My name is Igor Polk. I am dancing and teaching Argentine Tango in San Francisco..
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2023.11.11 Оказывается танцы — это сурдоперевод музыки... It turns out that dancing is sign language translation of music... 2023.11.10 One more, six style of tango! I forgot that I have met it 20 years ago. Tango Liso!!! (Smooth Tango).
2023.03.31 From now on!! Classical-dance Tango and Salsa-Tango Classical tango - the root of everything! Fusion of Salsa and Tango: Salsa gusto and body energy to tango rhythm, rhythmic music, and figures. And occasional tango to Latin. From now on.. Back to roots!
2023.03.05 Energies and playfulness, Energies of human body create rhythm. One cannot be rhythmical or musical if there are no energies. Reviewing all the energies available and learn how to variate all familiar elements is the topic of the next class. What energies are available (in order of importance): energy of mid of torso at the solar plexus level, multiple energies of pelvis area, shoulder girdle torso area, rotation of hips, three levels of freedom in arms rotations (torque!).
2021.07.07 Профессор Гарвардского университета Эми Кадди провела исследование языка тела и его влияния на уровень стресса и стероидных гормонов в нашем организме. Главный сюрприз - это скорость, с которой уровень гормонов может повышаться или понижаться. В ходе исследования она сравнила различия в уровнях гормонов между двумя группами, одна из которых приняла так называемую мощную позу (занимающая больше места, широкая стойка, руки за голову) и вторая так называемая поза малой мощности (скрещенные ноги, занимающая меньше места, неуверенная поза, склоненная голова). Всего через две минуты исследователи заметили увеличение тестостерона на 20% и снижение уровня гормона стресса кортизола на 25% в первой группе (мощная поза). Вторая группа зафиксировала противоположные результаты. У них снизился уровень тестостерона и повысился кортизол. Translation: More of good tango postures - more testosterone - much more defense against COVID! There is a direct relation between low testosterone and 6 times more risk of death from COVID (in men)!!! 2021.04.15 I have no more questions about origins of tango: https://youtu.be/e6wf9RH07F8 ( folk dancing from Latin America ) And here where it goes: https://youtu.be/sQ2chcGOJgY ( Roland Petit, Bolero )
2020: Polish dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz8QBOfnxc0; Useful for tango. (Bulgarian and Pamir dances are cool too )
============================ https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2010/06/21/dancing-the-night-away 2020.08.12 Photos from 2013 when we gave a little lecture and danced for doctors.
2020.04.21 Mayumix Botanical Design featuring botanical printed (or eco printed) scarves. "Botanical printing is done by placing real leaf and plants on top of white silk, rolling it up and steaming it for 2 hours. The end result is like a painting or photographing image of real plants onto fiber." - from a wonderful dancer Mayumi ! 2020.07.30 Should I use a short step or a long step when I walk in the tango? There are three kinds of steps, but they are not distinguished by their length. 1. Short step as if going steep down-hill. It can be done forward or backward or even side. If forward, keep the knees together. 3. A combination. You start with 1, but when the leg is extended, charge into 2. The most typical tango step is 3. But 1 is very important, especially in salon, milonguero, and apilado styles. The short step is the most difficult. Men especially must master it, Practicing all this steps in all directions is a paramount. In order to understand them, try to do boleos and ganchos, What I described here is only a small fraction of the theory of steps.
2020.07.25 How to lead? To understand what is the perfect lead, one has to understand what is the perfect following. 1. The woman is a perfect dancer; 3. and 4. The man does not lead them. He manipulates them provoking them to a certain action, pushing and pulling them if needed, and adjusting to the results. 1. Here is the essence of dancing. The woman understands how to dance. What does it mean? It means that before performing any element she prepares. SHE PREPARES!!! 2. When the woman is ok-dancer, she may know a lot and her body does go through those Certain Energetic Configurations, only it may happen not to the man's desire. Concluding. A man can convey his intention only if he knows exactly what she should do. And the dance works only if he knows how to adjust to her reactions. 2020.07.15 " Will you have the same improvements if you take online dance lessons instead of normal dance lessons? " I do not believe so. I even think that buying a video tape and studying it is better than an on-line lesson, because of the completeness of material in one place. As an exercise without a partner, I would recommend classical ballet rather than anything else. In general, especially in relation to Argentine tango, it is very important to watch how dancers dance, 2020.06.17 "Are back ochos done with or without pivoting?" There are 2 pairs of options: Ocho without pivoting is done by rotating the leg which goes back toward the partner so that its toe is directed exactly toward the partner's torso center. Ocho with pivoting is done, well, with pivoting. Refer to my article "24 ways of pivoting" to get the abundance of techniques. When the pivoting ocho is done without turning pelvis toward the partner, but keeping it as is, that brings it away. Mastering back pivots and especially a step after the back pivot is very important in performing good Argentine tango turns. A versatile dancer can do everything. 2020.06.17 "Why do the best and most famous South American tango dancers tend to be older couples?" I do not think so. Many young dancers as well as old dancers are vary famous. Many are great and many just use unknowledgeable public. When Argentine Tango started in around 1990, many famous dancers were young. Now they are old. Paradox? What is good about Argentine tango is that it allows progress to a very old age. Experience is accumulated and it is not lost. 2020.05.30 "Should one be light on the feet while dancing tango? What can someone do to be lighter on the feet?" Of course. He should! Especially a man. More important to say what it does not mean. You still have to maintain perfect leading and following skill and obey the correct tango rhythm: syncopa. It means not to forget to make a longer pause on every 4th beat, and a small one on every 2-nd. To be "light on their feet" one has to be able to use pelvis muscles well. Torso is very important too. All body energies work together. 2020.05.14 "In the tango, how does the follower know when the leader wants to shift his weight?" There are three situations: Let us consider it: 1).
