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TBA |
3+ |
14:00 - 17:30 |
Strictly Tango
Beginners
To introduce the basic principles of the
dance, the concepts of leading and following... you can begin to
dance.
Recent Beginners
To continue developing your tango this course will develop
your vocabulary and fluency.
Strictly Tango course
book here
Study Afternoons
For elementary and intermediate dancers, three hours studying the
principles of one aspect of the dance.
Study Afternoon
book here
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Classifying Classes |
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Classes will be
classified using a specific level or range of levels, a class showing,
for example, 3+ indicates that it is suitable for that level and above,
3-6 means levels 3,4,5 & 6.
It is important to
select classes at an appropriate level for your ability and current
experience. This will ensure that you get the most out of the class in
terms of your own development and also that you will not be placing a
constraint on your fellow students. If you are unsure please ask your
teacher.
Teachers reserve the
right to advise you on suitable classes to maximise your development and
to maintain the integrity and value of the class to all students. They
may ask you to move to a different class if they consider you will
benefit more from this.
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The Levels |
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0 |
general/all
suitable for all levels including beginners. |
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1 |
complete beginners
you have not yet attempted tango, these classes will begin
from first principles. |
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2 |
recent beginners
you
have learnt a little and understand the principles of side, forward
& backwards steps and how to lead and follow, you have developed
fluency when using these basic steps. |
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3 |
elementary
you are confident with the basic steps (side, backwards & forwards),
you can pivot confidently and have some experience with the cross,
ochos and changes of direction; you are able to dance with
responsibility for your own balance. Many dancers will not progress
much further than this but continue to enjoy and explore the dance. |
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4 |
intermediate 1
you are now comfortable with simple turns (giros), you can introduce decorations without
interrupting the flow and with respect to the musicality of the
dance. |
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5 |
intermediate 2
you can incorporate complex turns (giros) e.g. with sacadas and you are confident in your role as a leader or follower;
you are able to hold
your own balance, improvise freely and assume the “other role”, you
want to develop style, technique & precision and explore
possibilities. |
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6 |
advanced
you are technically accomplished dancing with quality and precision;
you can exchange lead and
follow roles and create new movements and dynamics, you are looking
for greater technical diversity and control, and for new opportunities
in the dance. |
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7 |
professionals
for professional tango dancers. |
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8 |
teachers
for those wanting to develop their teaching skills. |
2009 Programme
This includes
our popular beginners and recent beginners courses; some study afternoons
on subjects such as barridas, sacadas and boleos; and some other
surprises.
To see the 2009 Calendar please click
here
Keep up to date by joining the mailing list
here |
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The Practical Stuff
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The Tango Club
8 Hop Gardens
St Martin's Lane
London WC2N 4EH |
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£60 per person,
£110 per couple
Included in the price and after the third class
you are invited to come to the next Tango Tea on the first
Saturday of the following month to try out what you know and
meet some of our regular dancers. This will allow you to
practise in a more social environment, with other dancers and
where you are already familiar with the surroundings.
For details of the tea click
here |
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Members
£25 per person, £45 per couple
pre-study hour £10
Non-Members
£28 per person, £50 per couple
pre-study hour £10 |
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Classes & Definitions
Listen with your Feet - music with Lucy
Two fun workshops to help you find your
sense of rhythm. Keeping your sense of the pulse in the music while
dancing can be extremely challenging, especially for leaders. In these two
workshops we will look at how we are compelled to move to a beat, how we
can play with that impulse and, how to make it part of our essential
movement.
We will look at double time and half time steps in tango and vals. We
will experiment with how different energy creates different results and
explore how and where the music can suggest our movements. We will
definitely have lots of fun and play around with rhythm and listening in
ways you might not expect.
No matter how skilled you are or how big
your tango repertoire these workshops are suitable for all tango
dancers. Come and learn to listen with your feet!
Lucy Hare is a professional double bass
player. She has danced tango for many years and founded the quintet
Tango Volcano. She plays with most of London's orchestras as a freelance
player and also plays with The Tango Club's Greg Warren Wilson in the
Oxford Concert Party, Europe's only Baroque and Tango Orchestra!
Barridas
These are “sweeps” that look as though he
or she is pushing their partner’s foot. These can be initiated by both
leader and follower and introduce a capacity for play once the basic
principles have been mastered.
Boleos
“Flying Legs” these are usually performed
by the follower although it is possible for the leader to introduce them
into his dance. If you aren’t sure what they are watch out for fast
whippy legs behind the follower.
