Geraldine Rojas - Portal

I have seen Geraldine dance live only twice but I hardly remember anything about the dance but only her dresses. The first time was 2004 when she was dancing with Javier and her dress was red lace. I was a beginner then and could not see the magic in their dance, what a pity....

The second time was in Paris 2010 and her dance partner was Ezequiel Paludi; she in black lace. But it was not better: I could not relate to their dance. It was beautiful but nothing more for me. It was just now when I was working with this portal I started to appreciate their dance. I have watched huge number of videos, many of them several times when I suddenly noticed how musically they are dancing, how fresh the musical interpretations are and how professional they are.

But now to the palylists!

Geraldine Rojas
There is some difficulties with the spelling of her name. The early and most common verson is the one I have used here. On her home page she nowadays writes Geraldin Rojas.

When you make google seach you get several Geraldine Rojas and one of them is very look alike - a dancer from New York with long brown hair and the same name!

Mother and the extended family (click the title to start a playlist)
Geraldines mother is Maria del Carmen, an appreciated dancer of Villa Urquiza style. She is married to Jorge Dispari and Geraldine is grown up in this family together with Samantha Dispari, her sister.

In one of the interviews on Geraldines homepage she tells how unmusical her father was and how this caused the separation of parents. (On other pages Jorge Dispari was stated as her father but I think it is uncorrect)

Childhood performances
I did know she had performed as child but now when reviewing these videos I was still surpriced! What an opportunity to develope her own talent with all these talented leaders.

Young professional
Here we have some of the performances and films she has contributed to.

Dancing with different partners
Pay attention to her ability to adapt to different partners.
I have collected clips I like, watch and enjoy!

Bologna
These videos are from Bologna festival where she was dancing with Javier Rodriguez. It is interesting how these performances have maintained the power to attract us, still after so many years.

with Paludi
After splitting up from Javier, Geraldine has danced with Ezequiel Paludi. This gives her possibility to combine the professional life with family life!

It is obvious that she is talented and she had possibility to develope that talent with great dancers. I am sure that her early training to perform on stage makes the performing situation more comfortable for her, compared to dancers with later start.

But she has also worked on her own training. There are stories about how she as a child danced alone for hours; training steps to different music, alone, early in the morning.

Please enjoy the portal!

In the text section (bilow the video window on Youtube page) you find the liks to Geraldines and Ezequiels homepage as well as to one dance analysis. (the link was removed ...)

G. Potter at tango practica!

Harry Potter's cousin G.Potter has started to go to practica! Some times it goes well and he with partner are disappearing to the other worlds. När difficulties accumulates the whole world is shaking!

But notice! they both have their broom ready for fast escape!

The most interesting thing with this kind of video effect is the fact that the camera holder will be part of the video. Here the lady got upset before you can hear G. Potter start to explain, her camera hand is shaking and the whole room shakes. In ordinary film you don't see it.
(He explained nicely but was frustrated!)

Whos fault IS it?

Sometimes, when you are leading, you find unexpected effects. It is difficult to analyze the source for the phenomenon or find the way to correct it. Here you have our story, how we did analyze the situation and found the solution!

For our small group the caminata is an important part of the technical training and we have it on the schedule every time! At one of the very first times I noticed that my main partner Ms. B was walking in a slight, but definite turning circle to the left, I needed to work a lot to keep her in a stright forward caminata. When we talked about it she said she felt the lead to that slight curve promenade, I told her that there was no lead for that turn ......

We made some videos that time and after several months there was time to analyze it. These are the facts I have found so far!

Ms. B is walking very balanced backwards. Her heels are placed on one line and the toepart is pointing out in an angle she is able to keep constant / stable. The rectangle formed by her hips and shoulders is fine, working balanced and steady. I think this is one of the reasons she is so good follower. Her response is clear without unbalance, 'noice'.  

 You will see the walk first in slow motion and then the normal pace.

She is moving in such a beautiful manner, isn't she?

We go on to se what happens with the leader in black! Please look again how the steps are placed and how the shoulder/hips rectangular looks like. You get the slowmotion version first and then in normal speed. If you choose whole screen in Youtube, it will be easier to se!

 

 

Here we have some things happening, don't we?

It is quite obvious that the shoulder/hips rectangle has collapsed; the right shoulder is lower and left hips goes out more than the right one. There is also differences in steps.

The left foot step seems quite ok, the foot is moving on its own line forward and even the shoulder line is acceptable.

It is different for the right foot step! The right shoulder is lower and left hip goes out. Right foot is also going slightly diagonally forward. And here we have the lead, enough for a sensitive follower! If the leader would make the step a little bit longer and keep left shoulder some more away, then we would have a clear lead for a left side turn!

This time the cause for this diverging from the forward caminata was the leaders (my) unclear / unbalanced back and feet movements.

Nowadays when i feel that a follower is turning without my intentional lead to the left I do not lead / turn her back but I start to control my left hip and keep my right foot in line instead.

I have a scoliosis in my back, It makes the back movements more unbalanced and unstable. Usually I do not mind that but some sensitive followers are able to perceive it and act on it.

.... and one more thing. When I was following the reason for unbalance, anyhow to some extent, was on the follower / me! My scoliosis is working in both roles! ;)