The leader must lead her to transimit the weight or make a step (side one is the most simple). It is done in two ways: 2). He does not want her to transmit weight. He must make sure that there is NO LEAD. 3). Good leaders cannot afford it. When a bad leader does it, there are two situations depending on the follower: 2020.05.14 What is the meaning of ‘it takes two to tango'? In quality Argentine Tango the most important is “conversation” between partners. That what makes the dance.
2020.05.11 " Is it better to learn the tango by taking dance classes or by dancing at the milongas? " Not everyone can learn at milongas: you have to have a set of mind to do everything better and better, improvise trying something new, have great reaction to fix mistakes so that your partner does not notices, For women it is different than for men. While for men navigation is the upmost skill, for women it is technique. She must learn to move like in tango. No one can do it in milongas: tango is too unusual. The third very important method of learning is to watch videos of great OLD MASTERS! (not young !!! and not of those who look old now.). I can not emphasize this more. Shortly: classes are to prepare for milongas where you actually will learn, but you cannot learn at milongas if you do not take classes. Especially women. Watching videos of great old masters is essential. 2020.04.21 Geraldin Rojas y Ezequiel Paludi 2020.02.12 This dance is in my collection for long time: Cuban "Tango" - Son
and Tango Vals by Ariadna Naveira & Fernando Sanchez (!)
2020.02.10 Ivan Terrazas y Sara Grdan tango with a lot of Colgadas. 2020.02.05 I'd like to attract your attention to my work which describes improvisation in terms of possible body movements and allows automatic generation of dance. It is called "Twist Forms. Dance Theory of Argentine Tango". You will find it on the internet. It is a significant description of what spaces an improvisational dancer may exist (there are six). I approach dance not from visual perspective, but internally where the visual is only the result of what is happening inside the dancers body. The simples internal dance elements can be combined naturally into more and more complex figures which no artist can imagine. In performances, it is very visible when dance is choreographed "from outside" or "from inside". The second wins though judges may not be aware why. Improvisation is choreography "from inside". When two persons interact in the dance, it allows their following and commanding each other. With the notion of natural movement, it become harmonious and infinitely interesting. The number of options is so large (six spaces!) than no dance can be the same. Since we now know the mechanisms of it, they are described in the book, we can make an automated dance which will have qualities as the best choreographic works. Please, take seriously what I am talking about. We can make great artificial dances not with cylinders, but perfectly emulating human body. 2020.01.22 (nice date) In my tango theory "structure" relates to the form of the figures. This is a narrow definition. Each of the main dance areas: movements, energy, rhythm, space, interaction, and the abovementioned narrow "structure" has its own structure, and even rhythm!
