Abrazo (the hold) Canyengue style
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The woman's feet are on a V, with the man's right foot between them.
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The man's right hand holds the woman's waist. The left is raised to the height of the mouth of the man.
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They look at each other's shoulders.
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The woman places her left hand on the man's shoulder blade.
Adorno (an adornment) Done with the feet. Examples: drawing small circles on the floor while waiting, putting a foot behind the other leg before moving it forward, etc. When the music (and the leader) allows, the follower can "hacer adornos" (make adornments.)
Amague (threat) A surprise extension and contraction of a leg to the side. To let the follower know that an amague is coming, it is announced by a small but firm shake in the hands. If the follower gets the lead on time, she will imitate the move. (If not, the leader can do it again, and by this time the follower is bound to follow...:)
Apilado (Close Embrace) A hold where the chests and heads are together, but not the hips (think of an inverted V.) The followers are free to close their eyes while dancing, since all the clues are non-visual ("llevala durmiendo".) When dancing apart, the follower should always look at the leader's chest, and move in a way to always try to stay in front of it.
Barrida (sweep) Moving your partner's foot on the floor with yours.
Bataclana ("baila como una Bataclana" - "she dances like a Bataclana".) A woman who is a show off, using excessive adornos. (The name comes from a theater in Paris, the Bataclan.) Considered very bad form in a crowded floor.
Boleo (leg throw) They can be back or front, and the back ones can be high or low.
Castigo (punishment) Another name for a front boleo. If the lady is asked to perform a gancho, but either does not like to get that intimate (or she is not sure that there is room), she can do a front boleo instead. It is called a "punishment" because the man asked for a gancho and the lady "punished" him by denying him one.
Calesita (one foot spin) When the lady is doing a cruzada, the man can go around her in a circle, as she passively pivots on one foot.
Cayengue (or Orillero.) An old tango style from the outskirts of Buenos Aires. It has its own hold (abrazo.)
Cruzada (Cross) Crossing one foot in front of the other. The back foot was flat on the floor getting all the weight, the front foot's comes crossing in front: the weight shifts to the front foot, the rear heel is in the air, While some people say that a Cruzada is led, others claim that it is an adorno that the follower is free to do whenever possible.
Cuatro (four) Raising one leg, while the foot travels vertically along the other leg. When the foot reaches the knee, it looks like a number 4. The lady can do this adorno while stepping over the man's foot, after a parada.
(Estilo del) Centro. The style used in the center of Buenos Aires. Because of the crowded conditions, dancers dance apilado, and try to avoid high boleos and ganchos that could hit other dancers.
Corte (cut) An abrupt change. Instead of taking another step, the man can stop and bend the left leg (lady bend the right. (Originally tango was called "Baile con Corte" - dance with a cut).
Culebra (snake) An ocho where the lady brings her foot to the other side of the man's extended leg, as a snake.
Durmiendo ("llevala durmiendo" - "carry her in her sleep") The man should be gentle to his partner, and be able to dance with her "as she sleeps".
Gancho (hook) Hooking up your partner's leg.
Limpiazapatos (shoe shine) When the lady is invited forward after a parada, she can playfully rub the upper part of her foot on the man's calf, as if cleaning her shoe. Some men think this is cute, some hate it (the prissy ones who don't want to get their pants dirty! :) Ladies can do it to men, men can do it to themselves, but the man should never do it to the lady. (It might snag her stockings!)
Mordida (sandwich) To surround your partner's feet with yours, as in a sandwich. You can create a mordida after a parada, or you can surprise your partner by inserting your foot between hers on a side step.
Ocho (eight) A forward step while pivoting on the trailing foot followed by another forward step again pivoting on the other trailing foot. Ochos can be also done backwards.
Ocho Cortado (cut eight) After a salida, the man takes two steps backwards, faces the lady, rotates the top counter-clockwise, forcing the lady to do a cruzada.
Parada (stop) Outside Parada: The man touches with the inside of the tip of his shoe the outside of the lady shoe (typically while she is doing back ochos.) She then stops, to see what he has in mind next. He could do a barrida, a mordida or invite the lady forward for an ocho. Inside Parada: done by stopping the lady's foot on the inside placing the men's foot between hers. This is typically done in an ocho cortado.
Paseo (stroll)
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Man steps forward with left foot, lady back with right.
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Man forward with right, lady back with left, passing feet.
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Man steps forward closing to his right foot (feet together now), lady does same. Don't shift weight from left foot, so next step can be taken with it.
Resolucion (tango close)
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Man forward with left, lady back with right.
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Man forward and to the side with right, lady back and to the side with left.
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Man closes right foot to the left, lady left to right, not changing weight.
Retroceso (back step) Man steps back with right foot, lady forward with left. Note: in a crowded floor is better to avoid going backwards, against the line of dance.
Sacada (displacement) It can be forward or backwards (advanced). A sacada is an invasion of your partner's space, forcing her to move out of the way. A forward sacada is done by placing a leg between your partner's legs and sifting your weight to it. A common mistake is to shyly insert the leg without putting weight on it: that is really an inside parada, not a sacada!
Salida (entrance)
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Man steps sideways with left foot.
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Man steps forward with right, outside of the lady.
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Man left foot moves forward, lady's right back.
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Man's right foot closes with his left. Lady's left closes with her right. (The lady is doing a "Cruzada" in the 4th picture.)
