Confessions Of A Tango Dancer: Secrets From La Sonrisa

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Secrets From La Sonrisa

Posted By Mark Andersen

As I started getting deeper into my first year of tango here in San Francisco, I started to realize most of the classes I was taking were in the same part of town. And as I started going to more milongas I was even more surprised to see they were also in the same area. How did we end up with this embarrassment of tango riches all packed into just a few neighborhoods? I'm talking, of course, about the three tango barrios of the Mission, Portrero, & SOMA--an area I like to call La Sonrisa. Why? Well, I did a map mashup and what do those dozen tango hotspots look like on the map? That's right-a smile ("La Sonrisa" in Spanish). I wasn't surprised when I saw La Sonrisa for the first time...I smile at her every night I tango--why shouldn't she smile back?

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About Mark, Sappho and Victoria

Mark comes to Argentine tango after dancing salsa for six years and performing for three. So, he's coming from one highly passionate community into another. Mark performs tango in the SF Bay Area as a member of the LiberTango performance team, which is Directed by the fantastic Christy Cote and Darren Lees.

Sappho and Victoria, two wonderful tangueras, co-author this tango blog and have requested that their identities remain annonymous.

Please post a comment or send me an email. I'd love to hear from you: MarkAndersenSF [AT] gmail [DOT] com

*Tango Language

ACADEMIC BASIC: Another name for the 8-Count Basic, which is the the first figure usually taught to beginning students after the walking steps. See 8-Count Basic, Basico
ABRAZO: The embrace; a hug; or dance position.
ADELANTE: "Forward"
ADORNO: Adornment; embellishment. See firulete
AFICIONADO: An enthusiastic admirer or follower; a devotee or a fan of something, such as tango.
AGUJAS: "Needles", An adornment for the man done with the working foot vertical with the toe into the floor while pivoting inside a molinete
AL COSTADO: To the side.
AMAGUE: a feint, an amague is used as an embellishment either led or done on one’s own, and may be used before taking a step
APILADO STYLE: Piled on: As used in tango, the reference is to the way a jockey is "piled on" his horse, when racing—hugging the neck
ARRASTRE: to drag (See Barrida)
ARREPENTIDA: Repentant; To change one’s mind: A family of steps which allow a couple to back away from a collision or traffic jam in a minimal amount of space and on short notice.
ATRAS: Backward
BAILAR: To dance.
BAILARIN: A professional or very accomplished dancer.
BAILONGO: slang to describe a place where people dance, i.e. a milonga
BALANCEO: A deep check and replace, See Cadencia
BALDOSA: A walking box figure named after the black & white checkerboard tile floors which are common in Buenos Aires. See Cuadrado
BARRIDA: A sweep; a sweeping motion: One partner’s foot sweeps the other’s foot and places it without losing contact. Barridas are done from either the outside or the inside of the foot of the receiving party. The technique is different for the inside and outside barridas. See Arrastre & Llevada
BANDONEON: An accordion like musical instrument originally created to provide missionaries with portable pipe organ music for religious services in remote locales which has been adopted by tango musicians to create the mournful and soulful sound of modern tango music.
BARRIO: A district or neighborhood
BASICO: The basic pattern. There are several basic patterns, the most common of which is the 8-count basic
BICICLETA: "Bicycle", A circular movement of the feet led by the man in the vertical plane with the couples feet pressed together as in a barrida
BIEN PARADO: "Well stood" (literally), standing straight up. Elegantly and gallantly presented. See Pinta, Postura
BOLEO: "To throw", a boleo may be executed either high or low. Keeping the knees together, with one leg back, swivel and return on the supporting leg with a whipping action of the working leg. Sometimes spelled Voleo. See Latigazo
BRAZOS: "Arms"
BUENOS AIRES (Bs As): tango mecca of the world
CADENA: "The chain", an athletic and very theatrical turning figure which moves rapidly across the floor turning left or right, in which the couple alternate amagues (cuatros or ganchos). Another variation involves the man stepping outside left or right in crossed feet and leading the lady in a change of direction to keep her in front of him as he turns, alternately going around her and bringing her around him
CADENCIA: A deep check and replace, usually led by the man as he steps forward left. Useful for avoiding collisions and making direction changes in small spaces. May also refer to a subtle shifting of weight from foot to foot in place and in time with the music done by the man before beginning a dance to give the lady the rhythm he intends to dance and to ensure that she will begin with him on the correct foot. See Balanceo
CAIDA: Fall, A step in which the man steps backward, sinks on his supporting leg, and crosses his working leg in front without weight while leading the lady to step forward in outside position, sink on her supporting leg and cross her working leg behind without weight. Caida may be done to either side.
