Follower Bashing. Put simply, this is where a Lead blames the Follower for missing something musically, or kinesthetically, or not reading the Lead’s mind. This is really Lead arrogance that they’re being superior as dancers. And yes this happens quite frequently, more than you would think or like it to
Connection. [See ‘The Connection Fallacy‘]. (pron: con-ek-shun) According to Webster’s Dictionary it is an English word which has 5 possible definitions. 1.) The state of being connected. 2.) Something that connects. 3.) A person connected to another person by marriage, kinship, or common interest. 4.) a political, social, professional, or
Contact. As in physiological Contact, the Tango Topics opinion on this is ‘feather lite‘, tactile, contact with all parts of our bodies coming into contact with our partner’s body parts. There should be no tension, compression, tension, or force in that contact, in any way, shape, or form.
Compression. This term refers to physiological pressure from the dancer’s arms, around their partner’s bodies, as a way to direct them to do x, y and z. Usually as a directive to indicate from the Lead to the Follower that they do x, y, or z movement. This is sometimes a
Constriction. Either partner can use/employ Constriction with their arms (often with the forearms), either intentionally or unintentionally, as a way to stabilize, or to control, usually to control, their partner’s movements. Typically Constriction is employed to a.) Keep the partnership together. The more you squeeze your partner, the more they
This usually describes a state whereby both parties of the couple physiologically twist their bodies to meet their partner’s body in a warped, or misshapen tangle of arms, hands, elbows, and heads in strange and forced positions to hold a specific spot or position. Usually, this happens with hands and
The usage of this word refers to how someone performs a piece of tango vocabulary or a movement. Specifically how sharp or clear that movement is in relation to everything else that is being done.
Most often ‘hanging’ refers to what a Follower will do with their arms, placing them around their Follower shoulders and neck, and placing their weight on top of their lead either through conscious action or being unaware that they’re doing it. Either way, ‘hanging’ of any sort is undesirable.
Pressure. Typically this refers to physiological compression against the dancers back with their partner’s forearm (lead) and/or their hand (follow). Pressure is done by both roles, usually in an unconscious manner to ‘hold’ their partner in place or to keep the partnership together so that they can ‘dance’ with each
