I’m at the tail end of another semester of tango classes at ASU. Even though enrollment is down from previous years, the enthusiasm and interest in tango still manages to be there. It surprises me each semester what brings the students to try something like Argentine Tango. Some are curious, some come for their friends, or because of their friends, and some just need something different from their usual; a stress-reliever too.
As I am almost done with grades I am excited that this Saturday’s workshop is on volcadas. The verb volcar translates to overturn, like when a car overturns. I looked up the definition in Spanish as I was trying to tie a blog in with reminders of the weekend workshop. The Spanish dictionary suggest that you are turning something so it is no longer in its normal position but on a side. From these definitions it would sound like we would be practicing handstands or rolling around on the floor! It’s a funny idea that this word defines such a much wanted move in tango! The leader does take the follower off of her normal position but does not put her on her side, thankfully.
I remember when I was first exposed to the infamous volcada by an Argentine and an American teacher. As I watched as they dissected and explained how to execute it I found that it completely made sense to my visual learning sensibilities. The trick is in the axes! (not the chopping ones but the ones that we need to be centered on – our axis!) I told a student recently that I still think sacadas are so much harder than volcadas to learn and to execute. Well, you can be the judge. Saturday’s workshop starts at 12 – 1:30pm at the Solana Tango Room. $15 and RSVP’ing would be great.
See you soon.