Style Points
A Review of Women's Technique
I forgot to say there are two El Gallegos (well, actually I think there are three). We’ve shown about a million pictures of Jorge Garcia, the El Gallego from Devoto, but we haven’t included another very good milonguero, Roberto Calaza, the El Gallego from Avellaneda. So we’ll make up for it here. Early one afternoon at Leonesa when the floor wasn’t’ crowded I shot some video of El Gallego de Avellaneda dancing with Myriam Pincen, and also with Alej. All three of them have excellent technique, and comparing Alej and Myriam is a good way to compare and review the way the best women dance. All of these pictures show the balanced, upright posture and relaxed connection of the great social dancers of Buenos Aires. Notice how similarly Alej and Myriam move, and how El Gallego displays the characteristics of the great milongueros we have shown previously. (Myriam has a pink top, and Alej is all in black):
Women should reach back with a straight leg. Note the parallel lines of the leading legs in the first and last
pictures. Also note that Myriam and Alej tend to keep their heels down on the weight bearing foot.
The best women step onto a straight leg when moving forward, just like the men.
Alej and Myriam have never taken classes together, nor have they danced regularly in the same clubs—but notice how similarly they move on the dance floor. To me, this is striking example of how the efficient style of the milongueros and milongueras has evolved in response to the special conditions of the Buenos Aires milongas.
Note that stepping onto a straight leg does not mean the legs are always straight.
Here Alej and El Gallego sink down a bit as they gather energy for the next step.
The entry to the ocho cortado.
Everybody stays up, relaxed, and connected at the chest.
It's important to walk straight a line...
…and never, ever laugh when you dance tango!
