Homer
& Cristina's Sample Class Titles and
Descriptions (we've tried to loosely sort them by
all-level, mostly close, mostly open, advanced, and
other ideas). Some have descriptions. We can
provide more descriptions as requested or adjust
the topic or levels as needed.
All Level Ideas:
“Musicality Toolkit 101”
This all-level foundation class usually focuses on one topic: either tango/vals/milonga rhythms, understanding phrasing, or a few other musical ideas and develops them from the ground up. Will be tailor made for each class...
“The D’Arienzo Surprise”
This class, based on the rhythms of the Juan D’Arienzo orchestra will begin with a few games to get us warmed up and connected and then build on the concept of adding freeze and flow elements to the dance.
'Catch The Moon' - This class is composed of a series of games intended for all levels and designed to develop Connection, Musicality, and Floorcraft.
"The Art of Floor Craft" - Navigation games, exercises, and techniques that Cristina and I have learned over the past dozen or so years of social dancing.
Mostly Close Ideas:
‘Close Embrace Left Turn & Elegant Open Ocho Exit with Carlos Di Sarli’
'The Vanilla Bean Ocho & Baby Back Volcada with Edgardo Donato'
‘Dynamic Turns & Wraps in Close Embrace with Pedro Laurenz’
‘Transitions via the Forward Ocho with Alberto Podesta’
‘Close Embrace Surprises with Enrique Rodriguez’
Mostly Open Ideas:
'Elasticity in the Open Embrace with Julio De Caro'
'The Elegant Step-Over Colgada from Close to Open with Lucio Demare'
'The Follower's Forward Sacada from Close to Open with Francisco Canaro'
'The Leader's Back Sacada from Close to Open with Miguel Calo'
‘The Pivot/No-Pivot Wrap with Rodolfo Biagi’
‘Fun Open Embrace Milonga Movements with Juan D’Arienzo’
More Advanced Ideas:
“The Body Spiral Connection – Overturned Movements Made Easy”
In this advanced partner-only class we will develop and refine the body lead concept and follower’s ‘engaged elasticity’ embrace technique to improve communication in difficult to execute spiral movements, including, dynamic open turns, follower’s sacadas, and overturned ganchos, etc.
“Extreme Enrosques for Leader's & Follower's”
This advanced class will develop the forward enrosque (cork screw) technique for both the leader and the follower thru a flexible approach of options that allow each student to optimize their unique shape and energy. For the follower this translates to a variety of embellishments from forward pivot movements. For the leader the enrosque is a versatile tool that can add a distinctive musical accent or be used for dynamic turns or an aid to sacada set-up. The fabled ‘impossible-to-lead’ weight-change sacada enrosque for the follower “i.e. dirty-enrosque” and a few other fun applications of enrosque’s will also be approached.
"The Elegant Leader's Back Enrosque"
Similar to the extreme erosque's class above but with a focus on the leader's back enrosque.
"The Hard Side" - This seminar format class is focused on understanding why things are hard vs easy for the follower and/or leader. The focus will be on follower's pivot technique for Ochos, Rebotas (switch-steps), Boleos, and Sacadas.
"Volcadas & Beyond" - This class builds on the fundamental structure of leading and following basic forward and backward volcadas into several expanded concepts and ideas.
Other Ideas:
'The Art of the Wrap' - This class presents and refines the leg wrap via turns and ochos including options for the follower's exit.
'One Dynamic Alteration' - This class develops one alteration which can be done in open and close embrace with rhythmic variations.
'His and Her Pitter-Patter' - This class explores various techniques for playful interactions between leader and follower.
'Selective Hearing' - Sorting out and emphasizing 4 categories of musical expression we most often use in tango including Rhythm, Melody, Transitions, and Lyrics.
"The Walking Game" - Fundamental yet advanced ways to connect in open or close while walking forward or backward (ending with a polished pattern to enhance this feeling)...
"What a Drag" - Barridas or tango drags and the 'organic' technique to lead/follow based on the turn.
"Now There's a Catch" - stops, traps, grabs - fun movements that employ musical breaks and rhythmic accepts, with lifts.
"Kiss Me Goodnight & Other Such Rhythmic Oddities" - playing with tango syncopa and other 'loosely based' rhythmic ideas using simple but interesting movements.
"The Art of Boleos" - This class explores the basic principles of the body-centered "send" and "rebound" energy needed to create the whip like action of the boleo as well as several categorical shapes the follower can choose to employ. (It can also be taught at a more advanced level if requested)
"Step-Over Colgadas" - In this class we will break down the anatomy of several kinds of step-over colgadas while reinforcing their basic principles (including posture, embrace, entering and exiting)
Other favorite class titles include:
(descriptions provided upon request)
Flowing vs. Freezing
The Use of Height Change in Tango
Quality of Movement
Tango Accident, Tango Now & The Art of Improvisation
The Overturned Experience
Dynamic Turns in Any Embrace
To Ocho or Ocho-Cortada is the Question
We can teach other topics of your choice. This list is only food for thought. Also, we can adjust the level of any class as the need be...
