(i)CBM

Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile?
"CBM," actually - Counter Body Movement. Ouch.

A&W were so sweet to watch the angels this afternoon while we went to an Argentine Tango Intensive Workshop at the Metronome Dance Center. W ran the Nike's Women's Marathon this morning, and A ran the last 10 miles with her. Then they babysat the boys the rest of the afternoon while I got my butt kicked dancing.

It was a lot harder than I thought it would be. It didn't help that we were a 1/2 hour late. Having done some beginning Waltz and Fox Trot, and lots of Swing, I thought it wouldn't be too hard to pick-up. How more wrong could I have been?!

Counter Body Movement kicked my butt. I had a hard time keeping my hips straight and turning my shoulders. The "lead" was in the shoulders to convey whether the follower should cross or un-cross her legs.

Here's a video of the 8-count basic pattern we started off learning. Click Me (Window Media)

It's a beautiful dance. I love it. Right up there with Lindy Hop.

Observations (or misconceptions) after a couple hours learning Argentine Tango:
1. CBM! (see above)
2. At this early learning stage, it is much more improvisational than other dances. Whereas in beginning and intermediate Lindy, you're mostly stringing 8count patterns together and going into the occasional 6count. It appears that in A.T. you could move from one "count" or "step" into any other step.
3. This leads to the extreme importance on the leader to really lead, and the follower to really follow. In Lindy, early on in a pattern, the follower pretty much knows what's coming, "oh we're going into Tandem Charleston." or "eggbeater" or something. But since A.T. is so "step-to-step" (i.e. not really pattern based) the lead/follow relationship needs to be so tight.
4. It's better to wear dress shoes, if not ballroom dance shoes, for A.T. I brought my sneakers with me since that's what'd I'd wear for Lindy- it's a very bouncy and athletic dance. (Those two descriptors aren't very good, and is not meant to say other dances aren't athletic.)
5. The lower half of my body is sore already. Probably those muscles haven't been used in this way in a while.
6. I want to do it again!

Having two little kids, it's hard to go consistently to lessons; esp. since we're not living in the City. I want to get a couple of those videos to brush up and practice at home some. But a few private lessons may be the way to go for us.

G's first thought at seeing Lindy Hop: fun!
G's first thought at seeing Argentine Tango: elegant and graceful!

Go dance!

Update: The photograph (click it!) above is by Monte Leone and was used in a Wines of Argentina print ad I saw in Food&Wine Magazine. Check out his web-site: http://www.photomonteleone.com/