2019.12.15 Here is the video of one of the most knowledgeable researchers and performers of authentic tango, Pocho Pizarro: "What is forward and backward tango walk". If you ask me how is it possible to walk like this in couple or what figures this kind of walk produces, come to our classes. This is a great illustration to Igor's tango book "Twist Forms". Or rather, this book was written under influence from Pocho, since Igor is his student. 2019.07.22 Sent: Monday, July 22, 2019 06:52 Hello igor, I was wondering did you ever revise this article in the end? Do you still share the same opinion as that time or new visions ? *** No, I did not revise it since it was updated the last time. A lot of time passed. I have changed: I wrote a large book on dance technique and became popular tango teacher. I believe I know about tango and dance much more than 10 years ago. I'll tell you about the major technique difference in Neo. It originated in Nuevo style and has developed in Neo. In Neo, as a rule, the pelvis of a woman is rotated AWAY from the partner. That makes all elements: boleos, etc. be performed it a totally opposite way. This is an easy way for westerners, since that how it is danced in ballroom, latin, modern. Authentic tango way, when the pelvis is TOWARD the partner is difficult to achieve. It is very specific. So, I guess, why bother... Unfortunately, many of younger generations of tango pretending to dance salon or orillero, have no idea about it. They are professional dancers which came from Modern and Ballet (and may be hip-hop). So, the pelvis AWAY has sneaked in performances of people who claim they dance real tango. If you never experienced how to dance with pelvis toward the partner, you most definitely will not understand what I am talking about. Try it. It is difficult and feels contra-intuitive at first. But once you know it, you would not want anything else. Besides, it is good for martial arts..
2019.07.14 Someone asked my, why have I written the book, if there is so much material available on the internet in written and video form. The next night, after I wrote what is below, I had a dream. A woman wrote a book about tango and she was asked "Why?". So, the previous answer. 2). There is so much in tango, it is extremely rich movement activity. Besides everyone speaks about it differently. 3). I give you the deepest secrets of body action. 4). While writing the book in a mathematical way, like mine, which makes it a valid scientific theory, I am here, in Palo Alto. Every Monday. Come and try it for yourself. $15 for 2 hours. Almost free. 2019.07.06 ( year.month.day, this is much more logical and convenient) The letter from a friend: This story all begins with me first year at UCLA. I met a yogi who was in the dance department. He taught a yoga class before our technique class that I went too. He took me to a book store that is very famous in LA called The Bodi Tree Book Store. There he turned me on to Inayat Khan's books on Music and education which I still have and keep. I used these books for research papers at school. So this yogi guy turned me on to the Sufi's which I did not connect with until 6 years later. Then at UCLA about 2 years later comes a special teacher whose name was Jack Cole. I went to one of his classes and I think this brought out something energetically in me that got more cultivated with Lucas. Anyway, this class had been going on for a while before I walked class. The only spot to take was directly behind Jack. He was teaching something that just spoke to me and have not found in any other dance teacher accept Lucas. He was teaching energy. He turned around and said finally, someone here has what I mean. He looked at me and said, it was you and I said yes. I knew that the one thing he was talking about none of the other dancers had or understood. But he knew it was me and I knew he knew before he said anything. This energetic thing came from reading Inayat Khan's book. So I was thinking that my tango teacher Igor, is built like Jack Cole and about the height. Igor likes isolations and he is the only tango teacher that teaches this way. I wonder where Igor learned the way he dances. Or what his teachers background is? Argentina and the Carribean are not that far away from each other. This caused me to do some research on Jack Cole. He actually was the person that brought hip, neck rib isolations to dance. Jack Cole was the youngest and last member of the Dennis Shawn company an later danced with Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman. You know that Jose most likely danced or knew Jack Cole. He came to Dennis Shawn without any dance background and Jack became the largest influence in Stage Jazz Dance. He brought the whole concept of "energy" on to the stage. Ruth St. Dennis studied intensely with the Sufi Murshid Inayat Khan Indian dance and music who was the most famous Indian musician of his time.. I think his transmission of spiritual energy was a very big influence on Ruth St. Dennis, hence on the world of Modern Dance. Jack Cole had a group of dancers in Hollywood who he trained. His training contained: Modern Dance, Afro Haitian and Indian Dance. He was always concentrating on projecting energy. All these stage dancers had to study Modern Dance. Here is another place where the Modern Dance world influenced the dance world. This energy to project is transmitted from Inayat Khan to Ruth St. Dennis to Jack Cole and Martha Grahm both students of Ruth St. Dennis. Then most likely Jack Cole to Doris Humphrey to Jose Limon to Lucas Hoving. I am amazed of my findings about Jack Cole and the whole Modern Dance experience. How many times did you see Lucas take his hands and his burning blue eyes that would look up at the class and demand that we dance with energy? The Sufi's actually have spoken about the 2 founders of Modern Dance. The connection between Ruth St. Dennis and Inayat Khan made her dancers keep working and growing and still thriving. The Other founder, Isadora Duncan who did not leave a legacy. At least on the level of Ruth St. Dennis. This is very powerful knowledge. Ruth St, Dennis got the name of St. because of her working with Inayat Khan. Because Ruth St. Dennis's infatuation with Asian, and Indian dance, Jack was exposed and studied these dance forms where he got and used the isolations of the neck and hips: Influences of Ruth St. Dennis and Katherine Dunham who was the Modern Dancer that studied Carribean dance and fused