Assessments.
Video Assessment:
Each semester, LATA members have 2 video assessments, where you will dance with and receive feedback from one of the instructors.
What to expect:
3 songs will play back-to-back with no pauses or breaks.
You can use the time with the instructor to practice and/or get feedback - be ready to take notes.
On the 4th song you will be recorded dancing the material with your instructor.
How to prepare:
Please prepare for assessments ahead of time by asking for feedback during practicas, group classes and/or private lessons.
Booking your spot:
Best to book on the LATA app, or scroll down to the bottom of the page!
Spring 2024
March 16: Midterm Video Assessment
May 18: Final Video Assessment and self-assessment due
Self assessments:
After the mid-term video assessment, LATA members will be given a Self Assessment Worksheet to help guide, organize and track their individual progress on the material covered in class.
Tracking progress:
With Tango, it’s not so much about what we do but how we do it. Hence, when we practice and need to trouble shoot a sequence or step, we do it with the help of, and in relation to these concepts: Balance, Alignment, Weight Transfer, Spiral, Embrace, and Musicality.
We often address these concepts in class to help you progress in all areas, and they will help you self assess your dance with clarity and focus.
Scroll down to learn more about the 6 pillars ↓
Six Pillars.
Guiding principles for your Tango journey
These fundamental pillars relate to somatics, the individual’s use of their own body. A journey of increasing the awareness of different movements of the body and how they relate to one another.
1. Balance
Your balance is defined by how well you can stay centered on your foot. The more centered we are, the more we can relax.
Our ideal dancer can stand on either foot calmly and effortlessly without shaking, wobbling, or holding tension. They maintain their balance even when subjected to outside forces. They are always ready to stay where they are, and equally ready to move.
2. Alignment
When looking at alignment, we are considering how our body is stacked up and how well this alignment is maintained when stepping, spiraling, and embracing your partner.
Our ideal dancer keeps their pelvis, ribcage, and head stacked over the standing leg. The spine is stretched and maintains its natural curve. Their shoulders are low, hips are level, and the free side of the body isn’t holding tension. They don’t change their alignment when they embrace their partner. As they move, they keep their alignment consistent.
3. Weight Transfer
Weight transfer refers to how you move from one foot to the other; Which part of your foot touches the ground first, the direction and size of your step, and how you receive your weight onto your new foot.
Our ideal dancer uses the whole foot. Stepping forward, they roll heel to toe and moving backwards they roll from the big toe to the heel. Both feet remain active throughout the weight transfer and when maintaining body alignment, it becomes possible to slow, pause, or freeze the transfer from one leg to the other. When the axis fully arrives onto the new standing leg, the free leg is relaxed and responds like a pendulum.
4. Spiral
Spiral refers to the spiral of the spine. When we look at your spiral we are not looking for the biggest range of motion but for how well you can use your individual range of motion.
Our ideal dancer can spiral the spine in both directions, on either foot, without changing where their hips are facing. They can then use this spiral to create a pivot of the lower body. When dancing, the spiral in their body is always active and responsive to the situation, spiraling towards their partner.
5. Embrace
When assessing the quality of the embrace, we consider both how the embrace feels and its general shape in relation to your partner.
Our ideal dancer's embrace is expansive and relaxed. Their back and shoulder blades are wide, open and down. The arms are flexible and the hands are present with their partner. They do not push or pull on their partner or use them for balance. Their embrace does not collapse; it feels round like a bubble and responds to their partner's movement.
6. Musicality
When assessing musicality, we are looking at your ability to coordinate your movements with the music.
Our ideal dancer can feel the pulse of the music and can consistently move with the beat. They can shift between different rhythms with their partner (doubletimes, halftimes, pauses, etc). They understand the natural / default timing of the movements and how to alter them. Their musical interpretation is a direct response to the mood and color of the music, without sacrificing connection with their partner.
