Connection

“Connection” between the two people in a dancing couple is made by the opposite forces from the them toward (or away from) each other. Where there is push from the man, there is push in the opposite direction from the woman. Where there is pull from the man, there is pull in the opposite direction from the woman. Forces in opposite directions establish connection. A man’s marca is transmitted through the locations of connection.

Different systems of tango dancing technique use different parts of the body to connect. One system uses chest-to-chest connection, where the woman receives the man’s marca from his chest on her chest. Another system uses hand-to-back connection, where the woman receives the man’s marca from his hand on her back. Hand-to-hand connection also can be used, where the woman receives the man’s marca from his hand on her hand.

When a couple embrace, there are several points of physical contact between them. Not all of these points of contact may be used by the man to give a marca. For the woman to know which points of contact the man uses to connect and give a marca, she has to feel which of them move first to give her a change in push or pull pressure. If the whole points of contact begin to move at the exactly same time, the man uses his whole upper body to connect and give a marca. If his chest is the first thing that begins to move and causes a change in contact pressure, it is his chest that connects and gives a marca. If the man’s hand is the first thing that begins to move and causes a change in contact pressure, it is that hand that he connects to the woman to give a marca. However, the interval between the time of the beginning of the movement of the marca-giving parts and the time of the beginning of the movement of the other parts of the man is almost zero, giving the impression that all parts of his body begin to move at the same time.