CALESITA: Carousel; the merry-go-round: A figure in which the man places the lady on one foot with a lifting action of his frame and then dances around her while keeping her centered over, and pivoting on, her supporting leg
CAMBIO: Change: as in cambio defrente, change of the front or face; or cambio parejas, change the couple (change partners)
CAMINADA: The walking steps; a walking step.
Caminando (Caminar) Valsiado — A crossing and walking step which the man initiates at 3 of the 8-count basic
Caminar — To walk: The walk is similar to a natural walking step, but placing the ball of the foot first instead of the heel
CANDOMBE: A type of dance originally danced by the descendants of slaves in the Rio de la Plata region and still performed in Montevideo, Uruguay. Music of African origin with a marked rhythm played on a "tamboril" (a kind of drum). It survives today as a rhythmic background to certain milongas, such as Azabache by Miguel Caló, Carnavalito by Lucio Demare, Estampa del 800 by Francisco Canaro and the very popular recordings by Juan Carlos Cacérès
CANGREJO: The crab--A repetitive pattern of walking steps and or sacadas in which the man advances turned nearly sideways to his partner
CANYENGUE: A very old style of tango from the 1900s to the 1940s. The music from this era had a faster or peppier 2/4 tempo so the dance had a rhythmic flavor similar to that of modern milonga. A very close embrace was used as well as some unique posture and footwork elements. The tango of the arrabal. Also see Stephen Brown's Styles of Argentine Tango
CARANCANFUNFA: In the lingo of the compadritos, the dance of tango with interruptions (cortes) and also those who dance it that way in a very skillful manner
CARICIAS: Caresses, A gentle stroking with the leg or shoe against some part of the partner's body. They can be subtle or extravagant. See adorno, firulete, & lustrada
CAROUSEL: A term used for molinete con sacadas to the man’s left, the lady’s right, with ochos and or ocho cortado to exit
CARPA: The tent, A figure created when the man leads the lady onto one foot as in, or at the end of, calesita and then steps back away from her, causing her to lean at an angle from her foot to his frame. See Inclinada, Puente
CASTIGADA: "a punishment"--A lofting of the lady's working leg followed by flexing at the knee and caressing the working foot down the outside of the supporting leg. Often done as an adorno prior to stepping forward, as in parada or in ochos
CHICHE: Small ornamental beats done around the supporting foot with the working foot in time with the music, either in front or in back as desired. See Adorno, Firulete
CINTURA: Waist
CLUB STYLE: See Milonguero Style. Also see Stephen Brown's Styles of Argentine Tango
CODIGOS: "Codes", Refers to the codes of behavior and the techniques for finding a dance partner in the milongas in Buenos Aires. Civility, respectfulness, and consideration are the hallmark of the true and serious milonguero. See Cabeceo
COLGADA: A spinning move executed by a couple at the end of an inside barrida in which both dancers lean out away from each other and spin rapidly until the man leads out with a back step
COMPADRE: A responsible, brave, well behaved, and honorable man of the working class who dresses well and is very macho
COMPADRITO: a hooligan; street punk; ruffian. They invented the tango
COMPAS: Beat, as in the beat of the music. The walking count or impulse of each measure, the simplest element of each piece of music. See Ritmo
CONFITERIA BAILABLE: A café-like establishment with a nice atmosphere where one can purchase refreshments and dance tango. A nice place to meet friends or a date for dancing.
