{Read the text below BEFORE you watch the attached video}
Pivot (Pron: Pee-vot). This is one of those words that you hear in Argentine Tango a LOT. It’s usually used to describe the motion contained within what you think of as the Common Follower’s Ocho or what I call a Type 3 Ocho of the 8 that are used in Social Tango. Truthfully that ‘Pivot’ is used in a lot of places.
[Side note: A Type 3 Ocho can be done by the Lead as well. Furthermore the technique used in a Type 3 Ocho is also used in Back Sacadas for both Lead and Follow! The technique to do one is embedded in the other. ]
9 times out of 10 in learning a Type 3 Ocho, from the Follower’s side of the equation, the Follower is taught to disassociate and then to ‘pivot’. And then the disassociation is never used again. Everything is Pivot, Pivot, Pivot. And the language is ‘Pivot’. And yet, there’s no actual pivot. It’s actually a Disassociation. And the reason is goes down a bit of a rabbit hole of understanding.
Let’s go down the rabbit hole…
Outside the Rabbit Hole > The definition of the word ‘Pivot’ is that an object rotates over a singular point, as one singular unit, all at once. Think of a sphere or globe rotating over an axial point in space. Now imagine that that sphere is you and that axial point is one foot on the floor.
The Rabbit Hole > Disassociation in tango, the way it’s taught, refers to the torso rotating to the left or the right around the the spinal column greater than 120 to 150 degrees. Typically around T7- T9 of the spinal column. Ideally we do NOT want the hips or feet to rotate or to move at this juncture. Bonus points if you can do this without collapsing the embrace (ie: your arms backwards or forward against your torso) or using force to generate that disassociation. If this is done correctly there’s build up of an enormous amount of torsion that wants to be released.
Further down the Rabbit Hole > Most, if not all, teachers don’t talk about the release of that torsion. Only that it ends up as a ‘pivot’. So let’s talk about that release. The release is known as ‘Applied Disassociation’. So named because you are applying the torsion of the disassociation. Apt, no ? The release is directed to the hips and feet all rotating together around a singular axial point of where the spinal column is as one. Think of it like a rubber band snapping back into position. The disassociation was the wind up and the applied disassociation is the snap back or a release. Capice ?
In The Burrow of the Rabbit Hole > If you’re on the outside looking in, the torso rotates (left or right), there’s a slight pause, and then the hips, legs, and feet, follow after a moment or two later. A segmented motion. So to call it a pivot is not only inaccurate it’s just flat out wrong. Yes there is a pivotal rotation over an axial point but it’s a segmented rotation thereby no longer qualifying as a pivot in the traditional sense of the definition supplied above.
Still in the Hole > There has to be something that generates motion, something that starts the rotational motion, it doesn’t come from nowhere. It has to come from somewhere. In the video below when you’re looking at the Pivot, you’ll notice that I kick off. However in the applied disassociation, what generates the rotation, is the disassociation, which ends up as applied disassociation.
Once you learn about disassociation, it is immediately discarded and never talked about again. You are expected to pivot from that motion. There’s just one leeetle tiny, itsy bitsy problem with that. You can’t. And the reason you can’t is because there has to be some kind of windup. That windup is the disassociation of your torso around your spinal column!
A Monster No-No > What most people end up doing is jerking their hips around, or applying tension to their entire bodies and pushing off their partner do move their body all at once. Which I can tell you from personal experience, absolutely sucks raw eggs. > “Yes, use me to do your technique, I live for that! Not!”…. No one loves that. Most people, once you point it out to them don’t want do that, nor do they want to experience it. And yet we’re taught to apply resistance to our partners. Which ends up being generated constantly, and there we have one of the primary failings of the technique of Argentine Tango.
I should also point out that when you’re yapping about resistance, tension, and force, that if you’re performing for a group of people, that’s one thing. Resistance can and should be used in that instance TEMPORARILY. There’s no doubt that It is a quicker, and easier way to manifest the positions that we require to push and pull off your partner and to use them. However, long term, it is NOT desirable in Social Tango. So it is better, IMO, to generate the usage of the skill of Disassociation and Applied Disassociation in Social Tango that can, when mastered, be applied in Performance Tango if you so choose to go down that road. Resistance, Tension, Force, should never replace actual execution of proper technique. All you’re going to do is hurt yourself by forcing things. Learning proper technique is key. Then again learning proper technique from a qualified individual who has done the work is also key. Still another is learning to recognize a hack from someone who has done the research. Which is to say if a teacher is using the ‘pivot’ language of ‘resistance’ and they’re not talking about performing then you may want to look elsewhere for council on these matters.
Now I know there are going to be people that want to argue X, Y, and Z about this or that. And all the discussion of technique is about useful as a small kitchen appliance unplugged. Fortunately for you, I have a video on this topic, to show you what all of this gobbly-gook looks like and a potential application. Several of them actually. So to pre-empt the forthcoming ‘whataboutisms’, ‘whatifisms’, and ‘myteachersaysshit’ that shall spew from your keyboards, look at the video below.
“Ummm Miles this is all fine and good but I don’t dance like that”, you say. To which I’d say, “You may want to start dancing like that and applying technique like that!”.
And your response will be “Why ? What I’m doing right now works just fine!”…
So let me sell you on the benefits of employing Disassociation fully and then Applying it!
There are monster benefits to engaging your form like that. Like ? Greater precision and fine control for one. Still another is execution on a dime for another. You can turn it on and off like a switch. One more ? Fluidity. OMG the fluidity of motion that comes from the application of disassociation is absolutely stellar. Not to mention, it’s also insanely flashy. However, I’m not going to lie to you, not like I ever have, that developing this skill takes time, patience and persistence, but the pay off is soooooo satisfying when you do.
You can go watch the video now.
Thank you for your consideration.