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Last Revised 4 July 2004

The drawing below shows a view of the current Curriculum, a subset of which is offered at any point in time. Other courses may be added to the Curriculum based on interest. Please submit your comments or suggestions for other courses on the Ask Shahrukh or Mailing List/Contacts page, or if you prefer just send e-mail to tango@shahrukhmerchant.com.

Click on a box below to see a detailed description of that course. Courses are progressively more advanced moving from the left to the right of the diagram.

Basic principles essential to all Tango. Includes salida, crusada, ochos, axis and balance, techniques. [Click for more ...]

Overview: The curriculum above is based on much analysis of the sometimes complicated dependencies between elements in the Tango. It is of necessity a simplification, but most students will find this a useful progression. Tango Fundamentals teaches the fundamental techniques of movement in Tango, such as the principles of axis and equilibrium as it applies to Tango, walking in Tango, the principles of leading and following, etc. Various figures such as ochos, crusasa, etc., are also introduced. This is followed by Tango Essential Elements A/B which together teach, refine, or introduce all the fundamental vocabulary of Tango (ochos, giros (intro), barridas, paradas, boleos (intro), crusada (refine), etc.) at an Intermediate level. Tango Essential Elements A and B can be taken in either order, and after completion of both a student should be able to dance a respectable Tango with any other qualified Tango dancer. To progress beyond this, the Giros and Variations is essential, as the giro is one of the most important (and difficult) elements of Tango, and essential for Advanced Topics in Tango (which may include boleos, volcadas, etc.). Tango in Close Embrace I/II teach the Buenos Aires style of Tango dancing, where partners dance closer together, and the techniques of connection are central to the feeling of this style of Tango. Milonga (the second dance in the Tango family) is taught exclusively with traspie or syncopations. It can be learned without knowing Tango, but most dancers rightfully start with Tango simply because it is played more often at dances. Tango Vals (Waltz) is the third dance in the Tango family. Owing to its speed and turning tendency, and its use of many of the Tango figures, it is best learned after some knowledge of Tango in Close Embrace.

  1. Tango Fundamentals (Newcomers and Beginners). Teaches basic principles essential to Tango. Although it is open to all levels and essential for beginners to Tango, it is not an easy course, as most of the key elements of movement in Tango (balance, leading and following, position, sense of axis, connection with partner) are covered in this course along with an introduction to some of the basic figures of Tango (salida, ochos, caminar, cruzada, cunita). The principles in this course will stand you in good stead for all your future Tango, regardless of where you may study your Tango later. Many of those already dancing Tango may also benefit significantly from this course if they have developed certain counterproductive habits in leading (rushing, unawareness of woman's position and balance) and following (anticipation, balance/axis problems) that are holding them back. Open to all levels.
     
  2. Tango Essential Elements A (Advanced Beginner, Intermediate). Development of solid technique in some of the essential elements of Tango using primarily figures that develop from the "crossed foot" position and the back ochos, including the alternate salida to crusada, back ochos, back half giro, crossed-foot elements, introduction to displacements and their dynamics, intro to embellishments (women), floorcraft (men). Prerequisite: Tango Fundamentals or Tango Essential Elements B or previous experience in Tango with good technique.
     
  3. Tango Essential Elements B (Advanced Beginner, Intermediate). A complementary class to Essential Elements A (the two taken together, in either order, provide a solid foundation in all the essential elements of Tango, and have very little overlap). Essential elements of the Tango using primarily figures that develop from the "parallel foot" position and the forward ochos, including the salida to crusada, forward ochos, displacements and their dynamics, forward half giro, parallel foot elements, embellishments (women), floorcraft and navigation (men). Prerequisite: Tango Fundamentals or Tango Essential Elements B or previous experience in Tango with good technique.
     
  4. Giros and Variations (Intermediate, Advanced). The giro (Tango grapevine turn) is considered the most important element of the Tango. It is also one of the most difficult to master as it involves a complementary dynamic with your partner, a more assertive role for the woman (while retaining her sensitivity to leads), and technical proficiency and precision as well. But mastering the giro and the underlying concepts is essential to mastering virtually all other Tango elements, from ochos to boleos, barridas and sacadas (all of which are worked on during this class). Prerequisite: Tango Essential Elements A and B or equivalent experience with solid technique.
     
  5. Tango in Close Embrace I (Intermediate, Advanced). The "Close Embrace" style of Tango is really the normal style of Tango as danced in Buenos Aires, and is the style that I emphasize in all my teaching past the beginning level. It provides a far better feeling of connection between partners, and more subtlety in leading and following. It is also highly adaptable and those who learn the close embrace style can easily adapt to more open styles (but usually not vice versa). Subject matter includes rhythm, connection with the partner, musicality, adaptation of all basic elements of Tango (as taught in Essential Elements A and B) to the Close Embrace style. Introduction of the ocho cortado. See the additional discussion on the Close Embrace and Milonguero Style of Tango in the Ask Shahrukh FAQ. Prerequisite: Tango Essential Elements A and B or equivalent experience with solid technique.
     
  6. Tango in Close Embrace II (Advanced). Additional variations particularly suited to the "Close Embrace" style, with further refinement of technique. Giros in close embrace, ocho cortado variations, syncopations, adaptation of paradas, and advanced elements like boleos and barridas, to the Close Embrace style. Prerequisite: Tango in Close Embrace I and Giros & Variations.
     
  7. Advanced Topics in Tango (Advanced). A variety of topics in Tango at the Advanced level, which will change from session to session. May include sacadas, volcadas, colgadas, more advanced barridas, boleos and ganchos, special topics focusing on men or women, etc. Prerequisite: Tango Essential Elements A and B or equivalent experience with solid technique.
     
  8. Tango Vals (Advanced). The Tango Vals (Waltz) uses some of the figures of the Tango, adds some of its own, is done to a Waltz rhythm, turns a lot, and moves fast! As with Milonga, the Vals is rarely taught in the Boston area but again makes up 25% of songs played at Tango dances. This makes the feeling and technique very different from Tango even though many of the figures are similar. It also makes knowledge of the "Close Embrace" style very helpful since the combination of turns and speed requires closer connection with your partner. It also makes it a little more difficult to learn; hence, Introduction to Tango Vals is recommended for those who are already comfortable with their Tango at an Intermediate level. Prerequisite: Tango in Close Embrace I. (Giros and Variations is recommended.)
     
  9. Milonga with Traspie I (Advanced Beginner, Intermediate). The dance of Milonga is infrequently taught in the Boston area; yet 25% of songs played at Tango dances are Milongas! This class introduces Milonga & elements of the traspie (syncopations), essential to the “feel” of the dance but rarely learned by most dancers. We dispel the notion that "Milonga is Tango done faster"; it is a different dance with an entirely different feeling and largely different vocabulary. Prerequisite: Some previous partner dance experience (in any dance). Experience in Tango is helpful but not required.
     
  10. Milonga with Traspie II (Intermediate). Continuation of Milonga with Traspie. Focus primarily on additional figures with traspie, refinement of technique for leading and following traspie, when to use traspie, asymmetrical figures (different parts for men and women), giros in Milonga.

What about embellishments? What about leading and following? "Why don't you have a special class on embellishments or on leading and following?" Embellishments and decorations are an intrinsic part of Tango and embellishments appropriate to the level and subject of the class are included in all classes. Leading and following are even more fundamental and all classes focus extensively on leading and following the elements and figures that are taught in the class. (Nothing is taught as a series of "footprints-on-the-floor" steps because that simply doesn't work in Tango.)

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