Sacadas
“Displacements” these appear to be one
partner walking through the other and pushing their leg out of the way.
This optical illusion is achieved using a technique that makes it
totally safe and comfortable.
Ganchos
“Hooks” – these are where one partner’s moving leg
goes through the other partner’s legs. This is achieved by interrupting
a step with a leg such that it can’t be completed.
Your Questions....
I've never danced in my
life... will it be hard?
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No. If you
can walk you can tango.
We make the classes fun and friendly and we
encourage students
to help each other.
The pleasure of tango is all to do with responding
to the music - however simply - and your partner, who may be a
complete stranger, and the
music is fantastic!
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Do I have to wear agonising
shoes?
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No, no, no!
Wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes that will not fall off. Leather soles
are easier than crepe or rubber - try them out on a wooden floor, can you
do the twist? Ladies you don't have to wear heels and something with
a
strap is a good idea. |
What
about clothes?
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Please come
to all classes in comfortable clothes. Ladies, if you wear a skirt make
sure you can do a big side step in it without being constrained. Please
bring low supple shoes
(or socks), as well as your normal
dance shoes. |
Do I need a Partner?
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No. You will
dance with everyone, all students have a chance to do everything,
leading and following, and we are careful to ensure that no
one is left out.
We use a booking method that limits the numbers in
a class so that you will get the best possible instruction. We also try
to ensure that the roles are equal in number. However even when we have
equal bookings from both leaders and followers we cannot guarantee that,
on the day, this will be the case. If role numbers are not equal you
will still get good instruction and a chance to dance with everyone. |
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May -
June
Two progressive workshops with Lucy Hare. Each can
be attended without the other but we recommend that you book them
together as the classes are intended to be progressive and have been
designed to be taken together. Priority will be given to those who book
both.
Study Afternoon - 16th May
|
class |
level |
time |
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Listen with your Feet I |
3+ |
14:00 - 17:30 |
book here
Study Afternoon - 30th May
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class |
level |
time |
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Listen with your Feet II |
3+ |
14:00 - 17:30 |
book here
Strictly Tango
13th
June for three weeks
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class |
level |
time |
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Beginners Course |
1 |
13:00 - 15:00 |
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Recent Beginners Course |
2 - 3 |
15:30 - 17:30 |
book here
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July -
August
Study Afternoon - 11th July
Spend an
afternoon understanding the cross, both leading and following. Learn
where it can be introduced and variations that enrich your dance. In
addition to the "traditional" cross we will look at: the "other side",
the "back cross", the "not-cross" and "Christina's cross".
|
class |
level |
time |
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Cross Variations |
3+ |
14:00 - 17:30 |
book here
Study Afternoon - 25th July
Back sacadas are exceptionally beautiful,
can be quite complex, and are physically demanding. This class will
study them in detail - as done by both the leader and the follower. You
should already be able to perform forward sacadas with confidence and
without losing your own balance or unbalancing your partner.
If you did not do
Sacadas II last year you must attend the pre-study hour; this is also a
good opportunity to revise sacadas technique.
|
class |
level |
time |
|
Pre-Study |
|
12:30 - 13:30 |
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Back Sacadas (Sacadas III) |
4+ |
14:00 - 17:30 |
book here
Study Afternoon - 8th August
Find out how to do
those exciting “hooks” – these are where one partner’s moving leg goes
between the other partner’s legs. This is achieved by interrupting a
step with a leg such that that step can’t be completed.
Liz & Greg will teach this class to introduce ganchos so that you
understand the principles and can put them into practice.
|
class |
level |
time |
|
Ganchos I |
3+ |
14:00 - 17:30 |
book here
Strictly Tango
15th August for three weeks
|
class |
level |
time |
|
Beginners Course |
1 |
13:00 - 15:00 |
|
Recent Beginners Course |
2 - 3 |
15:30 - 17:30 |
book here
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September -
October
Study Afternoon - 26th
September
Building on
the previous study afternoon in August, this will take a further look at
more complex ganchos.
If you did not do Ganchos I you must attend the pre-study hour.
|
class |
level |
time |
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Pre-Study |
|
12:30 - 13:30 |
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Ganchos II |
4+ |
14:00 - 17:30 |
book here
Strictly Tango
17th October for three weeks
|
class |
level |
time |
|
Beginners Course |
1 |
13:00 - 15:00 |
|
Recent Beginners Course |
2 - 3 |
15:30 - 17:30 |
book here
|
last
updated 03 June 2009 |