it into the Modern Dance world. He was the choreographer for "Diamonds are a girls best friend" and was behind the camera when Marilyn Monroe recored this dance piece. He stood behind the camera and kept telling her to "give it to him." "It" meaning energy. Every move she made, she had to give it with engergy. She really praised him for his work with her. He made Rita Hayworth, Betty Grable, Chita Rivera, Gwen Verdon and many more excellent dancers. Gwen Verdon was married and worked with Bobbe Fosse. I think this is the influence of Jack Cole because Gwen was his main dancer and rehearsal assistant. Gwen could get his ideas across to the performer. I am more than sure that she also got Jack Cole's ideas across to Bobbe Fosse. He took his Modern Dance background with Ruth St. Dennis/Ted Shawn, Doris Humphrey/Charles Weidman and fused it with East Indies dance and put it on Broadway. He brough the body isolations & energy on to Stage dance. He is now called the "Father of Jazz Dance." He influenced Jerome Robbins, Bob Fosse, Michael Bennet and other great Jazz choreographers. No wonder these choreographers are considered a bridge between Jazz and Modern dance. He also influenced Alvin Ailey. This is big. There was an interview of a dancer that worked with Jack. She called him the dancer's teacher or the dancer's teacher. To top all this off, I told Lucas that I had taken this class with Jack Cole and what happened there. Lucas told me that he was jealous because he never got to take a class or work with Jack Cole. Lucas told me that Jack was his idle because he had so much energy when he danced. What did I know. I was both of their students. I always wanted to dance with teachers that understand energy behind dance. All Arts have a direct connection to Love and the great Spirit. I love technique ony to have a good foundation to express spirit energy. It has always been my thing. There are only a few people in this world that would understand the far reachings of Inayat Khan. There is a Sufi woman who I taught some dance class that I took and she told me that the relationship between Murshid Sam and Ruth St. Dennis was very close to getting married. They were both students of Inayat Khan. One brought his energy through dance on to the stage in many ways and the other brought his dance into the spiritual world AKA "Sufi Dancing." I think both are very connected. Anyway, I see dance as well as Art in general as a spiritual vehicles to reach people in expression. I think that great artists like Ruth St. Dennis and Jack Cole knew this also on some level. Look at Lucas and his wife, one studied with a Hindu guru and the other with a Buddhist Roshi. I think this is why Lucas was driven to want to work with Jack Cole. Here is a video of many people speaking about Jack Cole and one person said it was almost working with God. Through all my research and writing, I am trying to pack but I could not ignore what I found and wanted to pass it on to you. P.S. Enjoy this video
2019.03.04
2018.12.19 For the full video: https://photos.app.goo.gl/RzgpFyJZRHwbVLSaA 2018.11.05 Please, review some great dances: 2018.10.10 Argentine Tango danced by Anthony Dexter and Patricia Medina in Valentino (1951). 2018 July 25 An article by Sasan Rahmatian on "The Structure of Argentine tango" is published in the Journal of Mathematics and the Arts. 2018 July 3 If you have difficulty performing what is taught in a dance class, here is my advise: The real problem is in your body not being able to execute what is proposed. Any verbal explanations will not help it. Do not spend your time and money on private classes. Without much words, as a trainer, I'd like to tell you what can progress you forward at this point of your dancing carrier. You have to exercise more. I recommend running including up and down hills forward and backward. Not jogging, but running with maximal power and speed. Short time, that is fine, it does not have to be tiring. 2 times a week is enough. Fast and energetic walking is also good. And push-ups to develop flexible embrace. For correct posture, the hands should be on the level of solar plexus. All this can be amended with a healthy dose of other simple exercises, preferably from gymnastics, at your discretion. More than anything else, I recommend Chinese gymnastics with swords. From tango: forward ochos and women's part of Ocho Cortado. Do not wait, start now. It is a slow process. But you will be very satisfied in 6 months. 2018 June 28 Dancing engages and changes the brain in unique ways. "Hong Kong ballet" by Dean Alexander. 2018 May 27 What are the good qualities of Tango followers? 1. First of all, you have to be a good dancer. Your body have to be well developed, you should be able to twist your body, be able to make beautiful figures with arms, feel free on the dance floor, be very musical: to feel the music and be able to express it in your body(!!!) and steps. This is the most important advice. Good dancers differ from the rest in how they move, especially body, quality of movement. Some lucky ones have it naturally, others - have to work hard on that. 2018 May 16 About the embrace during HER pivoting. I am afraid I may discourage some of you. "doesn't prevent her from pivoting by squeezing hard" has double meaning. Under this phrase, some people understand that during pivoting she can detach from him with the result of moving her very upper torso away. This is possible, but it is not perfect. The perfect execution is this: her upper torso (above solar plexis) stays with the leader attached. Lower torso, below solar plexis move away from him (and he does the same) with delivering energy to the pivot. Pelvis stays toward him either. It is a complex, double-spiral structure. It is possible to hold her tight at the level of upper torso or pelvis (yep) and make her produce a perfect pivot (F or B). This requires great body abilities from a woman and a lot of knowledge from a man who must move his own body in a similar way. Shortly speaking, ribs go away, upper torso and pelvis stay attached ("parallel" among partners somone would say). Sorry for the long explanation, but who said that the dance can be put in words simply.. Or in other words, if HIS right arm is on the level of her ribs - it MUST be soft and flexible. If his arm is on the level of her shoulders or hips - it CAN hold tight. 2018 May 14 Last week I was at the Purdue university TRIZCON2018 innovation coference. See you at the class!
