specialty – Tango Topics

The Americana Embrace

Miles Tangos — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 11:19:54 +0000

The Embrace is the hallmark of Argentine Tango. It’s what gives the dance its particular look and most certain it’s ‘feeling’ regardless of whether or not you’re watching the dance or in the dance. Most people, once they get over the hump of ‘close embrace’ (and you’re never really over it, there’s lots and lots […]

The Reverse Embrace

Miles Tangos — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 13:59:02 +0000

What is 'Reversing' the Embrace ? It is exactly what it sounds like. - as a Lead and a Follow, we're reversing 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. However, the question you're going to have is why do this ? For that part, read on. However, the benefits of doing such a thing are wide and varied but this is the short and curly version: Because doing so changes your awareness of what you're leading and following. For example: In the case of an Ocho from a Follower's perspective, you may discover that you're engaging in Traveling Ochos out of habit when in fact there was no actual Lead for the Traveling Ocho to occur.

Lead Ganchos

Miles Tangos — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 07:21:38 +0000

What is a Lead Gancho ? Put simply it’s where the Lead, lifts/and then wraps their free leg around the Follower, on the Follower’s Forward, Side, or Back Steps. More lift then wrap, as a ‘wrap’ is something entirely different. However the lift is quite accurate. As the Lead is factually lifting their leg, knee, and foot to ‘Gancho’ the Follower instead of the other way around. More than likely you’ll end up seeing these done on the Follower’s Side Step first and foremost as they are the easiest of the bunch, and less frequently on the Follower’s Forward step next to their lead, and very, very infrequently on the Follower’s Back Step next to their lead.

Eight Follower Ganchos

Miles Tangos — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 13:53:01 +0000

What are the Eight Follower Ganchos ? The Eight Follower Ganchos are Ganchos that look very similar to the 4 Common Ganchos with one major difference: These Ganchos have NO invasion to them. In the 4 Common Ganchos the Lead is creating a Gancho (hook) by invading the Follower's free space between their steps/legs, and as they do, the Lead continues their torso rotation while articulating their receiving Gancho leg.

The Loco Sacada

Miles Tangos — Thu, 02 May 2019 12:00:56 +0000

What is a 'Loco' Sacada ? It is an over-rotation of the Follower's Ocho, employing an Over-Rotated Back Ocho for the Follower into the Lead's Forward Step.

The Argentine Soltada

Miles Tangos — Thu, 24 Nov 2016 01:36:21 +0000

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.

Argentine Wraps

Miles Tangos — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 03:31:06 +0000

What is an Argentine Enganche ? The Enganche can be but is not limited to where the dancers’s free leg, can wrap around their partner’s leg in a myriad of different ways through either a Gancho, a Ganchito, a Rebound, un Libre Pierna (a free leg) Columpio (swing), or a version of a Sacada, or a Wrap in the English sense of the word. However the Argentine Wrap is a bit more specific in that it is very limited, this is where the Lead, or the Follower, mostly the Follower in this instance, can and will wrap their free leg around their partner usually from a side step. However a Wrap can be achieved from either back or forward steps as well however it is slightly more challenging to do so.

The Super Enrosque

Miles Tangos — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 13:47:40 +0000

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!

Circular Boleos

Miles Tangos — Tue, 03 Jul 2018 16:34:51 +0000

What is a Circular Boleo ? This is a lifting of the leg (Lead or Follow, typically though it's the Follower's leg) that tends to curve (hence the circular part) up and sometimes around the Lead. This is why they're called "Circular" Boleos. In this version of the Circular Boleo, we're exploring a Mid-Range Circular Boleo or what Tango Topics refers to as a Mid-Height Circular Boleo.

Linear Boleos

Miles Tangos — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 07:21:56 +0000

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.