Walk and salidas
Walking systems
Walking in a cross system is defined as the couple stepping simultaneously with their two right legs and stepping simultaneously with their two left legs. Walking in a parallel system is defined as the couple stepping simultaneously with the leader's right and follower's left leg, and then with the leader's left and the follower's right leg. When dancers are facing each other, the cross system results in an anti-mirror effect. For this reason, in ballroom tango cross system is never used unless both dancers are facing the same direction. Argentine tango, however, makes extensive use of the cross system with dancers facing each other. In Argentine tango, the leader can change his weight from one foot to another while the follower's weight remains unchanged; this is the simplest method of changing from parallel system to cross system or vice versa. By contrast in ballroom tango, a weight change by one partner leads to an automatic weight change by the other.
The cross system and parallel system walk nomenclature originated with the Naveira/Salas "Investigation Group." Early on, they used 'even/uneven' to describe the arrangement of legs in the walk or turn. By the mid-1990s, they began using 'parallel/crossed' and later 'normal/crossed'. The process of changing from the parallel system to cross system (or vice versa) by having the leader change weight without the follower changing weight (or vice versa) is named contrapaso, or "contra-step". This change can be made off or on the normal beat.
| Spanish | English | Description – Walk elements | Image |
|---|
| Sistema paralelo | Parallel walk | The leader steps with his left leg forward, the follower steps with her right leg back; the leader steps with his right leg forward and the follower with her left leg back |  |
| Sistema cruzado | Cross walk | The leader steps with his right leg forward, the follower steps with her right leg back; the leader steps with his left leg forward and the follower with her left leg back |  |
| Contrapaso | Weight change | Weight change used to switch between parallel and cross system of walking. | |
| Americana | Promenade (sweetheart walk) | Walking by facing the same direction and stepping forward. This resembles a walk in the park by sweethearts (except they may hold their hands together whereas in tango the embrace is preserved). This walk can be initiated by salida Americana. |  |
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Eight count basic (8CB)
Basic step (paso básico, basico cuadrado y cruzado) is used for education purposes and almost never danced as a basic step of tango. For this reason it is sometimes called pejoratively academic basic. Nevertheless, it contains basic elements of the dance. Also, it serves a purpose of "establishing notation" to more complex tango elements. Basic step (eight count basic, 8CB) is composed of back step, side step, cross for the lady (leader steps outside of his partner with his right leg), forward step, and side step. Basic steps can also be divided into four phases: salida – position 1 and 2 and transition from position 2 to position 3; caminata (position 3 and 4), cross (position 5), and resolution (positions 6,7,8). There are variants of the basic step.
| Spanish | English | Description – Basic step (8 count basic) | Image |
|---|
| Position cero | Position 0 (tango close) | Collection. Feet closed. See also collect | |
| Uno (salida atrás, primera) | Position 1 | Back step, part of salida (not used in social dancing) |  |
| Dos (salida costado, apertura, segunda) | Position 2 | Side step, open step, part of salida or beginning of the salida |  |
| Tres | Position 3 | Salida simple (basico cuadrado) or crossed (basico cruzado); beginning of the basic step walk. |  |
| Cuatro (caminata) | Position 4 | Basic step walk. | |
| Cinco, cruce | Position 5 (cross) | Cross. See also cross. |  |
| Seis | Position 6 | Walk, part of resolution. |  |
| Siete | Position 7 | Side step to right, open step, part of resolution. |  |
| Ocho | Position 8 | Weight change, part of resolution. See also cadence. | |
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Baldosa (tile) or cuadrado (square) is a six-step figure similar to the ballroom box step except the man starts with his right foot, then steps back, side, forward, forward, side, feet together; the baldosa is the basic step of milonga. This baldosa is similar to eight count basic with the exception of the cross.
Some Argentine tango teachers teach complex figures but break them down into simpler parts. Subsequently, they teach students how to improvise their own figures. Beginner classes may include caminada – combination of caminar (walk), cross, and ochos. The beginning part of a figure, its starting-point, is called salida (exit or beginning – as in "beginning of a journey"). The end part of a figure is called resolución. Combination of the salida, a walk, the cross of the lady and the resolución is called basic step (paso basico, la base, salida simple).
