Tango - Natural Twist Turn

Starting from Promenade Position, this step is a good one for playing around with the dynamics of Tango as the man's rhythm is slightly different to the lady's - but both still work together to complete the step.

Leaders'/Men's Footwork

In Promenade Position, with your weight on your Right foot and your Left foot extended to the side (knees bent, knees, hips, and bellybuttons still to your partner, only your Left shoulder opened slightly to the LOD), take your first step with your Left foot moving along the LOD. Continue moving along LOD as you bring your Right foot forward and across in Promenade Position and CBMP. (You should be really twisted up at this point!) (Slow, Quick)

Untwist to step side onto your Left foot, getting as far around your partner as possible and blocking her forward movement. Your body will likely be backing Diagonal Centre at this point. As you cross your Right foot behind your left (toe only) you should continue the turn and be Backing LOD. (Quick, Slow)

With your weight on your Right foot primarily, untwist until your legs are side by side and then continue the turn on your Right leg but carry your Left with it so that you end up in Promenade Position where you started! Obviously you dont actually have any steps here, but the followers do... so the count in which you should complete this is Quick, Quick. (I know it looks messy... but you try drawing a movement that the foot stays in place but turns!)

Followers'/Ladies' Footwork

Starting in Promenade position, you have your weight on your Left foot with your Right foot lightly resting on the ground to the side whilst your knees, hips, and belly button  are facing your partner, you open your Right shoulder slightly down the line of dance and turn your head to the right. Step off on your Right foot and then take another step down LOD with your Left foot which will put you in CBMP and promenade position at the same time - prepare to twist! On the next step, your partner will take a step which puts his body blocking you but it is important that your step still goes straight forward - which should mean that you step directly between his legs. (Slow, Quick, Quick)

Then it is as if you are walking around him. Keep your upper body turned towards him and use him as the centre of your circle as you take two steps (Left, Right) forward and around him. (Slow, Quick) The third step (Left foot) is to the side to end up back where you started, in Promenade position - be sure to transfer your weight AND change your body direction into PP on this last step... and all on a Quick count!

Notes for both the Leader and the Follower:

- Guys, your turn and bringing the Left leg around without weight, whilst keeping your balance and centre strength.... will take practice. Try to get this movement as smooth as possible. Ladies, you are still moving while the guys turn... try not to walk too far away from them or you may pull them off balance.

Tango - Progressive Side Step Reverse Turn

As the Progressive Side Step Reverse Turn starts facing Diagonal Centre for the man, I have added two walks on to the beginning of the figure to allow you to curve yourself into the appropriate starting angle. These are not technically part of this step, however, we haven't really looked at any steps which would naturally have you end DC.

Remember that in Tango, all steps should be done with flexed knees and that there is a natural curve to the Left in most figures. 


Leaders'/Men's Footwork

Starting Diagonal Wall with the two walks forward on your Left then Right feet, you should curve these walks more than you are used to in order to end up facing Diagonal Centre. Continue to curve as you take a third step forward - on your Left foot in CBMP. (Slow, Slow) Your next step is the one that gives this step its name as you step side and slightly back with your Right foot. (In the diagram, this looks like side and slightly forward, however, remember you have transferred your weight onto the Left foot during the third step - so the right foot has already been tracking underneath you and moves side and slightly back compared to where the Left foot currently is. It is not in relation to where the Right foot WAS.) Continue turning during this side step as well so that as you step forward again with your Left foot, you are almost facing Against the LOD. (Quick, Quick, Slow)

You have one more step forward (still curving) on your Right foot before rocking back onto your Left foot, forward onto your Right, and back onto your Left again.(Slow, Quick, Quick)

To finish, you have four steps which are essentially a Back Corte. Take a smallish step back onto your Left foot (pulling your left side back at the same time) and then another step back on your Right foot - leaving your shoulders where they were so that you are in CBMP (this step begins to turn you back towards facing Diagonal Wall - which means that the step itself is Diagonal Centre). Next, take a side step with your Left foot (your toes should be pointing Diagonal Wall but your body isnt there yet) and close your Right foot to your Left to finish facing Diagonal Wall. (Slow, Quick, Quick, Slow)

Followers'/Lady's Footwork

Because of our added two steps at the beginning of this figure, you begin backing Diagonal Wall. The first two steps are taken, Right and then Left, stepping backwards and curving in towards the centre of the room. Take one more step back on your Right - this will be in CBMP. The next step is to the side and slightly forward on your Left foot, before taking another step backwards on your Right to face Against LOD. (Slow, Slow, Quick, Quick, Slow)

Take one more step backwards - on your Left foot - then rock forward onto your Right and back again onto the Left. These rocks should be done along the LOD. (Slow, Quick, Quick)

Then finish the step with what is essentially a Back Corte. Step forward on your Right foot with your Right side leading, forwards again on your Left in CBMP, side with your Right foot to Back Diagonal Wall and then close your Left foot to your Right. (Slow, Quick, Quick, Slow)

Notes for both the Leader and the Follower:

- The angles here are the ones given in the technique book. While you are first learning this, do not worry too much about where you are facing in the middle of the step as long as you start and finish at the right alignments. Once you have the feel of the step, then you can go back and try to get the angles more precise.

