ground. It comes from the right way of reacting to the lead. The good illustrative example of it would be a boleo. First, the body moves, twists, and the foot is just following the body (that is following the lead). Very important, again, is to avoid placing the feet deliberately, trying to control them. Rather monitor the lead, and sense where the leader wants my feet to go, and at what speed. Same goes for the ochos, and other pivots. Keeping my weight forward, not shifting it too soon, is essential.
About bad habits. My and #2's teacher caught me crooking my body sometimes when I perform turns, pivots, or changes of directions. Instead of keeping my sides even and tall, and twisting in the middle, I just bend in funny places. We noticed that, for example, I do it while being led into a colgada. I have to watch it in practice. The objective is to stay tall, not drop sides or hips, and not bend or flex in the wrong places.
Molinetes are still a big concern. I have to pivot as I pass feet, not to step, collect, stop, pivot and pass. It is all done in one sweep movement. And again, keep the connection to the leader, do not step away from him.
Trying to work in open embrace did me a lot of good. It made me realize that I have to be more active in my movement, while keeping connection to the partner, of course. That also made me more aware of my balance, and losing it in such figures as pivots, and, especially, boleos. I need more practice in open embrace. Lots of stuff here, however, I can and should practice on my own.
In sum, I shall say that, perhaps, I got a new long-term goal. Till now, I noticed, I had mostly danced as I could, as my skills would allow me. I had been more or less happy to just manage. Now I ask myself more and more a new question. How would I like to dance if I had a choice? What kind of a dancer I want to be? My partner keeps talking about acquiring his "dancing voice". What is mine?
Certainly, I have got all the time of my life to answer that one. But one thing is sure. I do not wish to be just "a following dummy" anymore. That's said, I have to really listen to my needs and make sure they are attended timely.
The question about how I want to dance is very much related to musicality. I am not sure how to work specifically on my musicality. I think it should come out of working on technical ways of expressing the music, on how to move to music. And when I have the means and the skills, and am conscious about them, I will be able to make a choice.
On a social front, I decided it would be a good idea to make my Monday practice with my second partner a regular thing. He is getting better, we get along well, and the last few practice sessions turned to be really fruitful.
Also, a big milonga with good leaders once a week would be a nice habit to maintain.
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