CONFITERIA STYLE: May refer to a smooth and simple Salon Style as in Tango Liso or to Milonguero Style
CORRIDA: (also: corridita, a little run) from correr: to run. A short sequence of running steps
CORRIDA GARABITO: A milonga step in which the couple alternately step through between each other, the man with his right leg and the lady mirroring with her left in espejo, then pivot to face each other as they step together. May be repeated as desired
CORTE: Cut: In tango, corte means cutting the music either by syncopating, or by holding for several beats. May refer to a position in which the torso is erect over a flexed supporting leg with the working leg extended forward to a pointe with the knees together which the man assumes when touching the lady’s foot with his in parada. The lady moves to the same position from parada as the man closes over her working foot in mordida, and pivots on her supporting foot in this position whenever the man leads an outside barrida. May also refer to a variety of dramatic poses featuring erect posture, flexed supporting legs, and extended dance lines by both dancers, used as a finale. See Cuartas
CORTINA: "Curtain", A brief musical interlude between tandas at a milonga
CONTRAPASO: A step produced when you lock one foot behind the other. For instance right foot steps forward, left foot locks behind right. Now right foot steps forward again. This can be done in single or double time, in one instance or repetitively. Also see Rabona & Traspie
CROSSED FEET: Occurs whenever the couple are stepping together on his and her right feet and then on his and her left feet, regardless of direction. The opposite of parallel feet
CRUZADA: "to cross"; the cross: A cruzada occurs any time a foot is crossed in front of or in back of the other. The lady’s position at 5 of the 8-count basic. May also be called Trabada
CUADRADO: A square; A box step: Used mostly in Milonga, Canyengue & Milonguero and Club-style tango. See Baldosa
CUARTAS: "Poses", Dance lines struck and held as dramatic flourishes at the end of a song. Large dramatic ones are used for stage or fantasia dancing, smaller softer versions occasionally in Salon Style, and not used in Milonguero style at all. See Corte
CUATRO: A figure created when the lady flicks her lower leg up the outside of the opposite leg, keeping her knees together, and briefly creating a numeral 4 in profile. This can be led with a sacada or with an arrested rotational lead like a boleo, or it can be used, at the lady’s discretion, in place of a gancho or as an adornment after a gancho. See Amague
CUCHARITA: The spoon. A lifting of the lady’s foot with a gentle scooping motion by the man’s foot to the lady’s shoe, usually led during forward ochos to create a flicking motion of the lady’s leg
CUERPO: "Body"; torso. A forward and backward rocking step done in time with the music and with or without chiches, which is useful for marking time or changing direction in a small space. This movement may be turned to the left or right, danced with either the left or right leg forward, and repeated as desired. See Hamaca
CABECEO: traditional way to invite a woman to tango from a distance using eye contact & head movements
CARICIAS ("caresses"): gentle rubs with the leg or shoe against your partner's body
CLOSE EMBRACE: (a) most intimate way you can dance tango, (b) a hug with benefits
CROSS SYSTEM: When a couple dance in an embrace facing each other, the man steps forward on his left, the lady steps backwards on her left foot, then the man steps forward on his right & the lady steps backwards on her right foot, regardless of direction. The opposite of parallel system.
