Otra. Posted on June 23, 2008.

Another lesson with my primary teacher, after a two-week break.

Some highlights:

I still shift my weight too fast from foot to foot sometimes. Sometimes the going foot ends up in the wrong place, just because I start the leg movement too soon. Remember to delay and go with the body first. Ironically, that is when the step comes out nicer and longer. In general, I have to think in terms of staying more on the standing foot and with the leader, not in terms of going.

For the forward step, I have to approach it in two stages. The foot is sliding forward without weight placement. Before the weight changes, my body stretches, following the leader's body, as I let the leader actually lead the weight shift. The back leg stays behind longer. It feels like I make the leader move my delaying hip, for the lack of better explanation.
I noticed a funny thing. I was afraid to stick my foot forward, as if I might lose control over it. But at the same time, I realized, if there is no weight on that foot, if the whole weight stays on the standing foot, that is where the control is. I can retrieve the foot ( if the lead calls for it) as long as it remains free of weight.

Another point I have to think about is the inner edge of the foot on the floor. Even though my weight is on the ball of the foot, that's the inside of the leg/heel that leads the movement. This is one thing I will monitor during the group lesson tomorrow.

Also, I tend to lose connection when the leader pauses me, especially in crosses. Also it happens when I pass in front of him from one side to another. Got to remember leaning forward and toward the middle of the "cone" our bodies are forming.

At one moment my right hand being too rigid got in the way of the step he was leading. It is amazing how concentrating on the lead, not on tensing or moving my members, on the contrary, relaxing them helps the dance flow.

I was not happy with myself during the lesson. My head position was uncomfortable, the right arm felt twisted. I was arching my back, was not sure at times of what I was doing with my feet. But somehow, some steps felt better than the others. As the lesson progressed, I relaxed and ended up producing more of those nice feeling smooth steps.

My teacher who said it was getting better every time was probably right. It is just, now I expect more, of myself, and of how the dance is supposed to feel.

Lately, I know, it sounds as a broken record. I repeat the same observations about my mistakes from the private lessons in every entry. Yes, I have been working on the same problems over and over. But I believe my dancing is improving, by small increments. My other teacher once said that all our tango life we keep working on the same things, just on different levels, so I should not feel bad about repetitions.

I am looking forward to tomorrow's class as an opportunity to practice.