Here's a post I just sent to Tango-L...
Please comment if you have a comment...
What's the general consensus...after leading a follower to the cross (with a juicy pause immediately after the cross)...and transferring her weight to her left foot...should she keep her right foot behind (in the crossed postion) (not "unwinding")...or should she "unwind" (uncross) her right foot and bring it to the collected position?
My personal opinion is that unwinding/uncrossing, executed in a certain way, can be much more aesthetically pleasing...both in feeling and observation...plus, the follower is then "more" ready to take a forward step (in extremely rare cases - like a practica) or a side step (more common).
When her right foot is crossed behind, it makes a forward or side step awkward if not impossible, and the only option is a back step (for her).
Granted, this does not apply to the cross without a juicy pause, when you walk right through the cross, there is no time to unwind....there is the weight transfer and then the walk out in a back step...
This also does not delve into the subject of "led" unwinding options...
What does everyone think - when in a "pause" just after the cross - should a follower unwind on her own or not?
Alex
P.S. Now that I have finished this...I know what the majority will say...
2 comments:
To start off the comments...my comment is this...
Unwinding is good for beginners who have not fully grasped the (almost infinite) realm of possibility...but it flies in the face of the tango belief system that EVERYTHING is led...even the unwinding...
A more experienced follower automatically unwinding blocks the possibility of LED unwinding (or un-crossing) options...such as a volcada from the cross (right leg) to the close side...which is really cool...
I really believe everything, yes everything, should be led.
The best thing that can happen is that vy happy coincidence the follow had done what you intended to lead anyway - but then you're not really dancing .. like dancing with followers who are too nervously quick off the mark - who don't resist and make you work for your dance.
The worst is that they will "unwind" into a position and prevent your next step and direction - horrible! Why limit the possiblities? I dislike dancing wih ladies who always do a cross - led or unled. In the end you can't paint much and express yourself because everything is beheaded by a cross!
Think of the "no-cross" steps - lovely to some music. But only if everything is led. Think of changing the weight back and forth in the cross - fanstastic!
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