2016 Dec 09 The book is ready !
2016 Nov 1 I have found a nice video explaining "Hip-push". It is well known in belly dancing. I have found the "hip-push" phenomena myself during search of the origination of Syncopa rhythm in a body of a dancer. Note on performance: It is not done by "muscles" or "excessive extending of pelvis" ! It is a pure mechanical way of bone movements in the hip-joint. You can even hear "a click" inside of your pelvis! It is heard through the bones. Yep, it is belly dancing done with the parter! Do you like it ? What I mean is better explained here as an "opposite hip-push": To tighten the hips means to tightly press the legs toward each other when one stands. This tenses psoas major and other accompanying muscles (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psoas_major_muscle, see "addictor'-s). It feels like compression within pelvis and in the inside of thighs. It is easy to achieve when the legs are tight together, but the same tension has to be preserved always, during all steps. This gives stability and a pool of energy readily available. These are the major muscles which pivot a dancer all around, like in the yesterdays class, and for ladies the same. These muscles are trained ( and can be felt ) when doing squats without taking the heals from the floor (important detail ! ). This is a simplistic advice. In fact we need 1) muscles twisting the pelvis left and right, 2) moving the tail left and right (our tail is not moving, but the muscles are there and they are very powerful, imagine a dinosaur !). These essentially includes all muscles in the pelvis-to-waist and thigh areas. The major thing is that they must work in "twisting" manner, those which twist right then left. Ochos and compact molinetes are the exercises for it. But just keeping the muscles tight like it is explained in the first paragraph gives great results. I do it when I dance. It goes for salon style too when the major source of energy is torso. 2016 May 29 What is art? Art is what affects feelings and generates ideas. Of crowd or just one person, now or in the past. 2016 March 22 Long time no posts, Facebook takes over.. Here is the video of the demo dance of the last class: Demo videos are available on the Igor's YouTube channel. We have made a Facebook page where these videos will be also linked to: Thank you, and welcome to Igor's tango classes! 2016 April 22 A video explaining hip-bump and other hip related movements: twist, slide...: 2016 April 21 It is hard to say, but emotions do not define the dance, therefore they can not be its language. It is very difficult to say about emotions. The whole surroundings at a tango party facilitates blockage of feeling from outside disturbance as well as from inside one.
2015 July 10 At a regular group class a teacher rely on students who come regularly. She expects most students to know something what she taught before and she may lay down the background for future lessons. This is the time for some drilling exercises. Also, a teacher should create a relaxation atmosphere: people want to have fun. 2015 June 24 2015: Erin Malley and Doruk Golcu ! Milonga.
2015 March 19 "Масштаб вашей личности определяется величиной проблемы, которая способна вывести вас из себя." Фрейд. ???. ?? ??? ????????? ????????? ?? ???? - ??? ?????????? ?????????. ? ???????? ????????? ????????????, ??????, обдумыванием окружающего ? ????????? ???????? ???????. 2015 Jan 18 When argentinean teachers talk about "intention" as a lead and leading backwards with the back they speak about "Body First" steps, dancing "walking up-hill". 2014 Dec 23 We should talk less about Rights, but more about Fairness and Freedom. 2014 Dec 23 Наивные украинцы, во всём слушаясь своего дядю сэма полагают, что за усердие их наградят эмиграцией. Так это и есть general idea - заселить украинцами канаду, а украину - немцами. 2014 Dec 20 Yeah... the book is very difficult. It is like a mathematical book. Even worse. What can I do :) the logic demanded it. Every sentence needs thinking and work. It is very compressed. One think follows from another and depend on previous material. But it is the theory. I definitely should write a simpler book, hopefully eventually I will be able to find time. Do not hesitate to jump forward. Several chapters are easier and can be understood without much connection to previous material. While reading, you should try everything many times until the body starts to understand it. It is not possible to progress through the book without practicing. All words are very week in description of human movements. And the goal of my book. It establishes the mathematically solid vocabulary for the complete description of human movements and dance in particular. It is difficult, hey, everything serious is difficult. Have you tried to read Euclid geometry? By the way did you read other dance books? ( And no one ever written about technique. ). They are very difficult to read, even though the material is much simpler, just describing steps. Too many things are involved. And believe me, it was very difficult to write.
