The Crazy Vocabulary of Tango
Everyone likes the crazy stuff to learn. And no one likes to see the train wrecks that happen when the crazy stuff goes awry. This site has a load of that crazy stuff, and can help you to make what you have better. Tango Topics can give you a few ideas that you didn’t have before with over 800 videos and articles (not including all the other stuff) on Tango Topics watch and learn from. It’s not just the videos, but the articles that contain the most of what you need to know to elevate your dance. We’re not trying to sell you videos here, but instead to inform and engage you to educate yourself wherever possible.
The Super Enrosque
What is a ‘Super’ Enrosque ? You’re going to ask yourself this question: If an Enrosque is placing one foot behind the other, or in front, both are true where the feet are in a crossed position, AND (the ‘and’ is very important) there is a pivoting bodily rotation that occurs. Then what on earth creates a ‘Super’ Enrosque ? MORE ROTATION! And in specific More Applied Disassociation, as there’s an enormous amount of super rotation that can occur due to the release of all that pent up energy. And that release creates some really interesting options and opportunities. 😉 So without further adieu: The Super Enrosque!
The Golden Nugget
The Golden Nugget is a Tango Topics construct, and is quite possibly the one tango pattern that you will ever need to know to dance tango. Put another way it’s a piece of Tango vocabulary (a pattern) that works in all 3 dances, is highly extensible (meaning it can be modified endlessly), extremely adornable (meaning you can adorn it), and is insanely musical!
The Argentine Soltada
What is an Argentine Soltada ? In simple terms it’s a tiny little turn, almost a spin, that has been borrowed from Salsa, and made functional in Argentine Tango. The almost-a-spin part is what the Follower does, and the lead kinda stands there leading the-almost-a-spin part. I say ‘almost’ because quite rightfully, it’s a led rotation really. If this were a true spin, then the Follower would stay over the same axial rotation point, but in this case, does not. The Argentine Soltada is really the rotation part not what you do with it part.
The ‘Check’ Step & Incremental Steps
Check Steps/Incremental Steps. These are simple pieces of tango vocabulary really. It’s a step. Nothing more than that. Don’t get confused or lost in thinking this is overly complex. It’s not. It looks cool but there it’s insanely simple. It is leading and following a step. That’s it, that’s all. To be a bit more clear, there are two piece of vocabulary, one is an extension of the other. The Check Step…
Social Volcadas
What is a Volcada ? When done properly….and ‘proper’ is a very loose word here because there a whole series of volcadas that can be done (safely) that loosely qualify as a Volcada. These are what are considered shared-axis pieces of tango vocabulary that result in a series of crossed feet for the Follower to either Follower left or Follower right.
Social Colgadas
A ‘Social’ Colgada means that the Colgada takes up very little space, while in Close Embrace, which can be used as alternative of the Follower’s Molinete to turn the couple in the line of dance. 😉
Social Boleos
What is a Social Boleo ? First and foremost we must make clear the first part of the Term “Social” of “Social Boleo”. Social in this context that Tango Topics typically defines that word as: 1.) The Ronda of the dance floor, pertaining to the line, lane, and Tango Floorcraft of the couple. 2.) The Milonga experience. Meaning how you enter the room, who you speak to, where you sit, how you sit, what you dance to, who you dance with, how you invite or deny a dance. 3.) Fitting any and all vocabulary choices, regardless of which role is initiating it, within the physical width of the “lane” of dance, and the physical distance of one singular step that goes with the line of dance.
Ocho Cortado Wrap
What is An Ocho Cortado Wrap ? Put simply it’s a Follower’s leg wrap (an Enganche) mixed with an Ocho Cortado (the ‘Broken’ Ocho). To be fair the Ocho Cortado is not really an Ocho, not by any stretch of the imagination, nor is it a broken one at that. It is more akin to the Follower’s Molinete more than anything else.
Linear Boleos
What is a Linear Boleo ? Firstly there are many varieties of Boleos. Tango Topics is only talking about 3 very common ones: Social, Circular, and today’s topic: The Linear Boleo. To be clear there are low linear, midrange linear, and then there are the high Linear Boleo. So what is it ? This is a lifting of the leg (Lead or Follow, typically though it’s the Follower’s leg) that tends to be sent straight back and up. This is why they’re called "Linear" Boleos because they’re in a LINE with the walking step. In this version of the Linear Boleo, we’re exploring a Mid-Range Linear Boleo or what Tango Topics refers to as a Mid-Height Linear Boleo.