American Style Tango
(Note: I recommend using Apple's QuickTime to see the videos: you can use the arrow keys to see them frame-by-frame. All the videos are from http://www.ballroomdancers.com/)
Basic walk: Starting with LF forward (S), RF forward (S), LF forward (Q), RF diagonal to the right (Q), drag LF together with right, staying on the left toes, knee bent (S)(also known as "tango-close") (8 count) (video)
Outside walk: same as basic, walking next to the left of the lady (instead of in front)
Rocking steps: S-S, Rock (Q-Q), forward (S), Rock (Q-Q), forward (S), tango close.
Basic circle rocks: S-S, Rock (QQ), Rock (QQ), S-S, tango close. (Rotate counter clock 45 on each Q.)
Corte: LF goes back bent, RF stays in place straight (S). Shift weight to front (S), Tan(Q)-go(Q)-close(S).(video)
Corte-dip-hook: hesitation (rock step Q-Q), LF goes back bent, RF stays in place straight (S), turn lady into 90 degrees to left (she pivots 180 on toes), as she hooks her LL behind the man's right knee, looking up at the ceiling (S), un-turn (S), tango-close, back tango-close. (Note for the lady: bend the neck more and the trunk less.)
Variation: take 2 slows to un turn, put feet together (S), tango-close, no need for the back tango close.
Double lady fans: Q front and Q right, back on LF (S), lady fans, rock forward, lady fans again (S), do again, tango close.
Cross Body Lead: rock step(Q-Q), lower left arm, put LF' heel next to RF's (S), facing backwards, lead lady across on slow. RF back to rock step. Face each other: corte S-S, tango close.
Variation: lady does reverse turn.
Promenade - late closing: on 2nd Q, bring lady in front, turning her 90 degrees.
Promenade - early closing: on 2nd slow, bring lady in front. She does not put her RF down until the Q.
Promenade - face to face closing (video): neither one turns.
Promenade - right turn (video): the man crosses in front of the lady on the 2nd S. The lady still takes a step forward and rotates 90 degrees left.
Promenade - open position: on the 1st Q, push the lady forward 180 degrees with right hand. End in a mirror-symmetric position at tango close
Variation: the lady goes forward 90 degrees, the man backwards 90 degrees.
Open position - double fans: LF diagonally forward, fan left. RF to the left, fan right, holding only one hand, tango close.
Open position - mirror - rocks: fan, switch hands as the LF goes forward, pull back lady into mirror. Rock with LF forward, rock with RF forward, lady natural turn, tango-close.
Shadow position: S-S hold hands, Q go back instead of forth, pulling lady into sweetheart (Q) (shadow). Walk together: LF in front to the right(S), RF to the right, touch step (S) moving hip forward. Unwind lady to open position.
Matador: outside walk (SS), LF crosses in front of RF (Q), RF next to LF (Q), LF back, diagonal from RF (or crossed) (S). Repeat Q-Q-S to the left, Q-Q-S to the right, lady fan, tango close.
Arm behind spin: S-S-Q-Q-S, put lady's left arm behind her back and hold with right hand. Corte, unwind the lady to open position.
Double Cruz - Randee - Fan: promenade, S-Q-Q, now facing each other, put lady in counter-promenade position. RF crosses behind (S), LF randees (wide circle to behind other leg)(Q), RF walks back (lady is walking forward), LF back (S), RF flips (S), lady fans, Q-Q-S, tango close.
Grapevine: on the outside, SS, cross LF in front(Q) (lady crosses behind) lady in counter promenade, cross in front (Q) (can do any number of crosses) ends in tango close or double fan.
Open Reverse Turn, Lady Outside: LF forward (Q), turn 90 degrees left as RF moves (Q), LF back (S) lady outside, RF back (Q) start to turn again, LF side & slightly forward (Q), RF closes to the LF, slightly back (S)(video)
Fan, Fan - Swivel, Swivel - Fan, Fan: from outside walk, SSQQ to the right, back on left foot, fan (weight in the back)(S), fan (weight in the front)(S), swivel(Q), swivel(Q), fan(S) (weight in the back), fan(S) (weight in the front), QQ to the right (do it again.)
Cobra Fans: promenade, SS, cut in front of the lady (Q). Lady puts her weight on the forward RF, and fans. Man puts RF back, touch (Q), brings it forward together with the lady's, tango close.
Open position - lady's reverse turn: as you push the lady away, make her turn counterclockwise.
Open position - switch places:(QQS-QQS) turning left, walk in front of the lady, switch hands to open position. Do it again in reverse.
Open position - underarm turns
Open position - back to promenade
Half Patterns: Adding to 8. If a pattern is not a multiple of 8, you need to add a half pattern (4):
Forward tango close
Backwards tango close: (take step back instead of forward - close the same - to the right.)
Linking Steps: LF forwards (Q), RF sideways (Q), LF forwards diagonal, in front of LF (Q), RF sideways (Q) doing a diagonal.
Ó 2003-2004 Carlos Escolar