2014 Dec 13 Misty Copeland: 2014 Nov 5 November 22, Saturday, PA JCC Theater. Photo (C) Steven He 2014 November 12 My goal and NN's goal are different. His goal is to establish here a tango community of social dancers which closely resembles the way of tango life in Buenos Aires. It is very different. For example, NN would tell that ganchos are "illegal" and wrong to do. I would say that they are a nesessary element. I have danced with quite many argentineans including pretty famous ones. I do not think they all are examples of the very good dancing. Far from that. One thing is to look at them, another - to feel their dancing. I confidently say that here, in SF, I have met local women with the skills far exceeding the skills of many Argentinean celebrities. And I am correct, since Tango, as all masters whom I respect say, is an improvisational dance. What does that mean. It means not dancing as everyone else. It is opposite to "dance like everyone else". The best dancers dance like no one else. Every master strives for his own style and does not want to look like someone else. I am trying to convey the principles of building a personal style while staying within the boundaries of traditional tango and beyond.
2014 Nov 3 From a conversation: "... If this was true, then someone could have a stroke and lose their sense of rhythm. This has never happened. There are several tests for beat-deafness and nobody has been found who cannot find the beat. This is just an excuse made by people who don't know how to teach and confused students who are mistaught. 2014 Nov 2 I have met recently quite a few publications that "Performance reviews in general are outdated and pointless". This is not so. Let me give you my view why they are important FOR YOU! Companies and projects come and go. Bosses come and go. A performance review is an official document, only document, which testifies about your achievements and qualities. If you do not have a review at your job you should demand them! I had several reviews in my professional life and all of them served me greatly later. I am very thankful to my managers who took time and care to prepare them. If you do not have a review you are at a total mercy of a your superiors in all promotion decisions. If you have a review, you have some argument which can be useful if a situation at job is changing. Demand reviews ! 2014 Nov 7 Европа прощай? Россия это и есть Европа. Второй её полюс. Первый, с победой английского флота над испанским в 16 веке - Англия. Россия развивалась на восток, в Сибирь, а Англия, к её счастью, на запад, в тёплую америку. Германия, Польша и все остальные болтаются между двумя этоми полюсами. И этого никак не изменить и этим объясняется вся политика на протяжении столетий и будет объясняться. А насчёт того, что Россия это "сущая азия", что то мне вам сказать.. Жил я в Белоруссии. Я работал лаборантом в Новополоцком Политехническом институте. Потом поступил в Минский Радотехнический Институт. Потом работал, в том числе в Минском Медицинском Институте. Так вот, все преподаватели и работники этих институтов, а если не они, то их преподаватели получили образование в России. 2014 Oct 24 IndieReader has published a review on my book. Three stars ! " The book is laid out with specific instructions on origins of the movements that a dancer must master in order to effectively dance the Argentine Tango. There are also detailed descriptions of poses and steps that when paired together can create a wonderful dance " " Polk is able to successfully explain ... intricate steps because of the immense detail he provides " " Polk's book [is] a huge help for instructors " Since the book is full with grammar errors I would add one more star :) Don't you agree? http://indiereader.com/2014/10/twisted-body-dance-theory-argentine-tango/ IndieReader provides INDEPENDENT anonymous reviews by the topic experts. An author has no influence on the outcome whatsoever.
