Participants in our courses know my tip about the “pling” moment.
As you might guess, once again it’s all about the music.
The basic idea is to perceive musically significant parts of tango pieces and dance a simple, yet recognizable little thing to them, thus interpreting the music.
Before I go into more detail, I’d like to explain what it’s all about using my favorite example.
Here’s a link to a YouTube video of the tango waltz “Tengo mil novias” – “I Have a Hundred Brides” by Enrique Rodriguez (a prime example of how tango is by no means always sad).
The first “ping” moment is at 0.32, the second at 1.33, and the third at 2.35.
Each of these “pling” moments offers the opportunity to emphasize it in your dance.
This can be done with a simple but distinct step to the side (or forward or backward).
You can also perform a sacada or a voleo at this moment, so that the lady’s leg flies exactly on the “pling” of the orchestra (please not on crowded dance floors).
Another nice and impressive move is to throw the lady off-axis exactly on the “pling.” Our course participants know that this isn’t difficult at all, although it looks spectacular.
Another option, if you prefer something a little more burlesque, is a little jump on the spot as soon as the “pling” sounds.
You could also swing the arms slightly upwards on the open side of the embrace (i.e., the gentleman’s left arm and the lady’s right arm). But be careful here too, someone might be standing in the way (and besides, the emphasis is on swinging, not on “pulling upwards”).
More robust men (or women) could also briefly lift their respective dance partners with the “pling.”
So you see, the possibilities for musical (and often comedic) interpretation are almost inexhaustible.
The “pling” moments in “Tengo mil novias” are clearly prepared musically and easy to hear. Therefore, they are easy to dance once you’ve listened to the song.
Many other tangos, valses, and milongas also have similar moments. Moments in which the orchestra adds one or two clearly audible accents that you can dance to.
Listening to the tango orchestras for these moments can be helpful in several ways.
Firstly, you consciously engage with the music, which always helps you understand it better and thus dance better.
On the other hand, you get a feel for the special, outstanding, audible, if you will, musically picturesque moments in individual pieces.
Emphasizing these, even in a very simple way, through dance, playing with what the orchestra offers us, helps to convey more enjoyment to your dance partner (or partners) while dancing (gentlemen, you hopefully know if you visit this blog often that the ladies love musical dancing).
You can also show the audience (and let’s be honest, who doesn’t want that) that you have musical talent.
The nice thing about it is that you don’t have to know and dance to every note, every nuance of the music in every piece.
Most of the time, it’s enough to ignite a little musical mini-firework display during a few “ping” moments that you’ve planned beforehand to gain a reputation as a musical dancer.
So, that’s it for today about the “Pling” moment.
Do you want to know more about the moments in the music you can easily play with and impress your dance partner and those who are watching?
Then take a look at the “Popcorn” moment from my dance teacher friend Steve Morall.
