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Followers Technique

 Followers Technique

 
When you start dancing with your partner, you have to realize that as soon as you start in an embrace you are like one body on four legs. You should be relaxed and understand that the upper part of your torso should remain still, with some tension, shoulders straight, parallel to the floor, gently tilting forward from the balls of your feet. Relax without thinking of steps or trying to anticipate your partner’s next movement. You start your move from the hips, and the movement should be parallel and close to the floor, and as you dance you should be light on your feet and glide over the dance floor.

Common errors:

(i) Out of axis. (Falling forward on one’s partner or backwards, dragging him away.)
(ii) Right arm lifeless, collapsing when your partner exercises the slightest pressure or inflexible at the elbow and wrist, and pushing too hard.
(iii) Back leading. (Falling backwards with head and back and not extending legs enough when dancing backwards.)
(iv) Anticipating the leader’s next step, and moving wrongly in most cases.
(v) The most annoying of all is racing with your partner, instead of following.

There is a simple way to correct all these errors and the answers are:-

a). Find your axis of balance. While you are standing with your feet close together, lean forward and transfer your weight onto the balls of your feet, making sure that your whole body as seen from the side is in a straight line, ie: your head (facing at eye level), your back, spine, bottom, legs and your ankles are in a straight line. Your axis of balance is a vertical line starting from the middle of your head and ending at your forefeet. During the whole period of your dance you should maintain this axis making sure that you are not putting any weight on your partner’s body or to his left arm except for a light pressure on his palm.

b). Have a flexible right arm but with life in it. When your partner puts pressure on your right arm, do not collapse your arm, but resist slightly and give way in a springy manner like the footbrake of a car. Your arm should be flexible and relaxed at your wrist and elbow.
c). When you are led backwards, keep your body weight forward and stretch your leg back with your toes being the first part of your foot to touch the floor. Then the whole foot will take your weight and you will repeat the same procedure as you alternate legs. While you retreat backwards, make sure that the closeness of your embrace remains the same and that you exercise a gentle forward pressure on his body to neutralize the force developing against your body as he leads you backwards.
d). Do not anticipate his next move, but wait for your partner to lead you there even if you were right as to where he was leading you. It is nicer to follow your partner at a slower speed than his, so that you are always certain where he leads you and avoid unnecessary mistakes.
e). Do not move faster than your partner because then you lead him and you cease being the follower. Following correctly is a very important technique in Tango. By following correctly you achieve complete harmony in movement with your partner and the resulting feeling is sensational. The best Tango dancer will look a poor dancer if his partner cannot follow properly. Remember Tango is a 50/50 partnership between leader and follower.

f). When you come to a stop, or a pause in the dance, the free leg should close up to the leading leg, with the thighs, knees and ankles lightly touching, heel raised, pointed down, and the sole of the foot pressing onto the floor. This gives control and balance.

Summary:
1. Lean forward and have a proper axis of balance, positioning your body opposite to your partner’s
2. Offer an outstretched and flexible right arm with slight pressure on the palm of his hand
3. Embrace your partner with your left arm without putting any weight on him
4. Keep your feet about 6 inches away from his feet and have your knees flexed
5. Follow his lead without anticipating his next move
6. Following means following not leading
7. When moving backwards, keep your weight forward and stretch your legs backwards
8. Your chest should always be kept parallel to his chest when you dance and not at an angle (some advanced move may differ, this is just for starting)
9. When doing ochos, your legs should be touching each other tightly from knee to ankle
10. Make sure your stomach is held in and that your head, neck, back, spine, bottom, legs and ankles form a straight line when seen from the side (profile view)
 

 

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