- Gents, remember that your lady needs to get around you on steps 11 and 12, so help her out by not taking a huge side step!

Tango - Style

The individual style of each of the Ballroom and Latin dances is integral to defining the movement and feel of each dance. But more than in any other dance, the style of Tango is what makes it dynamic and unique. Without style, Tango is simply walking around the room.

Most people, when thinking of the tango, think of the rose in the teeth and one arm pointing dramatically in the direction of travel. Although this is a common stereotype, there is little to back that image up technically. The hold for Tango is more compact - rather than stretched - and the drama does not come from the presence of a rose.

Instead, it is the quality of the movement that you should focus on. Tango has a feeling of "stalking" to it. Your knees should be bent at all times (imagine the ceiling is 2 inches above your head) and the impetus to move comes from your core - not your feet or legs. It is very important that you do these things technically, though. When I say your knees are bent, that means that you need to keep your hips under your shoulders and simply allow your knees to move forward over your toes rather than remain over your heels which will cause your bottom to stick out. Posture is exceptionally important to maintain as the dance just wont look right unless you keep your shoulders broad, collar bones lifted, and heads to the left (ladies more left than gents).

Ladies, dont forget that your Left hand is not on the gents shoulder as usual, but instead is placed behind his shoulder - sort of like a karate chop with your thumb ending up at his armpit and the palm of your hand facing down.

Tango - Open Promenade

(Two for one today as i am late with the ballroom step from monday!)

Much like your Closed Promenade, this step takes you along the Line of Dance in Promenade Position but instead of finishing back in a neutral position with your feet together, you have an Open Finish.

Leaders'/Men's Footwork

Just like the Closed Promenade, this step only differs in the final step. So, from PP (promenade position) you step forward onto your Left foot (Slow), forward again onto your Right foot - bringing the leg through the centre of you and your partner (Quick), change your alignment to face diagonal to wall again with your next step to the side onto your Left foot (Quick), and then rather than closing your feet together as you would in a Closed Promenade, step forward on the diagonal (in CBMP) with your Right foot (Slow).

Followers'/Lady's Footwork

Again, just like the Closed Promenade, you step forwards in PP (promenade position) on your Right foot (Slow), forwards again onto your Left foot (Quick), step side - changing your alignment when led to be backing the diagonal - onto your Right foot (Quick), and instead of bringing your feet together as you would have done in your Closed Promenade, step backwards in CBMP onto your Left foot (Slow).


Notes for both the Leader and the Follower:

- Maintaining the connection between your centre's at all times is integral when working in ballroom in general, tango specifically, and in CBMP even more so. Really try to keep your belly buttons facing each other at all times throughout this step regardless of what your shoulders or feet may be doing.

Tango - Open Reverse Turn Outside Partner

The Open Reverse Turn, Outside Partner is a very scary sounding name for 6 steps. But you needn't be worried! As with the other reverse turns you have done in other dances so far, this turn will be going to the Left and for the gentlemen, starts on the Left foot. As the title says, part of the turn will happen stepping outside your partner's feet instead of inside as you would usually do.

The counts for this step are "Quick, Quick, Slow, Quick, Quick, Slow"

Leaders'/Men's Footwork

Starting diagonally to your nearest wall, take one step forward on your Left foot. (Quick) Step side onto your Right foot, placing your back to the nearest wall, (Quick) and then step back with your Left foot putting your body in CBMP (keeping your shoulders to your partner/parallel to the wall but your hips and feet facing the wall that you have to your Left). (Slow) At this stage, you and your partner should not be in line, but more beside one another.

Step back on your Right foot, curving the step to continue the turn. (Quick) (You should be almost facing the nearest wall again.) Then step side on your Left foot (Quick) and close your Right to your left to complete the turn and end facing diagonal to wall as you started. (Slow)

Followers'/Lady's Footwork

You start backing diagonal to wall and take your first step back with your Right foot (this step has already begun to turn). (Quick) Then step side on your Left, to face the nearest wall. (Quick) The next step is forward towards the diagonal on your Right foot, but is not taken in line. (Slow) Your foot therefore should be between you and your partner and your body will be in CBMP (your upper body, still in hold, is facing your partner and your lower body has assumed the new alignment - creating a twist in your body).