Note: More Class Ideas can be found for a time being on our old website...
All Level Ideas:
“Musicality Toolkit 101”
This all-level foundation class usually focuses on one topic: either tango/vals/milonga rhythms, understanding phrasing, or a few other musical ideas and develops them from the ground up. Will be tailor made for each class...
“The D’Arienzo Surprise”
This class, based on the rhythms of the Juan D’Arienzo orchestra will begin with a few games to get us warmed up and connected and then build on the concept of adding freeze and flow elements to the dance.
'Catch The Moon' - This class is composed of a series of games intended for all levels and designed to develop Connection, Musicality, and Floorcraft.
"The Art of Floor Craft" - Navigation games, exercises, and techniques that Cristina and I have learned over the past dozen or so years of social dancing.
Mostly Close Ideas:
‘Close Embrace Left Turn & Elegant Open Ocho Exit with Carlos Di Sarli’
'The Vanilla Bean Ocho & Baby Back Volcada with Edgardo Donato'
‘Dynamic Turns & Wraps in Close Embrace with Pedro Laurenz’
‘Transitions via the Forward Ocho with Alberto Podesta’
‘Close Embrace Surprises with Enrique Rodriguez’
Mostly Open Ideas:
'Elasticity in the Open Embrace with Julio De Caro'
'The Elegant Step-Over Colgada from Close to Open with Lucio Demare'
'The Follower's Forward Sacada from Close to Open with Francisco Canaro'
'The Leader's Back Sacada from Close to Open with Miguel Calo'
‘The Pivot/No-Pivot Wrap with Rodolfo Biagi’
‘Fun Open Embrace Milonga Movements with Juan D’Arienzo’
More Advanced Ideas:
“The Body Spiral Connection – Overturned Movements Made Easy”
In this advanced partner-only class we will develop and refine the body lead concept and follower’s ‘engaged elasticity’ embrace technique to improve communication in difficult to execute spiral movements, including, dynamic open turns, follower’s sacadas, and overturned ganchos, etc.
“Extreme Enrosques for Leader's & Follower's”
This advanced class will develop the forward enrosque (cork screw) technique for both the leader and the follower thru a flexible approach of options that allow each student to optimize their unique shape and energy. For the follower this translates to a variety of embellishments from forward pivot movements. For the leader the enrosque is a versatile tool that can add a distinctive musical accent or be used for dynamic turns or an aid to sacada set-up. The fabled ‘impossible-to-lead’ weight-change sacada enrosque for the follower “i.e. dirty-enrosque” and a few other fun applications of enrosque’s will also be approached.
"The Elegant Leader's Back Enrosque"
Similar to the extreme erosque's class above but with a focus on the leader's back enrosque.
"The Hard Side" - This seminar format class is focused on understanding why things are hard vs easy for the follower and/or leader. The focus will be on follower's pivot technique for Ochos, Rebotas (switch-steps), Boleos, and Sacadas.
"Volcadas & Beyond" - This class builds on the fundamental structure of leading and following basic forward and backward volcadas into several expanded concepts and ideas.
Other Ideas:
'The Art of the Wrap' - This class presents and refines the leg wrap via turns and ochos including options for the follower's exit.
'One Dynamic Alteration' - This class develops one alteration which can be done in open and close embrace with rhythmic variations.
'His and Her Pitter-Patter' - This class explores various techniques for playful interactions between leader and follower.
'Selective Hearing' - Sorting out and emphasizing 4 categories of musical expression we most often use in tango including Rhythm, Melody, Transitions, and Lyrics.
"The Walking Game" - Fundamental yet advanced ways to connect in open or close while walking forward or backward (ending with a polished pattern to enhance this feeling)...
"What a Drag" - Barridas or tango drags and the 'organic' technique to lead/follow based on the turn.
"Now There's a Catch" - stops, traps, grabs - fun movements that employ musical breaks and rhythmic accepts, with lifts.
"Kiss Me Goodnight & Other Such Rhythmic Oddities" - playing with tango syncopa and other 'loosely based' rhythmic ideas using simple but interesting movements.
"The Art of Boleos" - This class explores the basic principles of the body-centered "send" and "rebound" energy needed to create the whip like action of the boleo as well as several categorical shapes the follower can choose to employ. (It can also be taught at a more advanced level if requested)
"Step-Over Colgadas" - In this class we will break down the anatomy of several kinds of step-over colgadas while reinforcing their basic principles (including posture, embrace, entering and exiting)
Other favorite class titles include:
(descriptions provided upon request)
Flowing vs. Freezing
The Use of Height Change in Tango
Quality of Movement
Tango Accident, Tango Now & The Art of Improvisation
The Overturned Experience
Dynamic Turns in Any Embrace
To Ocho or Ocho-Cortada is the Question
We can teach other topics of your choice. This list is only food for thought. Also, we can adjust the level of any class as the need be...
Note: More Class Ideas can be found for a time being on our old website...