#tango technique

Abrazo Definition The world knows it as an embrace, a hug. For us, in tango, the abrazo is the universe in miniature. It is the physical and energetic frame that makes the dance possible. It is the silent conversation that begins before the first note of music is played. Technically, it is the connection from the leader’s right arm around the follower’s back, the follower’s left arm resting on…

Acento Definition In its simplest form, acento means accent. But in tango, this word breathes. It is the rhythmic emphasis, the heartbeat of the musical phrase. It is not merely the beat itself, but the soul of the beat—the deliberate weight, the pause, the surge of energy that gives a step its character and intention. Think of it as the punctuation in the language of tango. A simple step without…

Acentuación Definition In the language of tango, Acentuación is the punctuation. It is the emphasis, the stress, the deliberate pressure placed on a musical note and, in turn, a step. It is not a step in itself, but the soul within the step. Imagine speaking a sentence without any change in tone or volume—it would be a lifeless string of words. The acentuación is what gives the dance its…

Acompañamiento Definition One pulls a dictionary from the shelf and finds the word “accompaniment.” A simple, dry word. But here, in the half-light of a San Telmo café, where the ghosts of a hundred tangos still linger in the wood grain of the tables, acompañamiento means something else entirely. It is not merely following. It is the profound, active, and intuitive response to a lead. It is the…

Adelante Definition Adelante. Forward. A simple word for the most fundamental of movements in tango. It is the forward step, the leader’s proposal to journey into the space ahead. But to call it just a step is like calling a poem just a collection of words. It is the initiation of a dialogue, the first syllable spoken in the language of the body. Adelante in the Soul of Tango In the embrace, the…

Adorno Definition An adorno, in its simplest translation, is an adornment, an embellishment, a decoration. In tango, it is a movement that is not structurally necessary for the dance—you can dance an entire tanda without a single one—but is added by either the leader or, more commonly, the follower to interpret the music and express a feeling. It is a moment of personal artistry within the shared…

Agujas Definition Ah, the aguja. The needle. The name itself tells you everything about its intention: precision, sharpness, a single point of intense focus. In the language of the dance floor, an aguja is a follower’s embellishment, a type of rulo, where she pivots on one leg—the axis—while her free foot draws a small, tight circle on the floor around the supporting foot. It is a moment of…

Al costado Definition In the simplest terms, al costado means “to the side.” It is a side step. Along with the forward step (adelante) and the backward step (atrás), it forms the holy trinity of tango’s fundamental movements. It is the lateral displacement of the foot and body, a building block for countless figures from the basic salida to the most intricate changes of direction. Al costado in…