Prácticas & Práctilongas
Practice Makes Permanent!
Our bodies only become familiar with new movements through repetition. Tango is not an easy dance – especially at first – and there is no substitute for regular practice. If you want to make real progress, you have to consider dancing more than once a week.
However, what you practise, and how you do it, makes a huge difference. Your body learns exactly what it does repeatedly – no more, no less. It usually takes longer to get something into your muscle memory than into your brain, but once it’s there, it tends to stick. So better to get into good habits rather than bad ones, and develop a sound technique as the basis of becoming a good dancer. Practising in a supportive environment with good coaching available in the background makes a lot of sense. Remember, practice does not make perfect . . . but it does make permanent!
Prácticas – the Origins
The Práctica is a time honoured tradition in the learning of Tango in Argentina. In its original form, young men who wanted to learn how to dance well would attend prácticas to perfect their technique by dancing with other men. Given the shortage of women in Argentina at the time, being a good dancer was the best chance they had of meeting women and finding a girlfriend. After months of learning the Follower’s steps they would finally be allowed start to learn how to lead. (In this way they already had a good idea of what it was they were leading!) By the time they attended their first Milongas (Tango social dances) they would have mastered both the men’s and ladies’ steps and were well and truly ready.
Meanwhile, it was customary for girls to learn Tango from their mothers and sisters, so that by the time they were old enough to start dancing socially they too were capable dancers.
Nowadays we have to find a shorter route. Our classes are designed to help you learn as quickly and effectively as possible. From then on it’s a question of practice, to get posture and movement into your muscle memory so that you can dance naturally without having to think about it.
Our Práctilongas
Combining the best of a Práctica and a Milonga, our Práctilongas are friendly, informal and fun. Becoming an experienced Tango dancer also involves making the transition from lessons and classes to dancing socially at Milongas. Práctilongas are a half way house between a Práctica and a full blown Milonga (which many find a bit too challenging at first). We aim to appeal to a wide range of dancers with good venues, a friendly atmosphere and the best music, so you can just dance, practise or even get some coaching / advice if you wish.
We foster a positive and encouraging atmosphere to build dancers’ confidence, with no blame or criticism – we can all feel a bit vulnerable when learning something new, so it is vital that people feel comfortable and supported. We also discourage more experienced dancers from teaching ‘their moves’ to recent beginners because, in our experience, this is rarely helpful and often causes confusion.
Plus our usual complimentary light refreshments, these evenings will benefit your Tango and get your weekend off to a great start.
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Práctilongas in 2012
During the Summer Term
First Fridays at the Village Hall Liphook
4th May, 1st June, 6th July
7.30 – 8-30pm: One hour Open Milonga Class (See below for more information)
8.30 – 10.30pm Práctica
Class & Práctica – £9
Práctica only – £5
During the Summer Break
- Keep your Tango fresh during the holidays
- No formal classes, just non-stop music
- Tango, Vals, Milonga & other favourites
Fridays 10th & 31st August at St. Joan’s, Farnham
7.30 – 10.30pm
£7
From the start of the Autumn Programme in September
we will establish our twice monthly Friday Práctilongas on a regular basis
on the first & third Fridays of the month – see our diary page for specific dates
First Fridays:
7.30 – 11.00pm
No formal classes, just non-stop music for uninterrupted social dancing – Tango, Vals, Milonga & other favourites
£9
Third Fridays:
7.30 – 8-30pm: One hour Open Milonga Class
8.30 – 10.30pm Práctica
Class & Práctica – £9
Práctica only – £5