Step forward again, this time on your Left foot (continuing to turn) and side on your Right foot to put your back to the nearest wall. (Quick, Quick) The last step is to close your Left foot to your Right and finish backing diagonal wall again. (Slow)

Notes for both Leader and Follower:

- Throughout this step, and regardless of what your feet are doing, make sure that your belly buttons are facing each other. This will ensure that you maintain the proper hold and upper body posture even when your feet start to go in other directions!

- Do NOT try to stay in line with your partner for all these steps! For once you are allowed to be on the outside, but dont let that affect your hold.

Tango - Spanish Drag

(And two in one day to get us back on track!)

One of the iconic tango moves, a Spanish Drag is very simple in terms of the footwork, but can often be done in a very sloppy way. To ensure that it is done properly, you need to be very aware of your frame and body connection as well as have a good idea about the affects your movements have on your partner.

Leaders'/Men's Footwork

All the Spanish Drag requires is a Slow count step to the side on your Left foot, keeping the knee bent in a lunge like position, and then a returning of the Right foot together with the Left on a second Slow count. Shape your upper body with a slight lift on the Left side and use your head position to look over your partner's Left shoulder.

Followers'/Lady's Footwork

Quite simply, you take a step to the side on your Right foot, into a lunge position for one Slow count. You then close your feet together using the Left foot to close to the Right on a second Slow count. Your Right knee should be in contact with your partner's leg during this step and there is a shaping that will extend the Right side of your upper body.

Notes for both the Leader and the Follower:
(I havent included foot diagrams as the step itself is something created through the rest of the body.)

- Too often this is done with a huge bend at the waist to make the upper body more dramatic. This will only lead to messy dancing and the potential to hurt your partner if you wrench their back or side too far. When you stand normally in tango hold, simply think of lifting out of the waist and elongating the Left side of your body for men, or Right side of your body for Ladies. There should be no collapsing on the opposite side... if you have to bend the opposite side, you have shaped too much!

- Be sure to maintain contact with your partner throughout this move, it is the movement as one unit that makes it impressive to watch.

Tango - Five Step

The Five Step is actually a slightly misleading title for this step. Done over 5 beats (Quick, Quick, Quick, Quick, Slow) both partners only take 4 steps, with the Lady changing into Promenade Position on the fifth beat.

Start in tango hold, but be aware that most of the steps in this figure are Outside Partner.

Leaders'/Men's Footwork

Stepping forward on your Left foot, lead your partner to move Against Line of Dance as you take your next step side and slightly back with your Right Foot. Your next step, with your Left Foot is back and across; also moving Against Line of Dance. You are travelling clockwise, but still facing the proper direction. And your last step, with your Right Foot, continues in that direction.

All of your steps are Quick's. The last thing that you need to do for the Slow count, is to turn your partner on your hip so that she is facing the same direction as you in Promenade Position.

Followers'/Lady's Footwork

Stepping back on your Right Foot, you should be given a bit of space by your partner so that you can take your next step with your Left foot, and the following on on your Right Foot, Outside your partner. Both of these steps are taken facing Against Line of Dance and are moving Against Line of Dance as well. Your last step, taken with your Left Foot, is also taken facing in this direction, but begins to bring you back in close with your partner as the next movement relies on a good connection with your partner. (All of these steps have been Quick's.)

On the last Slow count, you will be led to sharply face the other way - into Promenade Position - and to sit slightly into your Left leg. This movement should feel like you are being rotated around on the Man's hip.

Notes for the Leader and the Follower:

- Remember, your knees are bent in tango! AT ALL TIMES!!

- When you are in promenade position your knees should be facing your partner, not the direction you are planning to go. Only your shoulders get to open out a little to show the difference.

- After this step, you can do a Closed Promenade to get you back to a position in which you can do the other steps already listed here. That would mean that the sequence of the timing would be: Quick, Quick, Quick, Quick, Slow (five step), Slow, Quick, Quick, Slow (Closed Promenade)

Tango - Two walks and Rock Turn

Moving on from where we left off last week, you can easily add the following combination to extend the sequence of tango steps already listed.

Leaders'/Men's Footwork

Take two steps forward starting with your Left foot. (Slow, Slow)

Take a small step backwards and slightly turning your body to face diagonally towards the corner from which you have just been travelling using your Left foot. (Quick)

Rock forward onto your Right foot (Quick) and then back onto your Left again (Slow).