2014 Oct 24 Piano Performance, Liszt, Companella, Sofya Gulyak ( Софья Гуляк )
2014 Oct 23 Visualization of rhythms: http://youtu.be/2UphAzryVpY. Check their tango presentation. 2014 Oct 8 New article: Three ways to make a Forward Pivot and how it is used in Several Figures of Forward Ochos2014 Oct 8 New video: 2014 Oct 4 A wokshop at a community dance club in San Jose: 2015 Sept 15 A workshop is coming at the DanceBoulevard: The first workshop was absolutelly fabulous !!! 2014 Sept 09 Some fresh photos by Steven He:
2014 Sept 7 Dear Dancers, 2014 Aug 28 http://youtu.be/uRZaj443zAQ - new video of our class material. I do not like they way we are dancing. but I'll keep it here for the reference of the figures. Contra-body boleo So called "contra-body boleo" or just a contra boleo is a popular figure. In the past, around 2000 I have met it at tango nuevo lessons. Now it is taught at milonguero and salon style classes as well. Some kind them works in close embrace very nicely. There is well felt difference between regular boleo and contra-body boleo. As a regular boleo, contra-body boleo can be both behind and in-front. As an excellent visual example, I'd like to refer to the Homer and Cristina Ladas video on boleos. Almost all boleos here are contra-body. Here is a simple explanation how it is done on example of boleo behind when a woman is on her right leg. After a back pivot like in back ochos and when her leg is already extended preparing for a step or after a regular slow boleo when her leg is behind her, a man with his torso goes around a woman's axis to his left (it means clock-wise) provoking her to charge more and therefore producing an energetic, deep movement of the leg to her left. The key points here are: 1) Geometry: A man "Goes around" her. Not a slightest distance away, but perfectly around; 2) Timing: He starts movement to the his left (her right), leading contra-boleo when her leg just finished the extension. 3) Response: a man while going around her is provoking her to charge her body toward him (to her right) more. However for the best result she should keep facing him with her torso actively, it means turning toward him herself. It is her body performing the figure not his. Often women do not do it and that prevents the figure from happening. After a man went around her no more no less than needed, he leads her a regular "boleo return". The common mistake in learning this element besides a man "not going perfectly around" is that a woman is "too hasty". If instead of nice extension of the leg, slow, juicy movement, awareness and enjoyment of her leg she just falls back this not going to work. Now let me show you what is happening during "contra-body boleo" from the point of view of "Twisted Body" dance theory.
To practice overtwisted body, you can use this pose. 2014 Aug 19 A colleague of mine from Italy, Enrico Massetti has made wonderful jewelry for tango dancers.
2014 June 23 From one blog: "I am strong: I know my strengths; ( yes, yes, I wrote it, but it is for someone else ). 2014 June 19 2014 June 10 Yesterday I have taught in one single beginner's class to several first-time students: pseudo-left turn, right turn, going to cross, ocho-cortado. This is my personal record. I'll tell you more theory about it, why it came together nicely.
2014 May 30
2014 May 29 Tango steps is a complex art and science ( link ). What would be the most useful brief advice how to make a back tango step? Press a hip joint of the free leg toward the partner as a preparation to the step. 2014 May 28 To lead is to make a woman feel like she is dancing. 2014, May 20 Where is in the book the explanation how pelvis area is used in balance? See the chapter about pelvis, hips, “Origins of movements in Pelvis Region” is at the very beginning. It explains that there is twist of the pelvis itself and another one of a Tail. “The tail” concept is really powerful. The tail can be “twisted” in both directions independently of twist of the pelvis, and therefore greatly variating it applications. The “twist” there is imaginable, it is an abstract concept. Our actual tail does not move. But muscles are still there. They work. They are very strong. I like to compare our little “was a tail” with a powerful dinosaur tail. It suits tango perfectly. Just saying “tight the bottom” works, but it is not enough. How to use it? Combinations of pelvis and the tail “twists” provide vocabulary for creating new movements. Move your tail! Once the bottom part is tight, particularly, “twisted”, the balance is very good and the upper torso is being freed for free movements. Torso is important for balancing too. Good use of torso, rib cage, and muscles connected there provide wonderful balanced movements. One has to feel “stretch in the lower rib cage”. 2014, May 19 Second edition of my argentine tango dance theory book is updated with
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2014 April 24 Here is the video of a group performance at the event (patio with the fabulous view is on the left, on the right is the stage for musician, all spectators are behind): SF Bay Area ATUSA Championship contestants - "Nada" - at Palo Alto JCC, another angle: Published on May 19, 2014 Argentine Tango Salon Style Demo by SF Bay Area ATUSA Contestants @JCC Palo Alto, May 2014 Music- "Nada" by Di Sarli; and here is the performance of 2014 Salon Tango campions Nicholas and Stephanie. Vida querida" - at Palo Alto JCC This was the best feeling event of all our parties. Thank you everyone ! * * * On May 17, Saturday, we are going to have an annual tango party at Palo Alto Jewish Community Center. We already had a party around the New Year, so it turned out to be a semi-annual party. Musicians: quintet Redwood Tango Ensemble Before the party, Igor Polk will present his tango book: 2014 May 12 The Verdi Club Milonga on Thursday will end this month . . 