The Definitions of Tango
Definition: Pushing
Pushing. According to Webster’s Dictionary the word ‘Push’ is a verb that means “to exert force on (someone or something), typically with one’s hand, in order to move them away from oneself or the origin of the force”. It comes from the middle english word (1250 – 1300) ‘pushen’. Pushing is the adjective form, and generally means the same thing. Generally. 😉
Definition: Tango Rigidity
Rigidity. (pron: rij-id-it-ee) According to Webster’s Dictionary the word ‘Rigidity’ is an adjective that means to be ‘stiff’ or ‘unyielding’, ‘not pliant’, ‘inflexible’, ‘strict’, ‘firmly fixed’, and or ‘set’. It comes from the latin word ‘rigidus’ meaning to be “stiff” or in its conjugated form to “stiffen”.
Definition: Tango Proprioception
(pron: Pro-Prio-Sep-Shun) According to Webster’s Dictionary the word ‘Proprioception’ comes from the latin word ‘proprius’ meaning “one’s own” or “individual”, and ‘capio’ or ‘capere’ meaning to take or to grasp. The word itself means a perception of one’s own body in space and time, as in the awareness of one’s body in space and time, as it refers to bodily position in space and time. The easiest way to define this gobblygook word is to say that it is to “sense something or someone without looking at it”, however it is much, much more than that. Muuuuuch more!
Definition: Compression
Tango Compression can best be defined in one of three ways. 1.) A constriction of the muscles of the knee, (or elbow) to build up ‘energy’ to be used to sustain a position, stance, and/or movement. 2.) A constriction of the muscles around the elbow, or hand (and wrist) which is used as an indicator to either start or stop motion. Typically this is used as a way to communicate clear intent from Lead/er to Follow. 3.) Laying one’s head onto the head of the partner, employing (unconsciously) the weight of their head onto their partners.
Definition: Constriction
There is a ‘firm’ embrace, and then there is Constriction within the embrace. Constriction in this definition refers to bodily compression usually with the forearms, biceps, and hands creating pressure and compression against, and around your partner’s body (at the bra line or at about the 7th/8th Thoracic) thereby (so the thinking goes) constraining their motion.
Definition: Apilado
Apilado (pron: Ahh-Pee-Lah-Do), this word is the past participle of the verb ‘Apilar’ which means ‘to pile up’ or ‘to put in a pile’. From a Tango perspective it means to put one’s body onto another, or to place your body onto another persons body. This style is the ‘iconic’ look of tango, the leaning bodies that form an "A" frame between the partners.
Definition: A ‘L/lead’
In Argentine Tango it is customary to use the word ‘Leader” to signify and identify the role of the dancer that is indicating direction, pace, timing, vocabulary choices, and musical interpretation to a degree.
Definition: Tango Baggage
The community you dance in regularly where you see the same people, dance with the same people, once or twice a week at minimum, and more if you’re studying with the same teachers they study with. You see them so much that Cabeceo as an art form has been reduced to “Hey!”, and off you go! This is what some might call ‘Familiarity’.