DEDO: Toe or finger
DERECHA: Right (the opposite of left)
DERECHO: Erect, straight, forward. See Postura
DESPLAZAMIENTO: "Displacement", Displacing the partner’s leg or foot using one’s own leg or foot. See Sacada
DI SARLI: a great tango composer known for his lush sounds & rhythms
DIBUJO: "Drawing'; sketch: A dibujo is done by drawing circles or other small movements on the floor with one’s toe. See Firulete, Lapiz and Rulo
8-COUNT BASIC (Academic Basic) — The first figure usually taught to beginning students after the walking steps. See Basico. The 8-count basic includes elements which are used throughout the dance, although the complete figure itself is not much used for dancing socially. The name refers to counts in music, however, the man is not constrained to rigidly mark a step on each count or beat of the rhythm. He is free to hold or to syncopate, or cut the beat, as the music moves him or as space on the floor around him allows
EJE: "Axis" or balance. See Postura
Elevadas — Dancing without keeping the feet on the floor. This was the style before the turn of century when tango was danced on dirt surfaces in the patios of tenements, low-class taverns, and on the cobble stone streets. Once tango went uptown enough to actually be danced on floors (wood, tile, or marble) the dancers fell in love with the floor, thus we now refer to 'caressing the floor'. Characteristic of canyengue or orillero-style tango
EMBUTIDO: "Filler" or inlay: a foot swinging behind other foot after an enrosque
ENGANCHE: 'Hooking'; coupling; the little hook: Occurs when a partner wraps a leg around the other’s leg, or uses a foot to catch and hold the other’s foot or ankle
ENROSQUE: to "coil" or twist: While the lady dances a molinete, the man pivots on his supporting foot, hooking or coiling the working leg behind or around in front of the supporting leg
ENTRADA: "Entrance", Occurs when a dancer steps forward or otherwise enters the space between their partners legs without displacement
ENTREGARME: "Surrender", To give oneself up to the leader’s lead
ESPEJO: "Mirror", To mirror the movement of ones partner as in "ochos en espejo", a figure where the man and woman both do forward ochos at the same time
FANFARRON: A rhythmic tapping or stomping of the foot in time with the music for dramatic and emotional effect. Boisterous behavior. See Golpecitos
FIRULETE: An adornment; a decoration; an embellishment: Complicated or syncopated movements which the dancer uses to demonstrate their skill and to interpret the music. See Adorno and Lapiz
FRENO: To stop and hold; brake
Gancho — Hook: Occurs when a dancer hooks a leg sharply around and in contact with their partners leg by flexing the knee and releasing. May be performed to the inside or outside of either leg and by either partner
GIRO: "Turn": A turning step or figure
GOLPECITOS: Little toe taps: Rhythmic tapping done with a flat foot on the ball or underside of the toe as an adorno. See Fanfarron and Zapatazo
GOLPES: Toe taps: With a tilted foot tap the floor with the toe and allow the lower leg to rebound keeping the knees together. See Picados and Punteo
GUAPO: Handsome: A respectable and desirable man. A compadre
HANANERA: A side-together stepping action entered with a side chassé, commonly used by the man as he leads backward ochos for the lady in crossed feet. An Afro-Cuban dance from the mid-19th century which contributed to tango
HAMACA: Another term for Cunita
INCLINADA: Tilt, tilting. See Carpa, Puente
IZQUIERDA: Left (the opposite of right)
JUNTA: "close", In Tango it is essential that the ankles and knees should come together or pass closely by each other between each step to create an elegant appearance, preserve balance, and to communicate clearly the completion of the step to one’s partner. This applies equally to the man and the lady.
LAPIZ: "Pencil", Tracing of circular motions on the floor with the toe or inside edge of the working foot, while turning or waiting on the supporting foot. These may vary from small adornments done while marking time to large sweeping arcs which precede the lady as she moves around the man in molinete, Dibujo, Firulete and Rulo
LATIGAZO: "Whipping", Describes a whipping action of the leg as in a boleo
LATIGO: "The whip", also used to describe the whipping action of the leg in boleos to front or back, when led with energy and speed. See Latigazo and Boleo
LENTO: "Slowly"
LISO: Smooth, as in Tango Lisa, an early term for Tango de Salon
LLEVADA: "to transport", a carry; to take with: Occurs when the man uses the upper thigh or foot to “carry” the lady’s leg to the next step. Barridas interspersed with walking steps in which the man takes the lady with him across the floor
LUNFARDO: The Spanish/Italian slang of the Buenos Aires underworld which is common in tango lyrics and terminology
LUSTRADA: to "shine" or polish; the shoe shine: A stroking of the man’s pant leg with a shoe. May be done by the lady or by the man to himself but is never done to the lady
LA CUMPARSITA ("The little marching band"): one of tango's greatest songs; oftentimes the last tango played at a milonga
LA SONRISA ("the smile"): an incredible concentration of a dozen tango hotspots in 3 San Francisco neighborhoods; tango personified as a woman
MARCAR: "to plot a course"; guide: To lead. La marca is the lead
MEDIA LUNA: "Half moon", A sweeping circular motion of the leg similar to a ronde in ballroom but always danced in contact with the floor, never lofted. Usually danced by the lady and often led with a sacada to the lady’s leg. May be used to bring the lady to an inside gancho
MEDIA VUELTA: "Half turn", Usually done when the man’s right foot and the lady’s left foot are free. The man steps forward outside right (3 of 8-count basic), leading the lady to step back left and collect, then side right across his center, and forward left around him as he shifts weight first to his center, then onto his right foot as he then pivots on both feet ½ turn with his partner, the lady pivoting on her left foot. Media Vuelta is used by itself to change direction or maneuver on the dance floor and as an entrance to many combinations
MILONGA: May refer to the music, written in 2/4 time, or to the dance which preceded the tango, or to the dance salon where people go to dance tango, or to a tango dance and party.
