TANGO TERMINOLOGY

T A N G O D E F I N A T I O N S

***********************************
*abrazo: embrace (as in dance hold).
*amague: from amagar. To make a threatening motions. An amague is used as an embellishment either led or done on one's own and may be used before taking a step. An example of an amague may be a beat (frappe) before taking a step.
*barrida: sweep. A sweeping motion. One partner's foot sweeps the other's foot. Also called llevada.
*barrio: a district, neighborhood.
*boleo: from bolear. To throw. A boleo may be executed either high or low. Keeping knees together, with one leg in back, swivel on the supporting leg.
*caminar: to walk. The walk is similar to a natural walking step but the ball of the foot touches before the heel. The body and leg must move as a unit so that the body is in balance. Walks should be practiced for balance and fluidity.
*corte: cut. In tango corte means cutting the music either by syncopating or holding several beats.
*cruzada: cross. A cruzada occurs anytime a foot is crossed in front or in back of the other.
*desplazamiento: displacement. Displacing the partner's foot or leg using one's leg or foot.
*dibujo: drawing, sketch. A dibujo is done by drawing circles or other small movements on the floor with one's toe.
*enganche: hooking, coupling. Occurs when partner wraps leg around the other's leg.
*enrosque: from enroscar. To coil, twist. While woman executes a molinete, man spins on one foot, hooking other foot behind the spinning foot.
*giro: turn. While woman does molinete, man turns on one foot placing the toe of the foot in front and executing a sharp turn.
*llevada: from llevar. To transport (see barrida).
*media vuelta: half turn. Usually done when man's right foot and woman's left foot are free. Man steps forward with his right leading woman to take a back step with her left and then leads he to take two steps while turning a half turn.
*milonga: may refer to music or the dance which preceded the tango, written in 2/4 time; or may refer to the dance salon or event where people go to dance tango (see below).
*milongueros: refers to those frequenting the milongas and considered tango fanatics.
*molinete: fan. Molinetes are forward and back ochos (figure 8's) done in a circle.
*ocho: eight. Figure eights usually executed with feet together (ankles touching) instead of one foot extended.
*ocho atras: ochos backward
*pista: dance floor.
*salida: Exit, or start. It's interesting that the word for the basic step (a place to start) should be a way to get out of a figure as well.
*salida cruzada:the beginning of a pattern with a cross; i.e. side left crossing right foot behind left, or side right crossing left foot behind right.
*sandwichito: One partner's foot is sandwiched between the other partner's feet.
*sentada: a sitting action.
*sacada: see desplazamiento (don't you love glossaries that do that?).
*trabada: fastened. It is a lock step - the step that the woman takes when man steps outside with his right foot and then straight forward left, together right. At this point the woman crosses and this cross is referred to as trabada
.