Cabeceo: Asking someone to dance using eye contact.
Cortina or curtain: A short period of non-tango music between tandas giving dancers time to return to their seats and select new partners.
Crossed Feet: Occurs whenever the couple is stepping together on his and her right feet and then on his and her left feet, regardless of direction. The opposite of parallel feet.
Giro: Turn.
Milonga: This term has two meanings: 1) a type of Argentine tango music, usually fast, playful, and rhythmic; or 2) a tango dance event, as in "going to a milonga".
Parallel feet: The natural condition when a couple dances in an embrace facing each other, the man stepping on his left, the lady on her right foot, and then the man stepping on his right, the lady on her left foot, regardless of direction. The opposite of crossed feet.
Practica: A practice.
Steps: Ocho, Molinete (Grapevine), Ocho Cortado, Colgada, Cruzada (Cross), Volcada, Gancho, Voleo (Boleo), Sacada, Amague, etc.: Some of the more common "steps" in Tango.
Tanda: A set of tangos, waltzes, or milongas, typically three or four grouped together, generally music of the same style/rhythm or orchestra.
Traspie: A triple step or "shuffle step" commonly danced in milonga.
Uno mas: "Will you dance one more with me?"
TANGO RHYTHM and MUSIC
Milonga: Usually fast, rhythmic, generally 2/4 time
Tango: Generally 4/4 or 2/4 time
Waltz (or Vals): Waltz rhythm, generally 3/4 time.
TANGO STYLES
Milonguero-style tango: Commonly used to refer to the very close embrace style of dancing tango. Also referred to as club style or apilado style. Includes non-pivoting back ochos, and ocho cortados instead of front ochos.
Fantasia (fantasy) or stage tango: Typically a flashier and more athletic version of salon style for performance.
Salon-style tango: Generally considered to be open embrace, or an embrace that varies between open and close. Includes pivoting ochos, and grapevine turns.
AT THE PRACTICAS
Community dance: This part of the Tango Colorado practica was designed as a mixer for everyone and particularly to welcome and include new dancers. The community dance happens right after announcements and usually has three tangos (sometimes four, depending on the size of the crowd.) Please join the community dance even if it is your first night! If you can walk, you can participate. (It is okay to tell your partners you are a beginner.)
Division of the room during the Tuesday practicas at the Turnverein: The North side of the room is for couples moving continuously in line of dance, dancing or practicing. If you want to stop and practice something specific, please move to the South side of the room. This side is for couples or individuals who wish to work on patterns, steps, or walking exercises.
TANGO ETIQUETTE
Shoes and dress: Casual dress is fine for practicas. Most people dress up for the milongas (social tango dance events). Make sure you have smooth, slick-soled shoes. Dancing in shoes without smooth soles can damage your knees and ankles.
Dance Floor Courtesy: No matter how aware we are of those around us on the dance floor, collisions do occur. This happens as often on non crowded floors as on crowded floors. Good dancers who are part of our community usually apologize for these collisions and it is considered good dance floor etiquette to do so.
Asking someone to dance: The charming and old fashioned way of asking someone to dance in Buenos Aires -whether you are a man or a woman -is to let your gaze rest on the person you want. Whether they are far across the room, a friend or a stranger, when you catch each other's eyes, that's the invitation. A nod and a smile, perhaps a glance toward the dance floor, is confirmation. In the United States, asking is also done verbally.
Line of dance: Tango is danced around the edge of the dance floor, counter clockwise, generally in one lane, but there can be more than one lane if the floor is more crowded. Normally you keep dancing behind the couple in front of you and do not pass or cut across the floor. It is considered bad form to move or travel against the line of dance.
Entering the Line of Dance: Please be aware that the line of dance is moving on the outside lane as you step into the line. Wait for a slight break in the line and be courteous to the couple coming up behind you. Frequently there are only one or two places where couples enter the dance floor so be aware of everyone around you.
Make your partner’s experience the best possible; please do not teach or "help" unless requested: This is a big one, generating the most frequent complaints. It is considered very bad etiquette to ever teach anyone during a milonga (social tango dance event). Teaching on a social dance floor interrupts the line of dance. If your partner is open to suggestions, please move to a practice area. At practicas, only a few find it acceptable to offer suggestions, or constructive criticism. UNLESS YOU RECEIVE A CLEAR REQUEST, ASSUME THAT ADVICE AND TEACHING ARE NOT WELCOME. Lead vocabulary your partner knows, within her ability to easily follow. Tango is complex and has many styles; so take care not to make people feel bad about their dancing. Advice or teaching is often heard as criticism.
Safety: Your safety and enjoyment are important to our tango community. Go to any TC officer or the host with any social, etiquette or safety concerns. It is perfectly appropriate for a female alone to ask to be escorted to her car.
Respect the space of those on the dance floor if you are not dancing: At the Turnverein, people dancing on the South side should leave room for those working by themselves. People on the North side should not create obstacles to the moving dancers. Walk in the aisles behind the tables, not on the dance floor. If you are not dancing, show respect to those who are by not walking through the busy dance floor and by staying clear of the dance space. Dancers have the right-of-way!
Saying thank you too soon: Saying "thank you" after one dance means you are finished dancing with that person, or don’t want to dance with them anymore. So, don’t say thank you too early! It is common to dance a tanda (set) with one partner before changing to another.
Please refer to the Classes and Practicas page for information about classes and practicas in Denver on Tuesdays and Boulder on Thursdays.