MILONGUERO: (feminine: Milonguera) — Refers to those frequenting the milongas from the early 1900s to the present who were or are tango fanatics. A person whose life revolves around dancing tango and the philosophy of tango. A title given by other tango dancers to a man (woman) who has mastered the tango dance and embodies the essence of tango
MILONGUERO CROSS: A step in which the man leads the lady to step side left around him, reverses before she completes the step, and leads her back into the cross. Also known as ochos cortados
MILONGUERO STYLE: A term originally given by Europeans and some North Americans to the style of dancing in a very close embrace; also referred to as confiteria style, club style, apilado style , etc. Usually used in the very crowded clubs frequented by singles in the center of Buenos Aires.
Milonguero Style is danced in a very close embrace with full upper body contact, the partners leaning into each other (but never hanging on each other) while using simple walking and turning steps. This style relies on music of the more rhythmic type as characterized by orquestas like those of D’Arienzo or Tanturi. Also see Stephen Brown's Styles of Argentine Tango
MIRA: to look; see; observe; take notice: ¡Mira! Look at this
MOLINETE: "Windmill"; wheel: A figure in which the lady dances a grapevine on a circumference around the man, stepping side-back-side-forward using forward and back ocho technique and footwork, as the man pivots at the center of the figure. This is a very common figure in tango which challenges both the man and the lady to maintain good posture, balance, and technique in order to perform it well. One of the central codes of tango
MOLINETE CON SACADAS: An exciting and more complicated form of molinete in which the man steps into the lady’s space, displacing her leg with his, and pivots on a new center to face her as she continues around him. Many combinations are possible
MORDIDA: to "bite"; the little bite: One partner’s foot is sandwiched or trapped between the other partner’s feet. If the other partner’s feet are also crossed it may be referred to as Reverse Mordida. Sometimes called Sandwiche or Sanguchito.
