Originally posted by Ralph:
Three consecutive slows are actually pretty rare
I know what you're trying to say, but I think you should be careful how you express things to a beginner! Actually, in American tango, having three slows in a row is VERY common - for instance, whenever you string two 8-count basics together (S S Q Q _S S S_ Q Q S).
You are of course very right about that.
All I can really say is that the last slow, being only a foot drag without weight, feels very different than moving steps with weight transfer.
Moving slows fit together very well in pairs (the first one a tad late, the second a tad early) and I really can't think of many situations where you would then add a third moving slow.
To get back to the original question though, this does really make me worry about the competence of the person's teacher. It's one thing to mis-speak, but someone who could dance/demonstrate an American tango basic S S S Q Q and not instantly recognize that it feels out of character clearly does not have the kind of experience with the dance needed to teach it.
A teacher might have to look up figures now and then to be sure of the details, but they shouldn't have to ask others for basic principles of the dance.
Given what lessons cost, students have the right to demand teachers who know what they are doing. And really good teachers don't cost that much more than marginal ones - sometimes actually less.
