The lead should be the same. At this point, by the lead described above, you are simply instructing the lady that there is a turn of some description as you are inviting her to come forward and past you. Is then up to you what you then decide to do, pivot or spin turn, but this is the lead into them.

This thread is a godsend! Thank you so much for setting it up - it's really interesting but also so helpful.

I have a question about ballroom topline - I'm told the correct way to do this is to contract your stomach muscles and tuck in your bottom - is this right? Should I try to lean back at all? (I'm a girl btw).

Thinking about it, Tangos. Will need to practice at home first, and then maybe he'll feel compelled to correct the inevitable resulting disaster. That said he puts up with our chicken walks. Perhaps there's just too much work required...

Jennifer, thanks for all the clarification. Now I don't want to hijack the thread, but will just have to work out how to exit, or it'll be a rather tedious (and tiring) 3 minute dance for us both.

I was taught to have a " long back" and "short front" so yes, you are correct, and keep posterior under. Please do not lean back, as you will be out of balance, not only will you not be able to dance yourself, you will feel like a ton weight to your partner. In simplistic terms you want a right side to right side connection, then feel that you stretch - not lean- to your left, and out to the mans right elbow. If your partner connects to his left, you will have a lovely topline, in balance with volume between the heads,

One simple way to exit pivots is overturned turning lock.

Sadly I do have to agree that is the social etiquette pertaining to much of the AT scene. Social mores plucked from another country and another century.

Why? - God only knows.

For the record I think it is utter bo**ocks . I have been unable to unearth any good reason for these affectations and IMO they are very much to the detriment of AT as a social activity and act as a barrier when it comes to encouraging 21st century people into the community. I subvert the rules as often as I can. For example - I ask men to dance.

The reason for the Cabeceo is to not embarrass both parties if the leader goes over and gets rejected. Mutual smiles of recognition indicates acceptance of the invitation.

The Three song Tanda is to get to know each other's style and then a couple of good dances together.

And you have to wait for a slot in the anti-clockwise Ronda (circle line of dance). Entry to the circle (rectangle) is by permission and only at one of the four corners.

I don't think I'm cool enough to go to a milonga, haha. Smiling is forbidden? Ok I know it doesn't look good but do you get blacklisted for it or something?

[I do two dances regularly and obsessively. One attracts huge numbers of people on a regular basis and has a wide range of dances up and down the country including week nights. The other serves a relatively small clique of people and has a huge drop out rate. One adopts a friendly, embrace all-comers and dance with pretty well anybody and everybody (unless they are gropers or dangerous.). The other is, to use your word bitchy, and adopts a series of nods and winks to make rejecting other people less uncomfortable for the rejecter. (I imagine the rejectee feels just as rejected if he is close up or on the other side of the room).

The three song tanda has some value because traditional tango tracks are short, often not much more than 2 minutes. You need to dance three to make it worth standing up. I do observe the three dance rule because not dancing the second or third would be akin to walking off the dance floor mid song in salsa. I would never do that without a very good reason. However the first song may let you get to learn each others style and then enjoy two more dances or it may just tell you that the guy has no style or has say a rough lead so you grit your teeth and prepare to plod around the room or get manhandled for two more dances.

No issues with this. Sharing the dance floor means some rules are just good sense, LOD for example. So giving way to dancers on the floor is reasonable and not part of the etiquette that bugs me.
Last edited by An Thropologist : 22-10-2014 at 23:26

Not as such People will be looking down their noses and whispering behind their hands. Imagine a Jane Austen style ball, got the picture .

There are also different rooms for modern music and traditional (i,.e. old and scratchy) music. The trad folk don't like more than one tanda of modern stuff. They'll use that to go to the loo.

I was at this milonga a year ago. Stills but you can get a good feel for it. Modern music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgZoE_CIT9E

Interesting! Think I saw that routine live.

I've danced a lot of AT in the past with eyes closed ( don't do AT nowadays). Also have danced ballroom tango with hip contact and no arms.

Generally I find following a Latin lead in social dancing easier than Ballroom ( Samba excepted - have never danced social Samba or Paso, whatever that might be!)

I have often wondered if there is such a thing as a social Paso. I can't quite imagine it. As for social samba - I guess you need a carnival to follow!

I believe Paso started as a social dance in France. Social samba I have seen on cruises. Usually not very pretty although wouldn't want to generalise.

here ya go https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnUoeUmg-4s

That looked dangerous. No traffic management rules it seems.

I have been to a few weddings where they have danced Sevillanas - not the same as Paso I know.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJbk2bNnZU0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8fpYIuwxcw

or just find a space in a bar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38TmYBfgNGM

One of my favourite followers was told not to stick her bum out so much dancing AT. I love the look of bums sticking out.

What is the panel's view on the follower dancing with an arched back and so sticking her bum out in Argentine Tango?

Something like this at 4:05

http://youtu.be/FgZoE_CIT9E?t=4m5s

great stuff love spanish music and the dancing they do

question for Jennifer F and Kaycee did you see ITT last night? and Ian's remarks on Jake's quickstep ??? no one seems to have picked up on it elsewhere - but he did say that the beginning of it was not right and the technique was wrong - which of course is down to Janette - wonder what is wrong with it ?

think she will produce a Burn The Floor quickstep full of trot and charleston - which thinking about it is what Karen did

No I did not see it unfortunately, that comment from Ian sounds very interesting ! I would love to see the clip if there is one ?

Janette comes from a Salsa background. Has she danced a reasonable Ballroom? As a great dancer she should be able to pick it up.

I've got to admit I didn't think her posture looked quite right in their waltz (then again I'm an absolute beginner when it comes to ballroom so I could be completely wrong, but to me something just looked slightly off)

Janette is not very good at Ballroom, and it does take a long time to hone skills and technique. She is better than she was last year, so she is improving.

Just had a quick look on the BBCiplayer and it is a quick/short clip. Ian of course has had the benefit of watching it in full. From what I can see at the basics at the start, for me there is a timing issue, and the rise and fall is in the wrong place, as Ian said. Jake is dropping out of the first Q too fast and should still be on toes on both Quicks, to lower before the next slows. There is no smoothness, very stilted , up on toes then dropping like a brick.

At least he has a rise and fall this time even if it is in the wrong place (which admittedly may not be Janette's fault except he is starting from zero not having done it properly in waltz).