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The Americana Embrace

The Embrace is the hallmark of Argentine Tango. It’s what gives the dance its particular look and most certain it’s ‘feeling’ regardless of whether or not you’re watching the dance or in the dance. Most people, once they get over the hump of ‘close embrace’ (and you’re never really over it, there’s lots and lots and lots of refinement work to be done over the years to come, so you’re never really ‘done’) will tend to stay there, believing that they’ve arrived. And truthfully, they have. While there are variations on a theme within the construct of the embrace (Open, Open Vee, Closed Vee, Single File, Stacked, Floating, Variable or Free, etc) the dance doesn’t change much after that. It’s only the embrace that changes…sometimes. So we ask the question, why on earth would you want change that or do anything to mar that experience of a close embrace with someone to change the embrace ? The simplest answers to that question is heat, expectation, or music. When we say ‘heat’ we’re really talking about the fact a few tandas in on a very hot night, and Tango can be a very sweaty business, so every once in a while you do need to drop the embrace or create space within the couple to allow for the body to cool down. When we say ‘expectation’ we’re talking about the fact that some dancers just don’t mesh well together, they have this expectation of one thing, and then they come into the embrace and it’s sooooo not what they expected. So as a result they may need to change the embrace to allow the dance to work. Or when we say ‘music’ we’re talking about certain pieces of music demand a change in vocabulary choices and different ways to express what’s happening within the music. It is for that reason that we talk about a variation on the theme above – The Americana Embrace.

What is an Americana Embrace ? This is better known as either a Promenade or it’s sometimes referred to as a ‘Sweetheart’ Embrace. So named because it looks like you’re taking your partner out for a stroll. It just so happens that this ‘stroll’ is on a social dance floor while in the line of dance. Put another way, this is an orientation change that is led by the Lead onto the Follower that results in some really interesting vocabulary choices and changes. To be clear this is not a simple move, it does require some skill and some time to master this as the hand holds can be a little confusing and challenging for both Lead and Follower. So it’s probably a good idea that you leave this out of your dance for a little while until you have mastered you embrace, your walk, and a few other toys. Consider this ‘advanced’ material that beginners should not attempt for quite some time. Oddly enough a Salsa or Swing dancer has, to a point, mastered this embrace format. The difference is that in both Salsa and Swing, resistance based dancing is used to accomplish this goal. Whereas in Argentine Tango we do not want to use resistance but intention

Free Tip – The video above states that there are 3 ways to enter into an Americana. There is a fourth method of entry, and it’s very, very, very flashy. While the Americana Embrace can be very sweet. This 4th entry method is quite literally a game changer because not only does it open doors for us (both roles) it also provides for a completely different embrace format! And what’s that ? Hmmm, to find out, you’re going to have to subscribe. I’ll simply say this, that 4th method is where all the toys are at! And quite honestly, you want the toys!

About The Video. This video comes in at 12m:59s in length in 4 Sections. Lead and Follower technique is combined. 

Section 1 – Introduction – 00:02:00
Section 2 – 3 Possible Entrances – 00:05:50
Section 3 – The Exit – 00:03:27
Section 4 – Recap/Example/Final Words – 00:01:24

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Keep something in the back of your mind: What you’re seeing in a youtube video is a couple that is performing for the 15th row for a room full of people. They’re not social dancingWhereas this website is all about ‘Social Tango’  or how to make things function on a social dance floor. Social Dance floor ? Your local milonga! They are showing you flashy moves as a presentation, to show off! But not stopping and talking about how this works which is what you need to see. This website and all of it’s content show you the how and  why you’d want to put that piece of vocabulary there, or how to make things work. This website is all about those things and more!

You could watch Tango YouTube videos and thereby spend your time, trying to infer, and figure out how things may work in that particular situation. Bend your body this way or that, twist and force this position or that. Place your foot here or there and figure it out. This is known as Tango Twister.  Which can be a lot of fun, but more than likely it won’t help you, because you’re missing something: The explanation from an experienced teacher showing you how to properly excute this stuff from a Leading Perspective as well as from a Following Perspective!

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