MORDIDA ALTO: A variation of mordida in which a dancer catches a partners knee between both of their own
MILONGA: (a) tango dance party, (b) the music tango is danced to, (c) a dance different from tango, played at milongas
MILONGUERO/A: (a) person whose life revolves around dancing tango, (b) title given by other tango dancers to a man or woman who has mastered the tango dance
MOLINETE: tango move where the woman revolves around the man (her moon to his sun)
OCHO: "Eight" (plural: ochos); Figure eights: A crossing and pivoting figure from which the fan in American tango is derived. Executed as a walking step with flexed knees and feet together while pivoting, ochos may be danced either forward or backward and are so designated from the lady’s perspective. El Ocho is considered to be one of the oldest steps in tango along with caminada, the walking steps. It dates from the era when women wore floor length skirts with full petticoats and danced on dirt floors. Since the lady’s footwork could not be directly observed the quality of her dancing was judged by the figure she left behind in the dirt after she danced away
OCHO CORTADO: "Cut eight", change of direction: Occurs when a molinete or an ocho-like movement is stopped and sent back upon itself. Typical in club-style tango where many such brakes are used to avoid collisions. Describes a movement done on either foot, pivoting forward of backward, and going either left or right
OCHO DEFRENTE: "Ocho to the front", Forward ochos for the lady (i.e., crossing in front)
OCHO PARA ATRAS: ocho to the back: Back ochos for the lady (i.e., crossing behind)
OCHOS CORTADOS: Cut eights: A common figure in Milonguero-or Club-Style Tango which is designed to allow interpretation of rhythmic music while dancing in a confined space. See Milonguero Cross
OCHOS EN ESPEJO: 0chos in the mirror: The man and the lady execute forward or back ochos simultaneously, mirroring each others movement
ORILLERO: Outskirts; suburbs
ORILLERO STYLE: The style of dance which is danced in the suburbs, characterized by the man doing many quick syncopated foot moves and even jumps. See Seguidillas. Also see Stephen Brown's Styles of Argentine Tango
ORQUESTA: "Orchestra", A large tango band like those of the "Golden Age" of tango frequently referred to as "Orquesta Tipica"
OTRA VEZ: Another time; repeat; do again
OCHO CORTADO: "cut eight", a tango move using a change of direction, normally during a molinete or ocho-like movement
PALANCA: Lever; leverage: Describes the subtle assisting of the lady by the leader during jumps or lifts in tango fantasia (stage tango)
PARADA: From parar - to stop; a stop: The man stops the lady, usually as she steps crossing back in back ochos or molinete, with pressure inward at the lady’s back and at her balance hand and with a slight downward thrust, preventing further movement. When properly led the lady stops with her feet extended apart, front and back, and her weight centered. The man may extend his foot to touch her forward foot as an additional cue and element of style or he may pivot and step back to mirror her position (fallaway)
PARALLEL FEET: The natural condition when a couple dance in an embrace facing each other, the man stepping on his left, the lady on her right foot, and then the man stepping on his right, the lady on her left foot, regardless of direction. The opposite of crossed feet
PAREJAS: Couple: The two partners in a tango
PASADA: Passing over. Occurs when the man has stopped the lady with foot contact and leads her to step forward over his extended foot. Used frequently at the end of molinete or after a mordida. The lady may, at her discretion, step over the man’s foot or trace her toe on the floor around its front. Pasada provides the most common opportunity for the lady to add adornos or firuletes of her own and a considerate leader will give the lady time to perform if she wishes
PASO: A step
PATADA: A kick
PAUSA: Pause; wait: Hold a position or pose for two or more beats of music. See Titubeo
PECHO: Chest
PICADOS: A flicking upward of the heel when turning or stepping forward. Usually done as an advanced embellishment to ochos or when walking forward. See Golpes
PIE: A foot
PIERNA: A leg
PINTA: Appearance; presentation: Includes clothes, grooming, posture, expression, and manner of speaking and relating to the world. See Bien Parado
PISAR: to step
PISO: Floor
PISTA: The dance floor
PLANEO: Pivot; glide: Occurs when the man steps forward onto a foot, usually his left, and pivots with the other leg trailing (gliding behind) as the lady dances an additional step or two around him. May also occur when the man stops the lady in mid stride with a slight downward lead and dances around her while pivoting her on the supporting leg as her extended leg either trails or leads. Can be done by either the man or the lady
PORTEñO(feminine; Porteña) — An inhabitant of the port city of Buenos Aires
POSTURA: Posture: Correct posture for tango is erect and elegant with the shoulders always over the hips and relaxed, and with the center carried forward toward the dance partner over the toes and balls of the feet. See Derecho and Eje
PRACTICA: An informal practice session for tango dancers.
