General Technique
Argentine Tango General Technique
Good technique will help to communicate without words.
Lady
When Man lifts, Lady feet together in "T" position and just collect and wait.
Wait for lead in "T" position: two straight legs, thighs together (no gap), free foot crosses in the back behind standing foot, toe to heel (or instep to heel). Aim for "T" position.
When feeling Man's intention, first reach with straight leg (either to side, or back, or front)
Reaching back: hip turned, but don't lift hip. Hip flat.
Reaching forward: stretch, always a bit cross.
Reaching to side: don't lead with hip, don't raise the hip, keep hip with standing leg, just extend leg to side.
For bigger steps - lower into standing leg
Create nice leg line for a moment before moving weight onto new foot when feeling the lead from Man.
Lady: toes open/turned out when stepping, both forward and backward.
Lady always collect feet together (thighs together) before stepping to side for better leg line (no gap in thighs), including LF in esolution (LF closes to RF first before stepping to L side).
Lady always make sure to not let Man pass her - her hip is always in front of Man, not going behind Man (when Lady's RF goes back, turned out)
Lower, get leg there first before getting body there. Do not move leg and body at the same time, so there is always a moment with just the legs, showing leg line.
Pivot: Transfer body weight onto foot, reach straight axis (with feet in T waiting position) first before pivoting. Do not pivot while/in middle of transferring weight.
Think about leg is starting from higher waist level, not from hip crease. That will help elongate leg, creating leg line.
Body more forward, not backward, keep forward pitch, especially for ochos, molinete back steps.
Leave arm to Man, reduce tension in arm and hands. Pay attention in ochos, rondes, movement is in hips, less tension in upper body, don't use Man. Arm will contract and expand with the goal to not disturb Man's arm/frame. Focus on the connection point.
Transition between figures: Longer time for transition, breathe in, lift. Don't rush.
During hooks etc. no shaping left or right or back, keep upper body pretty straight up and down, like sitting.
Ronde: start rotating hips first, when hips rotates to max, then leg start ronde circle, then hip can rotate a little extra. Do not push Man using hands.
Changing weight in place: rainbow feeling, but not rise, and not going under. often used to at starting of dance, or to find beat
Changing walking direction:
When Lady walking back, it feels like Lady's body/weight more fwd, chest is on ball of foot. Man is "pushing" Lady, placing her. Lady feels resistance.
When Lady changes direction to move fwd (e.g. fwd ochos), Lady feels like the weight is more back, her head is over her heels (doesn't have to show much), but feeling is "pulling" Man.
Man
Man lift Lady with rib cage.
Primary points of connection are right side of rib cage, right forearm on lady's back. Secondary is left hand.
Leader's movement can be independent of the lead. Leader can move around follower without leading any movement on part of follower, and leader can lead follower to move without making any movement himself.
To stop follower from moving, give slight lift in rib cage and right arm. If there is good connection, to follower it will feel as if she is lifted up on her toes. The follower's free foot will remain free, until the leader leads the next movement.
A small turn in frame, which should come primarily from pulling shoulder blades back, translates to large turn in follower's hips.
When leading into cruzada, leader does not turn whole torso right, he pulls back right shoulder blade slightly, to lead follower to turn her hips to make room for her to step with leader outside left.
To lead a step to side from stop, there is a little windup. For example, to lead step to leader's left, leader will lift up slightly, move weight slightly to right, and then lower and extend left foot to left. This both lets follower know what step is coming, and also makes very clear what foot leader's weight is on.
Man's checkpoints:
Beginning, Salida, transition, Resolution