Tango :: The "Up" Lead

Generally, I try to shy away from technique related posts, because they are hard to verbalize on paper.

But, I figgered out something yesterday. I like to doing a little thing, it's kinda like a very tight cut ocho, not the ocho cortado tipico that we all know. It also has the qualities of a reverse volcada - to the leader's right (the easy side).

The leader does a very quick (left) "side together fwd left" step so he is in crossed feet and stepping forward with his left foot...then does a slight clockwise contra-body torsion and weight shift back to the right foot at the same time....essentially "popping" the follower's right foot into a reverse cross...

My point is...if you add a bit of uplead...so you are doing a contra-body clockwise torsion (ever so slight)...shifting your weight back to your right/trailing foot...and doing the uplead (ever so slightly) all at the same time...the effect is magnificent!

(it's the uplead part that came to me in an epiphany yesterday)

You will find yourself in ultimate control of her right foot...speed, intensity, trajectory, depth, energy...that "pop" will be amazing...

And, don't forget the subtle pause afterwards, allowing her to recover/resolve/uncross...and walk out...

Try it and let me know your thoughts...

Also, let me know if there is a name for this animal...I will try to upload a video of it tomorrow...

P.S. there might even be a small diagonal/side step with the right foot (by the lead) to get her axis over there so the right foot goes behind the left...

P.P.S. and, you can do only one, or chain together three or four in a row for effect...file this under "cool moves"...