PUENTE: "bridge"; See Carpa, Inclinada
PUNTEO: Point; with the point; peck: Rhythmic toe taps to the floor done with the toe, or point, of the shoe while the foot is moving over the floor in a sweeping movement as in boleo or planeo. See Golpes
PARALLEL SYSTEM: When a couple dance in an embrace facing each other, the man stepping on his left, the lady backwards on her right foot, and then the man stepping on his right, the lady backwards on her left foot, regardless of direction. The opposite of the crossed system
POEMA: a classic tango song, perhaps the most bittersweet of them all
PRACTICA: an informal practice session for tango dancers
Quebrada — Break; broken: A position where the lady stands on one foot with the other foot hanging relaxed behind the supporting foot. Sometimes seen with the lady hanging with most of her weight against the man. Also a position in which the dancer’s upper body and hips are rotated in opposition to each other with the working leg flexed inward creating a broken dance line
RABONA: A walking step with a syncopated cross. Done forward or backward the dancer steps on a beat, quickly closes the other foot in cruzada, and steps again on the next beat. Adapted from soccer. See Contrapaso and Traspie
RESOLUCION: Resolution; tango close: An ending to a basic pattern similar to a half of a box step. 6, 7, and 8 of the 8-count basic
RITMO: Rhythm: Refers to the more complex rhythmic structure of the music which includes the beat or compas as well as the more defining elements of the song. See Compas
RODILLAS: Knees
RONDA: (La ronda) Line of dance: Refers to the 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. See Codigos
RULO: A curl: Used frequently at the end of molinete when the man, executing a lapiz or firulete ahead of the lady, curls his foot in around the lady and extends it quickly to touch the her foot. An older term for lapiz
SACADA: The most common term for a displacement of a leg or foot by the partner’s leg or foot. Occurs when a dancer places their foot or leg against a leg of their partner and transfers weight to their leg so that it moves into the space of and displaces the partner’s leg. See Desplazamiento
SALIDA: From salir - to exit; to go out: The first steps of dancing a tango, or a tango pattern, derived from “¿Salimos a bailar?” {Shall we (go out to the dance floor and) dance?}.
SALIDA DE GATO: Variation on the basico in which the man steps side left, forward right outside the lady, diagonal forward left, and crossing behind right with a lead for forward ochos for the lady. The lady is led to step side right, back left, diagonal back right, and crossing forward left, beginning ochos on her left foot. This figure enters ochos without using cruzada
SALTITO: A little jump
SANDWICHE: See Mordida
SANGUCHITO: See Mordida
SEGUIDILLAS: Tiny quick steps, usually seen in orillero style. May also be called corridas
SEGUIR: To follow
SENTADA: From sentar - to sit. A sitting action: A family of figures in which the lady creates the illusion of sitting in, or actually mounts, the man’s leg. Frequently used as a dramatic flourish at the end of a dance
STORK: See Calesita. Not used often or much recommended but refers to a position of the lady where the working leg is held with the lower leg lifted and horizontal in a figure four, or cuatro, position
SUAVE: Smooth, steady and gentle, soft, stylish. A major objective in tango
SNYCOPATION: Syncopate; syncopated; syncopa: A musical term adopted by dancers and used in a way which is technically incorrect, musically, and leads to endless arguments between dancers and musicians. Musically it refers to an unexpected or unusual accenting of the beats in a measure such as the two and four beats of swing music rather than the more common accent on the one and three beats. Dancers have come to use the term to describe cutting the beat, or stepping on the half-beat
SUBE Y BAJA: Literally, to go up and down: A milonga step in which the couple dance forward-together and back-together in outside right position with a pendulum action of the hips. See Ven y Va
TANDA: A set of dance music, usually three to five songs, of the same dance in similar style, if not by the same orquesta. The tandas are separated by a brief interlude of non-tango music called a "cortina" (or curtain) during which couples select each other. It is customary to dance the entire tanda with the same partner unless the man is rude or very disappointing as a dance partner, in which case the lady may say gracias (thank you) and leave. See Codigos, Cortina.
