The Dictionary of Tango

Symmetry

Symmetry is a Tango Topics definition, and musical construct that uses Alternation as a way to express our ideas in a structured and methodical manner. That structured manner shows the casual observer that we’re hearing the music and executing the structure of the music. In its simplest form Tango Symmetry uses ‘pairs’

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Alternation

Alternation is a Tango Topics teaching, musical, and vocabulary construct. Meaning that we teach it to show how we can structure our dance musically while employing vocabulary to express our dance musically. Alternation, in its simplest form, is starts out with 1 idea, and then alternates to another idea and then

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Baldosa Box

The Baldosa Box is a term that is used, usually, to describe a very specific pattern of steps that is used primarily to dancing Milonga, but can also be used in Tango and Vals as well. The term ‘Baldosa‘ comes from a very specific type of Ceramic Tile. The tile

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Lunfardo

(via Wikipedia) Lunfardo (from the Italian lumbardo or inhabitant of Lombardy in the local dialect) is a dialect originated and developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the lower classes in Buenos Aires and Montevideo, the surrounding area Greater Buenos Aires,[1][2] and from there spread to other cities nearby, such as Rosario, places with similar socio-cultural situations. Originally, Lunfardo was

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Castellano

Castellano. (Pron: Cas-tah-jzha-no. emphasis on the j sound, as in the word ‘edge‘) A pseudo dialect of Spanish, as in it’s not really a recognized dialect. Shhhhh don’t tell the argentines that, they get rather upset. Castellano should not be confused with Lunfardo nor Castillian Spanish. They’re not the same things. Castellano

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Baldosa Box Variation

The Baldosa Box Variation is this: Lead Follow ❶ Back with the Right ① Forward with the Left ❷ Side with the Left ② Side with the Right ❸ Foward with the Right – stepping outside partner ③ Backward with the Left – crossing the meridian ❹ Forward with the Left

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Zamba

Argentine Zamba is nothing like it’s Caribbean namesake that shares it’s name. This is an Argentine construct through and through. It’s a slower partner dance that is done to ‘flowy’ music, where the partnership is trying to entice the other. It’s a beautiful and sensual dance that doesn’t get enough

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Modern Tango

Modern Tango is a construct that up until just a few decades ago didn’t exist. For instance one ‘recent’ construct is that the idea of dancing to tango music all night long is a fantasy made up by the tango enthusiast. That wasn’t always the case. It wasn’t until the

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Reverse Embrace

This is exactly what it sounds like. – as a Lead and a Follow, we reverse the embrace structure. Meaning that the Lead‘s right arm is where the Follower’s right arm would be, and the lead‘s left goes around the Follower. And vice versa. That’s it, that’s all. The benefits

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Embellishment

Typically this is a series of movements with the Feet, that is ascribed to a Follower, but a Lead can do them as well, which is done with the feet outside of the music, but in relationship to what has been led or followed to ‘dress up a bit‘ what

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DROP ME A MSG HERE

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