Thus, an Argentine tango figure is the pattern of salida, combination of elements, and resolución. This makes for flexible, ever-changing patterns. It gives leader an exceptional opportunity to improvise, and in part makes the Argentine tango unique in the dance world.
Salidas
| Spanish | English | Description – Salidas | Image |
|---|
| Salida simple | Parallel system salida | Beginning with strong contra body position of the upper torso and the leader's right leg outside the follow (in position 3 of the basic step). | |
| Salida cruzada | Cross system salida | Beginning with the leader's left leg outside the follow (in position 3 of the basic step). | |
| Syncopated salida | Position 4 and 5 of the basic eight is done to the side. [14] | |
| Salida Americana | Salida Americana | Lead initiating walk (called promenade) of the two dancers facing in the same direction. | |
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Technique and embellishments
Follower's technique and embellishments
As in many dances most spectators focus on the follower – her elegance, grace, music interpretation as well as technique. Even though these are highly individual attributes there are some accepted ideas of what makes a follower graceful and beautiful when dancing tango. Such skills include leg projection and weight transfer, stability in movements, elegance in leg placement and leg extension, pivoting, embellishments, as well as expression of emotions.
| Spanish | English | Description – Follower's technique | Image | Image | Image |
|---|
| Amagues | Amagues | A kick by one foot across in front of the other. May be very small high. |  | | |
| Caricias | Caresses | Term describing caress like rubbing thigh, calf, or foot down the follower's body or leader's leg |  | | |
| Pasada | Pasada | Stepping over the man foot in an elegant way. Depending on the follower's preferences she can do variations such as lustrada; she can raise her leg high or keep it low. |  | | |
| Forward cross step | Forward step with one leg crossing in front of the other leg. The movement begins with leg projection and turning of a foot towards the direction of the pivot, transfer of weight to active foot, pivot. This sequence is part of the forward ocho. |  |  |  |
| Backward cross step | Back step with one leg crossing in the back of the other leg. | | | |
| Side step transition | The movement begins with leg projection to the side with foot on the floor and slightly turned with subsequent transfer of weigh to active foot, collection. This sequence is part of the side step. |  |  | |
| Cuatro | Number four | The follower's adornment formed when she crosses and raises her leg in front of the other leg. |  | | |
| Lustrada | Polishing (shoe shine) | Rubbing shoe or foot up and down partner's pants or leg. |  | | |
| Toque (see also golpecitos) | Touch | Short touch of the leader's instep by the follower's foot. | | | |
| Golpecito | Tap | Quick tap done between steps or during a pause. |  |  | |
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In some types of partner dance, lead and follow are designations for the two dancers' roles in a dance pairing. The leader is responsible for guiding the couple and initiating transitions to different dance steps and, in improvised dances, for choosing the dance steps to perform. The leader communicates choices to the follower, and directs the follower by means of subtle physical and visual signals, thereby allowing the pair to be smoothly coordinated.
The Charleston is a dance named after the harbor city of Charleston, South Carolina. The rhythm was popularized in mainstream dance music in the United States by a 1923 tune called "The Charleston" by composer/pianist James P. Johnson, which originated in the Broadway show Runnin' Wild and became one of the most popular hits of the decade. Runnin' Wild ran from 28 October 1923 through 28 June 1924. The Charleston dance's peak popularity occurred from mid-1926 to 1927.
The foxtrot is a smooth, progressive dance characterized by long, continuous flowing movements across the dance floor. It is danced to big band music. The dance is similar in its look to waltz, although the rhythm is in a 4
4 time signature instead of 3
4. Developed in the 1910s, the foxtrot reached its height of popularity in the 1930s and remains practiced today.
Tango is a partner dance and social dance that originated in the 1880s along the Río de la Plata, the natural border between Argentina and Uruguay. The tango was born in the impoverished port areas of these countries from a combination of Argentine Milonga, Spanish-Cuban Habanera, and Uruguayan Candombe celebrations. It was frequently practiced in the brothels and bars of ports, where business owners employed bands to entertain their patrons. It then spread to the rest of the world. Many variations of this dance currently exist around the world.
