The Spanish word ‘Lápiz’ (pron: lah-pees – emphasis on the ‘LAH‘ and not the ‘pees’) translates to English as Pencil, and the word ‘Enrosque’ translates to English as ‘Screw’ or ‘Thread’. From a Tango perspective these are primarily ideas that relate solely to the Lead’s side of the dancing equation. Mostly. 🙂 A Follower can and does engage in a version of the Lápiz when applying a needle turn in ochos, or a planeo but as it relates to the Enrosque, it is very infrequently done by the Follower on their own. That said, let’s talk about the Social Lápiz & Enrosque.
What is a Lápiz & Enrosque ? Let’s take those words one at a time. A Lápiz is a leg extension (and pointing of the foot/toe) done in a circular fashion in response to what the Follower is doing. Usually, this is a leg extension out away from the body (Forward to 12 O’Clock), then around to the side (at Nine O’Clock), and then the back (at Six O’Clock), and then back to collection. The Lápiz is usually done to the Follower’s Molinete or Traveling Ocho on their resulting backstep.
What makes it ‘Social’ is that it is very small, very tiny. Meaning that the footprint (no pun intended) should not take up any more space in the line of dance than say another step forward would. In other words ? No space.
And what about the Enrosque ? An Enrosque is essentially the lead crossing one foot behind the other without space between the crossed feet (better known as a ‘clean’ cross) and then, here’s the hard part, unwinding that cross back to collection without wobbling, wavering, or using the Follower to do it! Typically the Lápiz and the Enrosque Follow each other. First a Lápiz and then the Enrosque.
The Free Tip. This is going to challenge you. No lie. The rotational pivot that has to occur over the standing foot, will drive you absolutely batty. Now try doing that while your partner is hanging on you, pulling you, pushing you….good luck with that. You must work on your own stability independent of your Follower. So here’s a free hint for you – more compression in the standing knee. The more you have, the easier this becomes. However, you do not want to be on your heel while you’re doing it! 😉 Good luck, you’re going to need it.
Notation: It should be noted that the Lápiz is generally done in concert with the Follower’s Back Step of the Follower’s Molinete; And it can also be done with the Follower’s Traveling Ocho (Back or Forward). It can be done anywhere where the Follower is being led to transit around their Lead. At the same time, it can also be done with the Follower’s side of the Milonguero Turn. However, engaging the Milonguero Turn and then engaging in Lápiz is kinda ‘flashy’ and doesn’t look so good in our opinion.
About The Video. This video is 14:03 in length in 7 Sections
Section 1 – Introduction – 00:00:12
Section 2 – Basic Technique – 00:01:29
Section 3 – Close Embrace Exercise – 00:02:22
Section 4 – Executing The Social Lápiz – 00:03:34
Section 5 – Adding The Enrosque – 00:02:45
Section 6 – The Social Version – 00:04:17
Section 7 – Closing – 00:00:19