2014 May 08 A friend said to me: "I know what makes the new World Tango Champions. The follower executes every movement with perfection. She uses the floor better than any tango dancer I have seen to this date. She has the floor moving up her body through the top of her head with power. She is not lacking in energy in every execution. Every muscle in her body is working. Her whole attention is given to every moment. Because of this, the lead is most likely there also. But I could not keep my eyes off of her. She demanded attention." 2014 April 21 Wow ! The US tango competition was a real blast this year ! Amazing experience ! 2014 April 20 Our dance ( Cecilia is in white-red dress, I am in black ). Day 1, round 4, song 1. We have made 10 turns of different kinds, forward and back ochos during the first 1.5 minutes we were recorded. Song 2. 2014 April 16 Laban notation does not take in account the technique. It is only visual. The good thing is that it is suitable for any style of dance. But at the same time it makes the record very cumbersome, overweighed, and difficult to read for a dancers. My notation is a shorthand of my technique. It has graphical and symbolic form, and is actually very short. Graphical form is easier to understand, but symbolic is also not difficult ( and it is shorter ). More important is that the symbolic form allows to present “transition”, i.e. mechanics of dance figures. Of course, it is all related to Argentine Tango only, but I feel it can be used in other places where appropriate. Do not pay attention to symbolic formulas, just skip it. Graphical formulas are more useful. Video will never be able to replace abbreviation, it is not abstract enough, many things are just not visible. My abbreviations show what happens inside the body, other abbreviations – only what is visible. 2014 April 15 Very mistaken are those who think that the dance must contain elements of great physical abilities. Large theatrical movement, kama-sutra poses, rabbit-fast steps is not what defines a dance. All this belong to a totally different area: manipulation of spectators to program their mind in a certian way. A dance is defined by correct body postures ( 14 of them on one leg), variety of perfect rhythms, combination of steps into figures, adaptation to a dance partner and environment, inventiveness, musicality, feeling, enjoyment of movements to music and in community. All that is available to any average people. The conclusion is that everyone can dance well ! 2014 April 2 Javier Rodriguez and Virginia Pandolfi Tango and Milonga:
2014 April 2 About “breaking down preconceived idea about tango”. It goes in two directions. One is innovation. I mean innovation in usual terms, another one is going to very basis. It is my direction. It serves innovation, because it discovers very basic and therefore powerful mechanisms of generation of all available moves, figures, and dances. It goes well beyond the usual established thinking. That is what my book's most important result. And that is what you going to get studying it. Not just “new” ways, but ALL ways! This is what mathematical approach gives. Think about it. It is overwhelming? 2014 April 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDhpSB1Ao8w ( not tango: Final Fantasy Dance Battle ) 2014 March 12 How to make tango friends for a woman. Valuable friends. On the way in doing this, do not ask others for dance unless you are a master. Look approachable, but not insisting. Do not sit in a corner. Be communicative, but do not spend time talking. This averts. Watch other dancers and do so with a pleasant, approving, open face, it attracts. Dance well with whoever invites you. And go to workshops where more advanced students go, that is the way to secure friends. Good leaders observe dancing couples and choose whom to invite by observation, this is true. Well, that is only if they are looking for a new partner, have no friends in line to dance with. The most valuable is elegance, axis, ability to follow, good spirit. On your face an enjoyment of dancing must be read. This is important and attractive. The most advanced dancers will look at the feet and quality of turns. Tricks attract clowns. No adornments, god save you from this! The best time to get to new partners at the beginning and at the end of milonga, when there are less people. Also less popular events, where there are fewer people serve well as meeting grounds. Wear attractive dress. Sexy, yes, it does work. But elegant and tasteful. The cloth has to be pleasant on touch, not slippery, not rough. The paramount is quality dancing. This ultimately defines everything. 2014 March 03 Here is a new figure. For the terms, abbreviations, and technique of individual elements, please visit "Twisted Body" Dance Theory; For questions. The figure A. This is a variation on 8-count basic. It introduces back ocho for a man and a woman on step 3. To the best of my mind this figure was taught be Puppy Castello and presented here, in San Francisco, by Graciela Gonzales. Stages of the figure:
2014 February 21 "Twisted Body" Dance Theory is published online. Welcome to read it. Leave your comments at the discussion forum, Google+, or Facebook. You can e-mail directly to me. Computerized dance: Nobuyuki Hanabusa;
2014 January 21 Oops, 2014 already, I should start a new page... Here are some gems. Maestros
2014 March 01 2014 Feb 27 I prosto stihi
2014 Mar 1 |
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My name is Igor Polk. I dance tango in San Francisco.
Argentina Tango, Argentin Tango, Argentinian Tango, Tango Argentino
Copyright©2009 Igor Polk
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