Ballroom Experience Co - Tango Jan 25th

We spent the afternoon of January 25th exploring the Tango - blending some steps and style from 'Ballroom' Tango with some from the Argentine Tango.

The notes below are in summary form and will hopefully act as an aide memoire.

Overall Characteristics

Small steps

R shoulder lead

Close instep to instep, LF slightly forward

Pelvis / hips forward

Think 'smell' - ladies, you are always trying to avoid looking at your partner and keeping upwind from him.

Abbreviations Used

LF - Left Foot

RF - Right Foot

F - Forward

B - Backward

Q - Quick (1 beat of music)

S - Slow (2 beats of music)

CW - Clockwise

ACW - Anticlockwise

PP - Promenade position

CP - Closed position

Two Walks

Steps - Man - LF F, RF F. Lady - RF B, LF B

Timing - S S

Lead - Movement, with right shoulder leading

Progressive Link

Steps - Man - LF F, RF Side. Lady - RF B, LF Side, turning ¼ CW

End in PP

Timing - QQ

Lead - Left shoulder pulled back

Rocks

Steps - Man - LF B, rock onto RF, rock back onto LF, RF B, LF side, RF closes

Lady - RF F, rock onto LF, rock forward onto RF, LFF, RF side, LF closes

Timing - QQSQQS

Lead - Movement with shoulder lead.

Turn - Turn ACW if needed on any step 1-4

Closed Finish

Steps - Man - LF side, RF F and across, LF side, Close RF

Lady - RF side, LF side and across, RF side, Close LF

Timing - SQQS

Lead - Movement, encouraging Lady to turn on 3-4

Turn - Lady turns ¼ ACW on steps 3-4 to end in CP

Stalks

Steps - Man - LF side (hold RF off the floor), RF F and across (hold LF off the floor), LF side (hold RF off the floor), RF F and across, LF side, close RF

Lady - RF side (hold LF off the floor), LF F and across (hold RF off the floor), RF side (hold LF off the floor), LF F and across, RF side, close LF

Timing - S(S)S(S)S(S)QQS

Lead - Movement, encouraging L to turn on 5-6

Turn - Lady turns ¼ ACW on steps 5-6 to end in CP

'Leg Over' Line

Steps - Man LF F, RF F, LF B (at this point lady wraps LF around waist), RF B, LF B , RF B, LF Side, RF Closes

Lady RF B, LF B, RF F, wrap LF around man's waist and 'hold on' dragging RF along floor with as much weight on as you want/need close LF to RF at end

Timing - SS then time as you feel comfortable

Turn - as appropriate

Routine / Order of Steps

The following shows what follows each step

Two Walks - followed by Progressive Link or Rocks

Progressive Link - followed by Closed Finish or Stalks

Closed Finish - followed by Two Walks or 'Leg Over' Line

Rocks - followed by Two Walks

Stalks - followed by Two Walks, Rocks or 'Leg Over' line

'Leg Over' Line - followed by Two Walks