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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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.)
- 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.
- 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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