Tango is not only a fascinating dance but also a fascinating philosophy, culture and lifestyle. The search of tango is the search of connection, love, fellowship, unity, harmony and beauty, i.e., an idealism that is not consistent with the dehumanizing reality of the modern world. The world divides us into individuals, but tango unites us into a team. In tango we are not individualists, feminists, nationalists, Democrats, Republicans, etc., but interconnected and interdependent members of the human family. Tango calls us to tear down the walls, to build bridges, and to regain humanity through altruism, connection, cooperation, accommodation, and compromise. It is a dance that teaches the world to love.
April 21, 2019
Rock Steps and Variations of Ocho Cortado
Rock refers to moving your weight to one leg and then to the other when the legs are apart. It is typically done in quick-quick-slow timing: (1) stretching one leg forward/backward and transfering 50 percent of the body weight to it (quick), (2) pushing with that leg to transfer weight back to the standing leg (quick), (3) collecting the acting leg and changing weight to it to free the standing leg (slow). Rock can be done in various patterns: forward and backward, right and left, forward and side, with pivot or without pivot, etc. Because the position of the standing leg can be altered at (2) and the position of the acting leg can be altered at (3), rock can be used to change the direction of travel. The following video shows you how.
This video includes three parts. The first part demonstrates the basic forward-back-collecting rock pattern. For the convenience of explanation I will describe mainly from the leader's perspective: (1) He steps forward with his left leg without collecting his right leg (quick). (2) He pushes with his left leg to transfer weight back to his right leg (quick). (3) He collects his left leg and changes weight to it to free the right leg (slow). He then repeats the pattern starting with the other leg. This pattern can also be done diagonally to the left and diagonally to the right. The woman mirrors the man's movements. Note that she does not collect her acting leg when her weight is transfered back to her standing leg. Rather, She keeps her legs spread apart, with the heel of her acting leg remains on the floor, and tilts up the foot to make the movement stylish.
In the second part, the man demonstrates the forward-back-side rock pattern: (1) He steps forward with his left leg without collecting his right leg (quick). (2) He pushes with his left leg to transfer weight back to his right leg (quick). (3) He steps to the side with his left leg and changs weight to it to free the right leg (slow). He then repeats the pattern with the other leg. Note that he makes a 90-degree turn when he rocks to either side. The woman mirrors his movements and swivels her back leg to the right and to the left but keeps her front leg in place.
In the third part, the man demonstrates how to change the direction of travel at the cruzada by using two sets of rock patterns. After leading the woman to the cross, he first uses the forward-back-side rock pattern, starting with his left leg: (1) He steps forward with his left leg to make her step back with her right leg. (2) He pushes with his left leg to transfer weight back to his right leg to make her transfer weight forward to her left leg. (3) He steps to the side with his left leg to make her pivot 90 degree and step on his left with her right leg.
He then uses the forward-back-turn rock pattern with the right leg: (1) He steps forward with his right leg to make her step back with her left leg. (2) He transfers weight back to his left leg after adjusted its position to make her transfers weight forward to her right leg. (3) He pivots to the left to make her step forward with her left leg and povit 180 degree to face him, meantime he changes weight to his right leg. The two rock patterns are combined to form a revised version of ocho cortado, which is done on his left side instead of on his right side as ocho cortado normally is done.
This version of ocho cortado can also be done in the cross system, as demonstrated in the following video in 0:33-0:44.
After leading her into the cross system, the man first uses a forward-back-turn rock pattern executed counterclocwise, starting with his right leg: (1) He steps forward with his right leg to make her step back with her right leg. (2) He twists 90 degree to the left with his right leg and steps back with his left leg to make her change weight forward to her left leg. (3) He continues the left turn with his left leg to make her right leg swivel counterclockwise and land on his left, meantime he changes weight to his right leg.
He then uses a forward-turn-side rock pattern with his left leg: (1) He steps on her right side with his left leg to make her step back with her left leg. (2) He changes weight to his right leg after turning it 90 degree to the left to make her transfer weight forward to her right leg. (3) He steps to the side with his left leg to make her left leg swivel 90 degree counterclockwise and land on her back.
He then steps forward with his right leg, twisting it to make her left leg swivel counterclockwise to form a back-cross, meantime he collects his left leg. (These are done in slow-slow timing.) He then steps back with his right leg to make her do a normal cocho cortado.
Other rock patterns could also be applied at the cruzada, as shown in the following clip.
After leading the woman to the cross, the man first uses a forward-turn-turn rock pattern: (1) He steps forward with his left leg to make her step back with her right leg. (2) He pivots 90 degree to the right with both legs and changes weight to his right leg to make her transfer weight forward to her left leg. (3) He pivots another 90 degree to the right with his right leg to make her step forward with her right leg, meantime he changes weight to his left leg. On her part, the woman uses the back-forward-forward rock pattern: (1) She steps back with her right leg without collecting her left leg. (2) She pushes with her right leg to transfer weight forward to her left leg. (3) She steps forward with her right leg to free her left leg. Note that as she transfers weight back to her right leg in action (1) she tilts up her left foot to make the movement stylish.
The man then uses a right-left-turn rock pattern with the other leg: (1) He steps to the right with his right leg to make her pivot 180 degree with her right leg to face him and her left leg step on his right. (2) He pushes with his right leg to transfer weight back to his left leg to make her transfer weight to her right leg. (3) He pivots 180 degree to the left with his left leg to make her step forward with her left leg and pivot 180 degree to face him, meantime he changes weight to his right leg. On her part, the woman uses the turn-right-forward rock pattern: (1) She pivots 180 degree with her right leg to face him and steps on his right with her left leg. (2) She pushes with her left leg to transfer weight to her right leg. (3) She steps forward with her left leg and pivots 180 degree counterclocwise to face him. Note the dissociation of her body when she steps to and fro on his side. The whole sequence is another creative variation of ocho cortado.
The couple continue to exploit rock patterns in another video.
This time the man first uses a forward-back-back rock pattern executed clockwise. After leading the woman to the cross: (1) He steps forward with his left leg in a clockwise arc to make her step back with her right leg in a clockwise arc. (2) He twists 90 degree to the right with his left leg and steps back with his right leg to make her transfer weight forward to her left leg. (3) He steps back with his left leg to make her right leg step forward to his right.
He then uses a back-side-turn rock pattern with the other leg: (1) He steps back with his right leg to make her step on his right with her left leg. (2) He steps to the side with his left leg to make her step on his left with her right leg. (3) He turns 90 degree to the left to make her step on his left with her left leg and pivot 180 degree to face him, meantime he collects and changes weight to his right leg. The result is a clockwise semicircular version of ocho cortado.
Perhaps you can revise this version by using the same sequence but continuously turning to the left instead of turning to the right to make the entire sequence a counterclocwise circular version of ocho cortado.
Rock step is the most iconic step of the milonguero style of tango that made this style simple, compact, rhythmic and elegant. The patterns described above are only a few in a pool of rock patterns. Familiarizing yourself with these rock patterns will enrich your dance vocabulary and improve your tango. (See How to Dance Milonga.)
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