TANGO: Popular music from the Rio de la Plata region dating back to 1885-95, defined by a 2/4 rhythm until the 1920s when a 4/8 rhythm became common. A popular dance originating in the mid-19th century which descended from Candombe, Habanera, Milonga, and, according to some tango scholars, the Tango Andaluz. The exact origins of Tango are a historical mystery. Also see Susan August Brown's Argentine Tango: A Brief History
TANGO DE SALON: An elegant and very social style of tango characterized by slow, measured, and smoothly executed moves. It includes all of the basic tango steps and figures plus sacadas, giros and boleos. The emphasis is on precision, smoothness, and elegant dance lines. The dancing couple do not embrace as closely as in older styles and the embrace is flexible, opening slightly to make room for various figures and closing again for support and poise
TANGO FANTASIA: This is a hybrid tango, an combination of traditional tango steps, ballet, ballroom, gymnastics, ice-skating figures, etc. This is what most people see when they buy tickets for a tango show. The moves include all of the basic tango moves plus, ganchos, sacadas, boleos of every kind, sentadas, kicks, leaps, spins, lifts, and anything else that the choreographer and the performers think of. This style of dancing shows up occassionally at milongas, usually isn't well done & generally doesn't fit the spirit of most milongas, which is why it's normally not well-received
TANGO LISO: Literally, tango smooth: A way of dancing tanog characterized by its lack of fancy figures or patterns. Only the most "basic" tango steps and figures, such as caminidas, ochos, molinets etc., are utilized. Boleos, gancho s, sacadas, sentadas and other fancy moves and acrobatics are not done. A very early term for Tango de Salon
TANGUERO: (feminine; Tanguera) Refers to anyone who is deeply and seriously passionate about any part of tango, such as its history, music, lyrics, etc. In Argentina most tangueros are scholars of lunfardo, music, orchestrations, Gardel, etc. One can be a tanguero without being a milonguero and a milonguero without being a tanguero (very few milongueros would be referred to as tangueros). And of course, one can be an extremely good tango dancer without being either, such as stage dancers, who are quite disdained by real milongueros and tangueros, unless they go the extra distance and become milongueros by going to the milongas, and/or tangueros as well. An aficionado
TIJERA: Scissor: A movement, usually danced by the man, in which an extended leg is withdrawn and crossed in front of the supporting leg without weight so that it remains free for the next step or movement. May also refer to a figure in which the man steps forward in outside position (left or right) caressing the outside of the lady’s leg with his leg (as in 3 of the 8-count basic), then crosses behind himself which pushes the lady’s leg to cross in front. May also refer to a jumping step from tango fantasia (stage tango) where the lady swings her legs up and over with the second leg going up as the first leg is coming down (frequently seen as an aerial entry to sentadas)
TITUBEO: Hesitation. See Pausa
TRABADA: Another term for cruzada
TRASPIE: Cross foot; triple step: A walking step with a syncopated cross. Using two beats of music the dancer does step-cross-step beginning with either foot and moving in any direction. See Contrapaso and Rabona
TRUCO: Literally, trick or stunt: May be used to describe fancy athletic movements in addition to lifts for stage or tango fantasia
TANGO: the most passionate dance in the world
TANGUERO/A: an afficionada of tango music, history, lyrics...
Vals — Argentine waltz: Sometimes referred to as Vals Criollo, or Vals Cruzada, and danced to what is arguably the most beautiful dance music anywhere
VEN Y VA: Come and go. See Sube y Baja
Viborita — Viper; the little snake: A figure in which the man places his right leg between his partners legs and takes a sacada to first her left and then her right legs in succession using a back and forth slithering motion of the right leg and foot
VOLCADA: 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
VOLEO: See Boleo
VALS: "Waltz" in Spanish; along with tango & milongas, one of three types of music typically played at a milonga
YUMBA: A phonetic expression that describes the powerful, dramatic, and driving musical accent of a moderate or even slow tempo which is characteristic of the music of Osvaldo Pugliese
ZAPATAZO: Shoe taps: A dancer taps their own shoes together. See Adorno, Fanfarron, and Golpecitos
ZARANDEO: A vigorous shake to and fro; a swing; a push to and fro; to strut about: In tango, it is the swinging back and forth, pivoting in place on one foot, marked to the lady in time with the music

Thanks to Ed Loomis for most of these definitions. Any mistakes are mine.

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Thursday, December 13, 2007

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