Michael wrote: > The "silly head snap" is part of International style tango. > This style is used in competitive ballroom competitions. The > social tango style, sometimes called American, doesn't have > any head snaps. In the competitive style, the couples aren't > allowed to separate but they can in American. > > I'm guessing the snap is used to impress judges. I don't > dance International style because I don't want to give > myself whiplash.
The 'head snap' is a result of the leader suddenly changing direction. It's not an isolated head movement, but actually more a side-product due to the leader-initiated change in the follower's body position ... in some respects like a boleo of the head ;) From the leader's perspective it requires skill and the right timing to make it happen, and works better when the follower is relaxed. If I remember correctly it's a slightly circular motion, and in my experience not as whiplashy as it appears :) I suppose it can be (or is) also done by the follower for embellishmental purposes, but I cannot speak to that.. ~Anne _______________________________________________ Tango-L mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
