| Tango Terms
|
Term
| Description
|
Abrazo
| Literally "hug" An embrace. The foundation for the frame.
|
Axis
| Vertical spinal & abdominal support created by lifting & tightening the torso & rib case.
|
Bandoneon
| Buttons & bellows instrument unique to tango. Adds playfulness and texture.
|
Barrida
| A sweep or sweeping motion of your partners foot. One partner's foot sweeps the other's foot and places it without loosing contact.
|
Boleo
| To throw or whip. A swivel and return or whipping action of one leg. May be gentle and slow or quick, high and fast. A leg flick of one person's foot in the air, but not between the legs of his / her partner.
|
| Cabeceo | (from cabeza; head): Traditional technique for selecting dance partners from a distance at the milongas in Buenos Aires by using eye contact and head movements. |
Cadena
| Literally "a chain" three or four steps involving changes of direction that repeat itself.
|
| Calesita | Carousel; the merry-go-round: A figure in which the lead places the follower on one foot and then dances around the follower while keeping the follower centered over and pivoting on the supporting leg. |
Cambio de frente
| The change of direction of a turn. A check or rock-step that turns.
|
| Caricias | Caresses: A gentle stroking with the leg or shoe against some part of the partner's body. They can be subtle or extravagant. |
Close Embrace
| Partners maintain torso contact. Communication is directly axis to axis. "Milonguero" style.
|
Collect
| Bring legs & feet together between steps.
|
Cortina
| Literally "The Curtain". Short musical interlude between tandas. (sets of music) The cortina lets you know that a new set of songs will be played by a different orchestra and usually a different rhythm and style, then the set before. The cortinas also provide time to rest and to search out a new partner. The etiquette is to dance with the same partner until the end of the set.
|
Cruzada
| The Cross. Follower's left leg crossed over the right with weight change to left foot.
|
Enganche
| A leg wrap
|
Gancho
| Quick rebound of the relaxed leg between partner's legs.
|
Giro
| Turn: a turning step or figure performed by the lead.
|
| Habanera | A side together side together stepping action entered with a side chasse', commonly used by the lead, leading backward ochos. |
| Lapiz | Pencil: Tracing of circular motions on the floor with the toe or inside edge of the working foot. |
Milonga *
| (1) A Dance in 2/4 time (2) Music for the Dance (3) Place to dance tango.
|
Milonguero
| Refers to early men tango dancers & their style dancing close embrace.
|
| Molinete | Windmill; wheel: A figure in which a lady dances a grapevine on a circumference around the lead, stepping back-side-forward-side back-side-forward, while the lead pivots in place... the follow using forward and backward ocho technique. |
Musicality
| Personal interpretation by Leads and Follows of the music's tempo, rhythm & mood
|
Ochos
| Literally "eights" - a front ocho consists of a step forward with a pivot and then another step forward, while a back ocho consists of two back steps with a pivot in between. Danced forward or backward.
|
| Ocho Cortado | Cut eight: change of direction: Occurs when a molinete or an ocho like movement is stopped and sent back upon itself. |
Parada
| Literally "stopped" - a step where the bodies stop and one foot of one person is adjacent to the foot of his/her partner. A foot stop.
|
| Pasada | A stop and passing over. Occurs when the lead has stopped the lady with foot contact and leads her to step forward over the lead's extended foot. |
Practica
| An informal place to practice skills, style & technique.
|
| Rhonda | (La rhonda) Line of dance: Refers to etiquette of dancing in the line of dance by moving counter clockwise around the dance floor and using concentric lanes in the traffic to facilitate dancing in close proximity with one another. |
Salida
| Literally "The Exit or Go Out". In Tango, it means the first steps that begin a sequence at the beginning of the dance or the first steps or entrance during a dance of an new figure or set of steps.
|
Tanda
| Tandas are a set of three or four songs by the same orchestra and same musical style. Tandas are also made up of Tangos or Vals or Milongas.
|
| Tanda Order | The sequence of the Tandas are usually" Tango, Tango, Vals, Tango, Tango Milonga and then the sequence continues to repeat. The Tandas are separated by Cortinas. |
Tanguero /a
| Male or female who dances tango.
|
Sanguichito, moridida
| Literally "little sandwich" or "bite" - meaning a foot sandwich where both feet of one person are sandwiching the foot of the partner.
|
Saccada
| A displacement. Sacadas are the entering of the foot of one person between the feet of the partner with a displacement of the other's space.
|
Vals cruzado
| Fast 3/4 time dance incorporating tango steps. Flowing music in 3/4 time.
|
| Volcada | from Volcar = to tip-over or capsize: a falling step: The leader causes the follower to tilt or lean forward and fall off her axis before he catches her again. The process produces a beautiful leg drop from her. The movement requires the support of a close embrace. |
*
| We can dance a Milonga to a Milonga at a Milonga !
|
