Back To Basics

The Universal Dance Floor:

When we go back to basics it is different than the Rootzi Tootzis. We really mean basics and stepping Steps are the most basic, L,R,L,R,L,R ...  And the music  is usually an incessant beat, boom, boom, boom ...

"Vision is not seeing things as they are, but as they will be."

The original Milonga was a stepping dance. The original Indian styling was in dancing cat like and the music was an incessant beat, just boom, boom, boom ... To this day many can hear the Tango with the incessant beat and say, "That's a Milonga." The Harumph is Tango.

The nearest thing I have witnessed to the original Milonga is the Filipino Tango, just step, step, step. If they dance to the music and use their own step movements, they do not have to worry about heel, toe, entire foot etc. Just walk it except that you walk it to a two or four count. The music and the rhythm are first, then the dance to enjoy the music;

"You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" by Righteous Brothers

The Waltz can be walk/danced too. In social dance you do not have to worry about toe, toe, heel or whatevah. Just walk it but you walk it to a three count. Then as you progress you can develop your own movements to the rhythm. But it is in the music and the rhythm first, then the dance.

Merengue is still step, step, step, but it has a very definite styling to it, specially in the hip action. Watch them do it and you can tell who has the "correct" hip action and who does not. You gonna dance it? The music and the rhythm are first, then the dance.

"Where Did Our Love Go" by the Supremes

International Paso Doble (which is long ways from Bullfighting) is also a step, step, step dance. Except that it is mostly foot stamping. And bullfighters have never been known for foot stamping.

You see, the Matador wears white stockings and something similar to ballet shoes. They do their art in the "Arena" which means "Sand" in Spanish. In the moment of truth, a right handed bullfighter holds the sword in his right hand and allows the bull to come from his left. He plunges his sword into the bull's neck as it goes by, and as the bull buckles into the ground, he pirouttes graceful as a ballet dancer to his left, opens his arms and bows to his audience for his act has ended.

The Spanish are also well aware that their "real" Paso Doble has boots and heel drumming. There are no boots or heel drumming in bullfighting. Not a social dance, strictly for show and it is something else.

At present there are over 100 documented dances with a basic of a stepping Step. Now we are talking basics.

"Do we see difficulties in every opportunity or do we see

opportunities in every difficulty."