Category Archives: The Preparatory Cycle

In response to: Challenging the 8-Week Myth

Posted on August 12, 2010 by LimerickTango

To put it simply it’s not that I think someone can learn tango in 8 classes but that there are 8 lessons to be learned. How many times the student needs to receive the lesson before they learn it is up to them. Continue reading →

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Karate Kid Tango

Posted on August 4, 2010 by LimerickTango

Had tango its roots on the shores of Tokyo bay instead of the river Plate I could be a Mr Miyagi character and dispense esoteric lessons along the following plan. Week 1: Standing up straight, feet together, moving your weight … Continue reading →

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Preparatory VIII: Mark 2

Posted on October 15, 2008 by LimerickTango

The basico cruzado. Dear Jesus there is so much going in this step. Do this and this and this, but not this… and don’t forget to do this. However, the advantage of the preparatory cycle is that you get to … Continue reading →

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Preparatory VII: Mark 2

Posted on October 8, 2008 by LimerickTango

The walk, a  cambio de frente and the rock step. Start with the walk. Then introduce the rock step first because a leader trapped in a direction they can’t get out of is lost. Finally add the cambio de frente, … Continue reading →

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Preparatory VI: Mark 2

Posted on October 1, 2008 by LimerickTango

The walk and turns. Includes an exercise where the structure of the turn is performed by both partners together in a line. They both forward ocho, sidestep, backward ocho. It’s the first real introduction to disassociation and thinking where her … Continue reading →

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Preparatory V: Mark 2

Posted on September 24, 2008 by LimerickTango

Seeing as how I went backward ochos then a mordida, which is somewhat based on backward ochos, and last week was forward ochos I think the ocho curtado thingy fits in nicely here. It is also an opportunity to introduce … Continue reading →

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Preparatory IV: Mark 2

Posted on September 17, 2008 by LimerickTango

Formerly Preparatory III the walk with forward ochos got bumped a week in the shuffle. Eight weeks later I am still of the opinion that the delicacy of forward ochos makes them difficult to teach. They are however an excellent … Continue reading →

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Preparatory III: Mark 2

Posted on September 10, 2008 by LimerickTango

Rather than teach backward ochos one week and forward ochos the next I swapped in mordidas instead, which used to be preparatory v. The two classes segue nicely from one to the other while at the same time not making … Continue reading →

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Preparatory II: Mark 2

Posted on September 3, 2008 by LimerickTango

I am this close to doing to the open embrace the same thing I did to the cross. I am coming to the opinion that starting beginners in an open embrace just panders to peoples wariness of close connection. Yes … Continue reading →

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Preparatory Cycle: review

Posted on August 26, 2008 by LimerickTango

Right, eight weeks down, time to look back over what I have done. I’ve covered ochos, backward and forward, turns, mordidas, the dreaded basic eight and one or two other steps all executed from the walk. So walk, ocho, walk. … Continue reading →

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