Tango Práctica Playbook: Inspiring ideas for your next practice session
Since I will be gone the month of June to Buenos Aires with my group on the Cultural Immersion Tango Tour, I had a student ask, “what do I do while you’re gone? Should I go on Youtube and learn new moves?”
Did I make a face? Probably. I suggested that instead they focus on really honing the skills they have and practice practice practice.
Here’s a list of ideas to take with you into the weekly practica:
dance an entire song only in parallel system
dance an entire song only in cross system
focus on 1 thing for an entire song: just a comfortable embrace, just walking, grounding, be creative and also SLOW DOWN
slow your dance down and find a new-to-you path at each step
slow your dance down and really listen to the music
take a structure - ie: la cruzada in parallel system, and at every step change the outcome
lead the cruzada to the other side
dance a full song in a small space and then a smaller space
dance a full song with 1 side of the embrace (only the hug side) then only the other side of the embrace (the open side), then change the embrace constantly while dancing, then try changing the embrace as you know it entirely (ie: leader leading but with right arm open!)
For the follows - make a request of your leads
ask the leader to SLOW down, explain what you would like to focus on
ask them to lead you lots of paradas so you can work on embellishing from the floor, to the music
consider focusing on your STANDING LEG and softening/plie-ing your knees
close your eyes
Can you think of other ways to challenge your current dancing?
What about props?
You can always use props:
a stick / dowel rod for the “zombie” exercise or cradled in the leaders elbow pits while dancing
a balloon between you, a balloon between your foreheads, a balloon between your chests
Practicing is a funny thing, isn’t it? We all know it’s good for us but some of us really don’t like doing it. So I ask you, how do you make it fun for yourself?
One idea is to really focus on just 1 thing 1 song. And maybe take a break. Or repeat it with a different partner. Part of the challenge is also discovering your “practice” style.
Do you hit the ground running with a list of things and a partner already lined up?
Or maybe you ask someone at the practica what they are working on and share and negotiate ideas. Maybe agreeing to work on both of your ideas for several songs.
Honestly, there’s no correct way to practice. I just would love to invite you to get in there and play!
Let me know how it goes.