Tango is a style of music in 2
4 or 4
4 time that originated among European and African immigrant populations of Argentina and Uruguay. It is traditionally played on a solo guitar, guitar duo, or an ensemble, known as the orquesta típica, which includes at least two violins, flute, piano, double bass, and at least two bandoneóns. Sometimes guitars and a clarinet join the ensemble. Tango may be purely instrumental or may include a vocalist. Tango music and dance have become popular throughout the world.
This is a list of dance terms that are not names of dances or types of dances. See List of dances and List of dance style categories for those.
The Hustle is a catch-all name for some disco dances which were extremely popular in the 1970s. Late 1970s, Bump, Hustle, Watergate and Spank were popular. It mostly refers to the unique partner dance done in nightclubs to disco music. Hustle has steps in common with Mambo and Salsa and basic steps are somewhat similar to Euro dance style "discofox", which emerged at about the same time and is more familiar in various European countries. Modern partner hustle is sometimes referred to as New York hustle, however, its original name is the Latin hustle.
Argentine tango is a musical genre and accompanying social dance originating at the end of the 19th century in the suburbs of Buenos Aires. It typically has a 2
4 or 4
4 rhythmic time signature, and two or three parts repeating in patterns such as ABAB or ABCAC. Its lyrics are marked by nostalgia, sadness, and laments for lost love. The typical orchestra has several melodic instruments and is given a distinctive air by the bandoneon. It has continued to grow in popularity and spread internationally, adding modern elements without replacing the older ones. Among its leading figures are the singer and songwriter Carlos Gardel and composers/performers Francisco Canaro, Juan D'Arienzo, Carlos Di Sarli, Osvaldo Pugliese, Elvira Santamaría, and Ástor Piazzolla.
Samba de Gafieira is a partner dance to various Brazilian samba musical rhythms. Unlike street and club forms of Brazilian samba, it evolved as a ballroom dance.
Gancho means "hook" in Spanish and Portuguese, and describes certain "hooking actions" in some dances of Latin American heritage, in Argentine Tango and Salsa in particular.
Finnish tango, or FINtango, music is an established variation of the Argentine tango but whose rhythm follows the Ballroom tango. It was one of the most popular music forms for decades in Finland. Brought to Europe in the 1910s, and to Finland itself in 1913, by travelling musicians, Finns began to take up the form and write their own tangos in the 1930s. The first Finnish tango was written by Emil Kauppi in 1914 for a film called Salainen perintömääräys. It features a typical Finnish rhythm pattern with habanera. In the 1920s the tango was danced exclusively by Helsinki’s bohemians. By the 1940s about half of the entries on the popular music charts were occupied by tangos, and the post war period saw tangos spread from a popular urban phenomenon to their enthusiastic adoption by the countryside as well. Finnish tango peaked in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Special characteristics of Finnish tango include the change of rhythm to beguine during chorus. Also habanera rhythm is often used. The bandoneon was replaced by the accordion and drums were added.
Rock step may refer to one of several similar dance moves. The name refers to the rocking action during the move: the weight is transferred from one foot to another and then back. It is used in a number of dances, such as East Coast Swing, Zydeco, Lindy Hop, Tango.
Lock step refers to any of several dance steps that involves the "locking" of the moving foot: the moving foot approaches to the standing foot, crosses in front of or behind it in the direction of the approach, stops close to the standing foot, and the weight is fully transferred to the (previously) moving foot.
The following is a glossary of figure skating terms, sorted alphabetically.
Contra body movement is used in ballroom dances, such as waltz, foxtrot, tango, and quickstep. It comprises turning the body against the movement of the legs: either moving forward with the right foot and the left hip and shoulder, or vice versa.
Bachatango is a style of dance that fuses the four-step Dominican bachata with Argentine tango moves, including elaborated kicks, dips, turns, ganchos, leg wraps and long pauses. The dance is characterized by sensual hip and body movements. Partners hold each other in a closed position where the female's inside right thigh is in contact with the inside of the male's right thigh, while using the hand placements of typical Latin style dances.
Bachata is a style of social dance from the Dominican Republic which is now danced all over the world. It is connected with bachata music.
Nicole Nau is a German dancer of Tango Argentino and Argentine folklore living in Argentina and Germany.
Alberto Bernardino Paz was an Argentine tango historian, teacher, and dancer. Alberto taught the traditional, social tango of the Buenos Aires salons, together with its codes and culture, to North Americans and Europeans.
