Tango Notes

These notes have been used in the Traverse City Tango Club for basic instruction. They contain notes as well as numerous links to instructional and demo videos.

Basic Figures

• The Embrace
• Walking (Caminata) - Style and parallel system.
• Walking in Cross System - The cross system.
• Baldosa Box - A simple figure without the Cross.
• Basic Eight - Eight-step basic with the Cross.
• Americana - A simple promenade step.
• Ochos
  • Front Ocho - Forward Ocho, Ocho Adelante.
  • Back Ocho - Backward Ocho, Ocho Atrás.
• Ocho Cortado
• Turns
  • Rock Step (Cadencia) Turns
  • Molinete / Giro / Media Luna
• Foot and leg play
  • Paradas and Pasadas - Stops and Stepovers.
  • Sandwich / Sanguchito.
  • Barrida (Sweep) / Arrastre (Drag).
  • Sacadas
  • Gancho family

How to get into and out of a figure

• To and from the Cross

Intermediate Figures

• Molinete: Beyond Basic
• Compilations of figures

Misc

• Terminology - Brief glossary of terms we commonly use.
• Links to other tango websites