question for the technicians :

is there a BODY turn on step 4 (ie ast step) of the closed promenade in (international) tango and if so is it to R or L ?

any insights much appreciated.

According to Moore, the follow makes 1/4 turn to the left between steps 2 and 3. By the last step, her turn has been completed.

Moore describes the man's turn as 'nil.' However, I've had different instructors teach this figure in different ways. Some have the man making a slight turn to the left between steps 2 and 3. I had one try to teach me to do so on the last step but it never worked (I fired him).



jj

Well I guess in tango turn is always completed before placement so it will always be "between" and not "on".

But, yes, I too was thinking there should be a slight body (or at least upper body) turn L between 2 and 3 (and possibly 3 and 4), with, of course, no turn of the feet (I am thinking in terms of the man's steps).

I guess at this level it comes down to the turn of the body relative to the feet in the promenade compared to the non-promenade position.

But sometimes, even though my upper body turns slightly L, I sense myself turning my hips slightly to the R at the end of this figure. And I am not sure whether this is incorect, or whether it simply means that the upper and lower parts NEED to move in opposite ways.

so, yes, there would be a slight turn to the right for the hips and feet.

Moore suggests as much with his directions on alignment for the man for this figure. For steps 1 - 3, the alignment of the feet is "Pointing DW." For the last step, the direction is "Facing DW."

I wonder if Terence can share some of Scrivener's wisdom on this figure, especially concerning the man's upper body between steps 2 and 3.



jj

If commenced DW , the mans body position, essentially remains the same thru out..between 3 and 4 there,s a sympathetic rotation to the mans left,synchronised with the closing foot bringing the right side to its correct position .

thank you terrence2.

i guess the fact that there is even slight turn implies that the upper bodies shoud be quite closed when in the promenade position.

Yes , but NOT at the hips .

Also important to note when dancing into Prom. position , the amount of turn for lady should be kept to a comfortable distance.. in other words.. do not over rotate.. less is more .

want to sharpen your Prom. as Lady ?.. then delay the head rotation to prom. fractionally ,treating it as an independant action .

Stay closed at the hips. Turn the head into Promenade for the lady

Repeat....... the hips do NOT touch in Tango

Terence2. When you say The hips do not touch in the Tango. To clear the air we are talking about two pair of hips one for each partner. I don't know about you but on a Progressive Link the lady stays on the man's right hip opening slightly like a hinge.There is contact of the hips. I would say that Alex Moore page 228 The Photo of Bill and Bobbie Irvine have contact on the man's right hip. A trip to Learn the Dances on this site will also also confirm the about. Now the Argentine Tango. That is a different story.