Ballroom Blitz #018

Video

youtu.be/VFlcDouPmDU

Transcript

Ian: Hey guys and girls of the interwebs I'm Ian,

Lindsey: and I'm Lindsey,

Ian & Lindsey: and this is the Ballroom Blitz.

Lindsey: My hair is a bit silly today. You can all deal.

In this blitz video today we're feeling a bit dramatic so we thought we'd do a little bit of Tango and the figure we're going to show you is the Closed Promenade.

[Demonstration without music]

Lindsey: Tango loves promenade position, but of course we don't want to get into Promenade position and then spend the rest of the track having to do everything in Promenade so it equally loves coming out of our Promenade position; and this is exactly what this figure does. It starts in Promenade so you would have done something beforehand that ended in Promenade and this move gets us back into our classic closed hold again.

One of the main jobs of the leader is of course to lead to let the follower know that we are going into this move and changing our position. So, there's some framework to have a look at as well as the footwork. So, let's turn to Ian and he'll take us through it.

Ian: So leads the action for this step really happens between steps two and three the actual closing nature. Now, this is a Closed Promenade you're going to end with your feet together. The same steps do not necessarily apply if you're going to do an Open Promenade that will be another Blitz topic.

As Lindsey said, we will be in our Promenade Position having done whatever amazing things we have done. We will be ready on the left foot, which is slightly unique from your other Ballroom dances where often you're commencing in [on] your right foot in a promenade position.

So, our first step is going to be straight down the line with a very powerful drive-type slow step. The second step now that you're on this rear foot also has to be quite straight and you can't lead your follow to do anything too dramatic on that step so it's going to be quite straight. But now the action starts.

Slow.

Quick.

And over the second quick I am going to inspire my follow to turn back to closed. I am going to close my position to them as well.

Quick.

And now simply on the final part of the figure we close our feet slow returning to that classic closed-footed Tango position.

Close the knees or the feet depending on what you like and what your Technique is preferring and we're ready for the next figure.

[Demonstration of the leaders steps with counts]

Lindsey: [The] followers steps are what we call the natural opposite of the leaders. We are in promenade position with them they were ready to go on the left we're ready to go on the right and we have a forward walk in promenade another, one coming through on that back foot the left foot, and this is where we should feel the frame at work.

We're ready to take this step through along the similar line but the frame will turn it into a side step by turning the rest of us as well and then it's a simple matter of closing our left foot underneath us. So, we have

[Demonstration of the followers steps with counts]

Lindsey: There will be quite a change in the position of our head the followers change of the head from Promenade to closed is much more dramatic than the leaders and we can have some fun with it just don't hurt yourself. So, I'm looking forward in Promenade by the time I finish though, my head is well off to the left.

Ian: So leads you want to have a strong lead between step two and three as we've mentioned, and as Lindsey mentioned follows you are expecting the action to happen between those steps. But how do we make it strong but not too strong? How do we make it powerful but not pushing your partner over?

We want to observe just that nice Tango frame where we're not quite hugging the uh...

Ian: what's this part called?

Lindsey: shoulder blade!

Ian: the shoulder blade… but, we are hugging the rib cage. So, if we are in promenade position I'm going to take a

Slow.

Quick.

And now I'm moving all of my body I'm closing myself I'm closing the follower I'm using that extended extra contact

Quick.

putting us back in that closed position and then closing the feet.

[Demonstration with counts]

[Demonstration with music]

Lindsey: So that is the Closed Promenade such a useful figure in the Tango world really allowing you to play and shift between those promenade and those closed figures. So, try it out have some fun with it be dramatic stay nice and low stay safe and we'll see you next time.