Argentine Tango Terms

In the place of becoming hard-and-fast meanings, these explanations mirror my own comprehension of several of tango’s characteristic functions.

Adornos (lit. “decorations”) See designs.

Apilado (lit. “leaning”) A style when the dancers lean in towards each other and share an axis throughout the dance. This might be a minority choice.

¿Bailás? While, at many milongas and prácticas, invites to dancing are available, rejected and declined through eye contact and slight gestures (see cabeceo), spoken invitations are possible in some situations, also. In Buenos Aires, a lot of people ask using the one single term ¿Bailás? (lit. Party?)

Barrida (lit. “sweep”) a movement where one dancer makes use of their free foot to sweep the other dancer’s free foot across the flooring. Can be performed in a straight range, or as part of a giro.

Boleo a movement when the frontrunner changes way to produce a momentum that causes the follower’s no-cost leg to swing away along the floor (the lowest boleo, sometimes called a planeo) or, with higher energy, into the atmosphere (a top boleo). The change of direction can be executed during a straight step (resulting in a lineal boleo) or during a turning action (leading to a circular boleo).

cabeceo (“head signal”) At more traditional milongas, men invite women to dancing by catching their particular eyes and signalling to them from their chairs, usually at the beginning of the initial tango of tanda. Normally, this is done-by cocking the pinnacle or making another subtle gesture. In the event that girl nods the woman acceptance, she then continues to be sitting while he crosses the area and involves stand in front of the woman chair. See additionally .

Caminata A figure considering walking, frequently with a number of tiny, quick measures. If fast, this can be occasionally known as a corrida.

Caricia a knee caricia (lit. caress) is a design which involves one of many performers running their no-cost base lightly up the outdoors side of their partner’s knee, generally during a parada. It can be danced by either frontrunner or follower, but is a lot more popular with supporters.

Cena tv show An evening tango phase show, of which guests usually are served supper. The model of dance is normally tango escenario. Shows tend to be pricey and differ extremely in high quality. To see tango since it is additionally danced, i recommend instead investing an evening viewing the dancing at a milonga including Sunderland. See

Chamuyo The spiel males usually utilize whenever chatting up a lady or wanting to grab her.

Close accept a means of dancing where the dancers’ torsos stay coming in contact with throughout. Most dancers go and perform easy techniques in close embrace. Depending on their particular plumped for design of dance, they may after that open the embrace for them to dance particular techniques which require a somewhat higher distance amongst the couple. As dancing in close embrace is these types of an attractive sensation, frequently, the embrace will be exposed only as much as is necessary for plumped for move and closed once more afterwards. See in addition embrace.

Colgada See tango moderno.

Comme Il Faut and being title of a tango, this is a pricey, iconic and of course sexy make of women’s tango heels. (Shoe preferences tend to be very individual — I, yourself, like to wear Alanis or Souple). Known for their particular vertiginous heel heights (10cm when it comes to greatest footwear), which have since already been followed by almost every other brands.

Competitions Unlike ballroom dancing, tango just isn't usually danced competitively and there are not any widely-recognised tango skills, either for carrying out or teaching. Usually the one vital international tango competitors may be the Mundial de Tango, presented one per year, during thirty days of August, in Buenos Aires. The first rounds take place at milongas. Partners compete in 2 strictly-defined categories: tango escenario and tango salón. The kudos obtained by winning the Mundial can lead to a very profitable doing and training profession when it comes to successful couple. The other crucial tango tournaments are the Metropolitano and competition open to performers of nationalities, the Milongueros del Mundo.

Corrida See caminata.

Cortina See tanda.

Designs motions, often small and delicate motions of the feet, that aren't led and used. They could occur at pauses when you look at the foremost and after (including micro pauses) or during a led-and-followed step. Followers usually decorate more than leaders. Designs tend to be viewed as a chance for individual dancer expressing subtleties inside music which are too quickly or delicate to effortlessly lead measures to. See in addition this entry.