By Amy Kniss
Under orders from Dancing’s darling Cheryl Burke (she’s won twice) DeLay’s learned to relinquish his alpha male persona and find (he said) his feminine side—a move that might serve him well should he share a cell in prison. DeLay even learned to follow Burke’s lead—though he wasn’t so keen with a woman on top when rehearsals started. At least that’s what Burke told a Politics Daily reporter after a dress rehearsal.
Dancing’s 2009 premiere featured a shimmery DeLay shaking his thing to the cha-cha-cha, choreographed by Burke, and set to the 1960s hit “Wild Thing.” DeLay’s ostentatious gyrations during his Dancing debut had judges dropping their jaws. Their assessment of the exiled politician: a man with “natural grace,” … “very light on his feet” and “crazier than Sarah Palin.” All of which DeLay takes as compliments, according to columnist Maureen Dowd of The New York Times.
If you want to dance like Tom “The Hammer” (a nickname DeLay earned as House Majority leader for his role as enforcer of the Republican party line) DeLay, then slip on those heels and silk shirt: it’s time to tango.
Things You'll Need:
- Tango music
- Dance floor
- Dance partner
- Tango steps
- Flashy high heels
- Flamboyant dance get-up
Step 1
Start by erecting a strong frame. In
dance terms “the frame” is the way dancers position their bodies
together and fuse into a unit that moves in a graceful and rhythmic
manner. Practicing proper posture individually sets the foundation
for a fabulous tango form. Professional dance instructors like
Cheryl Burke (Meet Tom's dancing partner) tell students that
centering, alignment and breathing comprise proper posture.
Step 2
Begin the tango (Watch eHow Video) in a
“closed” dance position. This means the lead’s (usually, the
man's) right hand rests on the follow’s (the woman's) left
shoulder blade and the follow’s left hand floats atop the upper
part of lead’s right forearm.
The lead’s left hand holds, or presses against, the follow’s right
hand.
Standing with straight backs the lead’s head faces sideway, toward
the left; the follow’s head tilts up and turns to face the
right.
(Be careful here Twinkle Toes. This can look like an effeminate
position and may evoke comments like those Tom got, “Dude........u
looked SO friggin' gay Monday night!!!” on his Facebook page
from Charles Bridges, or these from John Stewart on The Daily Show
that made a similar point.
Step 3
Practice the snap-back head motion that
some steps of the tango require: the dancers quickly reverse the
direction of their heads and face one another locking eyes in a
brief, but intense, gaze before returning to their respective
starting positions.
Step 4
Feel the rhythm of the tango:
Slow…slow…quick-quick-slow. Repeat. Dance professionals often tell
beginning students to use the five letters T-A-N-G-O to remember
the dance’s five basic steps. Slow…slow…quick, quick-slow.
Repeat.
Step 5
From the "closed" position the
lead steps slowly forward with the left foot. The follow mirrors,
stepping backward with the right foot, in sync with the lead’s step
forward. (Getting the follow right on DWTS would make Tom a
desirable partner should he find himself in a federal prison
dance-a-thon--even without the animal print vest and heels.)
Step 6
Still on the slow beat, the lead steps
forward with the right foot. Again, in sync the follow mirrors the
move, stepping back with the right foot.
Step 7
Following from the quick beat the lead’s
left foot steps forward with a stride shorter than the two
previous, long slow-tempo steps. This short step forward with the
left foot prepares for the lead to next step to the side with the
right foot.
Step 8
Feet aligned, the lead next takes a
quick step right, with the right foot. The technique aligning the
feet in this step, called "collecting" the foot, requires
the lead to move the right foot up alongside the left foot before
stepping the right foot out to the right. Collecting the foot
prevents the lead from moving the right foot diagonally when
stepping out to the right.
Step 9
Slowly, the lead glides the left foot
across the floor to the right foot. At the same time, the follow
slowly and deliberately steps the right foot over to stand parallel
with the left. This is also done in a light gliding motion with the
right toe skimming across the floor to step into position beside
the left foot.
Step 10
Continue the basic tango by repeating
steps five through nine until the song, or songs, end.
Tips & Warnings
- Walk with your hips. As the dance begins leaders employ a long, seductive and commanding stride that swivels forward from the hip. The follow performs this action in reverse, as a mirror of the lead. This connected movement demonstrates the passion and desire tangled in the tango.
- Partner’s steps should flow in connected symmetry as part of the tango walk. Keeping eye contact with your partner will make this easier.
- If you're Tom Delay's age, or thereabouts, consult your doctor before taking up the tango.
How to Tango Like Tom DeLay originally
published on eHow.com
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