Step backwards on your Right foot (Quick), step side on your Left foot (Quick), and use your Right foot to close your feet together (Slow), turning your shoulders (and therefore your partner) back towards the original corner on the second step.

Follower's/Lady's Footwork

Take two steps backwards starting with your Right foot. (Slow, Slow)

With your right foot between your partner's legs, rock forward onto your Right Foot. (Quick) You should use this step to turn about 90 degrees to be backing the corner from which you have just come.

Rock back onto your Left foot. (Quick) And then forwards again onto your Right. (Slow)

Step forward onto your Left foot (Quick), side onto your Right foot - which is when you return to your original alignment (Quick) and close your Left foot to your right (Slow).

Notes for both the Leader and Follower:

- Remember, tango is a stalking dance - your knees should be bent the whole time!

- The total amount of turn should be approximately 90 degrees over the first 5 steps and returning back to where you began over the last 3

Tango - Progressive Link and Closed Promenade

Many people are surprised when they find out that Tango is listed as one of the Ballroom dances and isn't considered one of the Latin ones. The reason for this is not anything to do with origin, but more in the similarities between tango and the ballroom dances - such as the anti-clockwise progression around the room, remaining in close hold more than working apart, and an emphasis more on footwork and placement than hip movement and single hand leads.

Unlike the other ballroom dances, Tango has little to no rise and fall. (It is danced as though you are in a room that has a ceiling which is about 2 inches shorter than your actual height... keeping your bum under your shoulders and thinking of your belly button being pulled through to your spine in order to keep your bum from sticking out, your knees are bent and all movement is done in a slightly 'stalking' manner. ) The hold is slightly different as well. The Lady's Left hand does not rest on the Man's arm just below his shoulder. Instead, she places her hand behind the Man's shoulder, with the palm facing the floor and her thumb lightly resting under his armpit. (Sometimes it is said that she should think of giving him a karate chop - as that is the right hand positioning!)

Tango is easier done in body contact with your partner (which helps keep you from knocking knees) and counts in Quicks and Slows like Foxtrot.

There is no one 'basic' step in Tango, so I will give you a set of steps today that you can use repetitively for practice. Basically, the sequence will be 2 Walks, a Progressive Link, and a closed Promenade. Even though all that sounds a little scary, trust me, it is as simple as walking!


Leaders'/Men's Footwork


2 Walks:
Are just that! Start facing diagonal to the closest wall and beginning on your Left Foot take two walks forward. (Slow, Slow)

Progressive Link:
Take a third step forward (Quick), and then a small one to the side with your Right Foot(Quick). As you put the weight on your right foot, sit into your hip and open your shoulders slightly so that you are facing more directly towards the wall you were travelling towards. Try to make this happen only from the waist up... your knees should remain facing your partner. While you do this, you will also indicate for your partner to open her shoulders so that the both of you are in Promenade Position and facing the direction that you are about to travel.

Closed Promenade:
As you have all of your weight on the Right foot, you are going to push forward onto your Left foot (Slow), take another step forward with your Right Foot (Quick), a tiny step to the Left with your left foot (Quick) and close your Right foot together to your Left (Slow). It is over these last two steps that you will lead your partner to come back in front of you again - closing the promenade!


Followers'/Lady's Footwork


2 Walks:
Starting backwards on the Right Foot, take two Slow steps backwards.

Progressive Link:
One more step backwards on the Right Foot (Quick), and a small side step onto your Left foot (Quick). On the second step, put all of your weight on the Left Foot and sit into the hip slightly. Your partner should lead you to open your shoulders into promenade position (where you are both facing the same direction) but try to leave your knees facing your partner - this will require you to twist from the waist.

Closed Promenade:
Step forward onto your Right Foot (Slow), and take another forward step - guiding your partner's leg forward with your own (otherwise there is no way of staying in body contact... so your leg will be slightly behind his...) - onto your Left foot (Quick), Your next step should be led, but will be taken with your Right foot forward and side as you turn to face your partner in your original hold (Quick), and then close your Left foot to your Right (Slow).


Notes for both the Leader and the Follower:


- Remember to keep your knees flexed and your parter slightly on your Right side, with body contact from rib to hip if you can.

- Always step inside your partner - in the same line as them - even in the promenade... do not try to step around each other's feet. Ladies, use your leg to gently push his forward for the step forward on your Left foot.

- Make all the Quick steps as stacatto as possible. This is Tango! Stalk and pounce!