TANGO - Tango Terminology

Barrida: a sweep; a sweeping motion.

One partner's foot sweeps the other's foot across the floor and places it without losing contact.

Boleo: circular movement made by gauchos throwing their bolas at cattle to entangle the legs.

Embellishment in tango involving a circular movement of the lower leg. Follower throws or swivels one leg with the knees locked together, usually one behind the other.

Colgada: a hanger

The leader tilts the follower’s axis away from his body.

Cortina: a curtain

A short piece of non-tango music played as a break between two tandas (sets of tango music) during a milonga (tango dance party). The cortina lets the dancers know that the current tanda has ended and a new tanda is about to start. When the cortina is heard, the partners thank each other and return to their own table. At this time the dancers can find a new partner. The purpose of cortinas is to create a partner change break in the music, so the songs used for cortinas are not milonga dance music, but can be rock, pop, jazz, or any non-tango genre. Cortinas are used at all the milongas in Buenos Aires and occasionally at milongas outside Argentina.

Cruzada: The cross

Part of the basic 8 step, where the follower steps back with the right leg, then pivots and crosses the left foot in front of the right.

Enrosque: to coil or twist

While the lady dances a molinete, the man pivots on his supporting foot, hooking or coiling the working leg behind or around in front of the supporting leg

Gancho: a hook

Hook movement that occurs when a dancer hooks a leg sharply around or between the partner’s leg.

Giro: a turn

Turning step used to circle around your partner and change direction.

Milonga: Style of music and dance written in 2/4 time, a livelier tempo than a tango.

Milonga: The tango dance party originating in Buenos Aires. The most common musical styles played at a milonga are tango, vals or milonga. Usually, three to five songs of a kind are played in a row (called a tanda) followed by a short musical break (called cortina) to clear the dance floor and facilitate partner changes.

Milonguero (milonguera): Someone whose life revolves around tango and who goes to milongas often; typically a tango fanatic.

Molinete: a windmill

A figure in which the lady dances a grapevine step around the man, stepping side-back-side-forward, using forward and back ocho technique.

Ocho: eight

A basic tango step, called ocho because the feet of the follower mark an 8 on the floor

Planeo: gliding

Occurs when a dancer steps forward onto one foot, usually the left, and pivots, or is pivoted, with the other leg gliding along the floor

Sacada: Displacement step

Salida: departure, start, exit

First steps of the dance, composed of 8 steps, known as the count of eight or basic eight.

Tanda: group, batch, series

A set of music, usually between three to five pieces, that is played during a milonga. Most commonly the music is a tango, a milonga or a vals. Often a cortina will be played to signal the end of a tanda. A milonga is comprised of many tandas, punctuated by cortinas. DJs arrange tandas in many different ways; by orchestra, by lyrics, by time of recording or by style of music. Sometimes also non-tango tandas are played, like Cumbia, Chacarera or Salsa.

Tanguero (tanguera): A tango dancer

Vals: The style of tango that is danced on waltz music: with a rhythm of one-two-three, on-two-three. Argentine waltz:

Volcada: from Volcar - to tip-over or capsize; a falling step

The leader causes the follower to tilt or lean forward and fall off her axis before he catches her again.

Argentine Tango in Chicago

TANGO - Tango Terminology