1-D First Figure (Notes from first session)

[Tommykurtsmith]

These are notes from running these for the first time with my "seed" p2p group. I had 6 intermediate-level students and instructed them to read through the mission then attempt to teach it to their partner, with me answering questions and helping out.

• Goal: "Learn how to put the basic elements of tango (weight change, side step, back step, forward step) into a repeatable pattern. Learn the concept of improvisation and choice in the dance."

• With all the improvisational elements introduced, the student teachers debated how much time to spend on each one. For example, step 2 (rock steps) could be further subdivided into 1a) Have the student rock step at a particular step of the box 1b) Have the student improvise rock stepping/not rock stepping that particular step 1c) Repeat for another part of the box 1d) repeat until student can improvise a rock step on any part of the box

• As the student is not yet aware of the deep improvisation potential of tango, in this mission it's the student teacher who has the real power to influence how long the student stays at this mission. We decided that the intent of the mission was to expose the student to the concept of improvisation and what forms it can take rather than mastery of any of these elements. That being said, this mission could be revisited later, perhaps in the milonguero groove ring, to fuller effect. Maybe there is some way to incorporate suggested revisits (or mission level IIs?) explicitly into the curriculum.