Argentinian Tango

Dance Position

General

Straight bodies, leaning towards each other, normal armholding, arms firm, stiff holding in all turns and figures.

Man’s right hand with fingers together just below womans shoulders (depending on relative lengths of course) - never low as in waltz or foxtrot.

Woman's left hand on arm or at shoulderblade (not ON shoulder).

Man’s left arm looks like a “V” with hand at eye level.

Woman’s right arm similar.

Eyes of man in the “V” of womans right arm, woman’s eyes on the chest of the man slightly to the left.

The distance of heads and chest is close, but the closer the more important is the leaning against each other to separate the feet. Feet are directly in front of each other in frontal positions, not slightly displaced as in walz or foxtrot (i.e., mans right foot on line to middle between womans)

Basic Positions

1. Basic position (BP) is straight frontal, with feet opposite each other.
2. Basic position crossed: Another basic position is similar to straight frontal but woman with crossed feet standing on left foot with right foot behind the heel of the left.

Execution

Eyes must not move (much) up/down during steps/turns. Shoulders and arms stiff in a double triangle as in figure. Much hip turning. Remember the firm holding and the slight leaning towards each other - this gives the man better possibility to lead and to give indications to the woman.

Mostly feet parallell with and close to floor. Weight on front of foot, especially in rotations. Never heels first, always full feet contact when putting foot down.

The dance is NOT strictly regular to (in tempo with) the music. The couple might stop in certain positions and make slow movements, and then change tempo. All movement should be “flowing” - not sudden/marked as in some places in European (modern) tango.

Woman is slightly after man in movement - important for the women to remember. Never “expect” a turn or figure. If there is no lead from man in figures rather stop than make a movement.

The walking has a sort of “knees together” feeling. Woman hesitates in steps and figures slightly when the feet are together. Do not move feet “diagonally”, always from open (feet apart) to closed and then open again, e.g., in moving right foot from in front of left to behind left.

Below some basic figures are described.

Note: Woman's right always refer to her right, seen from herself, NOT as seen from the man.

Basic Figures

• Salida
  • Salida (basic)
  • Salida (in dance)
  • Salida (continuous)
  • Salida (intermediate straight)
  • Salida (intermediate angled)
  • Salida (opened)
  • Salida (skewed)
  • Salida (short)
  • Salida (blocked continued)
  • Salida (blocked to basic position)
  • Salida (blocked forward)
  • Salida (basic cruzada)
  • Salida (cruzada to end)
• Ocho
  • Ocho (forward at Basic Position crossed)
  • Ocho (forward with turn)
  • Ocho (backward after Salida in dance)
  • Ocho (backward cruzada after Salida in dance)
  • Ocho (forward after Salida in dance)
  • Ocho (backward after Salida continuous)
• Voleo
  • Voleo (after Salida in dance)
  • Voleo (after Salida cruzada)
• Cadenza
  • Cadenza (in Salida basic)
  • Cadenza (in Salida continuous)
• Others
  • Half giro (right)
  • Backthrow (in Salida intermediate straight)