Argentine Tango 1
7.06
Basic Position and Steps
Position
You face the follow, dead on.
- In fact, throughout the dance your chest should be aimed at hers.
- Your feet line up; your toes point to her toes.
Stand up straight.
- Make sure your shoulders are above your hips.
Place your right hand just beneath the follow's left shoulderblade.
- This is called the "closed side."
When dancing closer, your right hand moves towards the spine; when dancing further apart, it moves away.
- Dancing further apart is easier for beginners.
- Her arm rests atop your arm, providing as much connection as you can manage.
Place your left hand against her left hand.
- This is called the "open side."
- These hands are at a comfortable height -- usually some compromise between your eye level and hers.
Steps
A step has three parts...
- Reaching over.
- Transferring the weight.
- Collecting the weight.
- This step can go forwards, backwards, or sideways.
For a sideways step, prepare a bit more.
- It has to be distinct from a weight shift.
- When stepping forward, the foot should angle a little bit out. (?)
"Stepping inside"
- You step straight forward.
- The follow steps backwards, or gets her foot stepped on.
"Stepping outside"
You place your left foot just to the right of her left foot.
- This is not a big step. Barely any space between your left foot and hers.
- You can also do this the other way: place your right foot just to the left of her right foot.
Note that both "stepping inside" and "stepping outside" should go 'straight forward' -- no angle in any direction.
- Also, your chest should cheat to face the follow.
You can always follow a "step outside" with a "step inside"
- That is, the next step goes where the foot would go on a normal 'step inside'.
- The follow's foot should not be in the way.
If you are "stepping outside" with your right foot (so, into the 'open side'), you can follow it with a second step outside.
- In this context, this means that you step forward, but stay on that straight line just outside the follow's feet (instead of stepping back in to where you're lined up with the follow's feet).
This second step forces the follow to do a 'cross.'
Note that it's the second step that leads the cross.
- ... which is odd, because its puts you on your left foot and her on her left foot.
After that, you bring your right foot together with your left and shift weight.
- Note that this is a subtle weight shift. You are not trying to lead anything.
- Then you can step forward on your left foot (inside) as normal.
You can also 'rock step'.
- When you take a forward or backward step, but before you collect your feet together, you are in a good rock-step position.
- Then, just shift your weight forward or backward.
- Before stepping forward, you'll want to shift your weight to one foot or the other.
Music
- Tango music typically lacks clear percussion.
- It's usually sad/plaintive.
- It's 4/4.
- You'll move on the 1 and the 3. ("Slow, slow.")
- Or, alternately on 1, the 2, and the 3. ("Quick, quick, slow.")
A Very Short Routine
- Step to the left.
- Step outside.
- Step inside.
Additional Resources
http://www.austintango.comFootnotes
2 pages link to PSRDanceArgentineTango1:
