Here is a list of things you should be
able to accomplish as a beginner. For Leaders:
1. Know how to ask someone to dance
2. Follow the line of dance and stay in
your lane
3. Walk smoothly
4. Keep your own balance
5. Keep the rhythm (even at the expense
of executing fancier steps)
6. Be aware of where you and others are
on the floor
7. Know how to walk, turn, stop and lead
a few embellishments
8. Know how to interrupt a step to keep
from hitting another couple
9. Know how to put basic elements
together to make a dance For Followers:
1. Know how to accept or decline a dance
2. Wait for the lead
3. Walk smoothly and walk to the cross
well
4. Keep your own balance
5. Keep the rhythm
6. Be aware of others on the floor
7. Know how to walk, turn, stop and
execute a few embellishments Once you
have mastered the elements on these
lists, you are an intermediate dancer.
As an intermediate dancer you will work
on how to dance more improvisationally,
how to improve your posture and balance,
how to interpret the music on a more
sophisticated level, and how to combine
many basic elements to form new dance
steps or perhaps create your own.
Useful Tango Terms
The following terms are often used to
describe some of the basic elements of
tango.
adornos..... embellishments
amague..... a fake
arrastre..... a drag
barrida..... a sweep
boleo.... no translation (a particular
embellishment that can be done high or
low)
caminar..... to walk—the basic walking
pattern of tango
cruzada..... the cross
corrida..... a rhymthic run (double-time
walking)
enrosque..... a twisting movement during
a turn
freno..... a brake (blocking a foot)
gancho..... a hook (a type of
embellishment)
giro..... a turn
lapiz..... literally means a pencil (to
draw a circle on the floor)
mordida..... literally means a "bite"
(used when the feet form a sandwich)
ocho..... an "eight" (part of a turn)
parada.... a stop
salida..... literally means "exit," but
in tango it's a basic entrance to the
dance
sacada..... a displacement
For a more complete list of terms, see
Ed Loomis' Guide to Tango Terminology.
We'd love to
see you at any or all of our lessons or Tango
Parties!
*
Membership is NOT required in order to participate
in any ATL events
*
Benefit for Muscular Dystrophy Duchennes
scheduled for March.
Watch for details.
***
Satisfied ATL Member writes:
Dear
Sherry,
This is a note long
overdue. We are members of Argentine Tango Lovers of
Long Island. We first fell in love with Argentine
Tango on a visit to Buenos Aries in 1995 when at
that time we visited one of their Milonga's. We knew
it was different than our American Tango and also,
Salon Tango is different than tangos performed on
the stage. We did take some lessons when we got back
but if we wanted to dance, we needed to go into
Manhattan. You know how late their Milonga's start!
We kept thinking how nice it would be if we had a
Milonga on Long Island. It would take the right
person with the vision and energy to run such an
organization. That person did come forward ( like a
miracle ). Sherry Palencia with her extraordinary
talent and love for Argentine Tango. She and her
fellow tango lovers put together a club called
"Argentine Tango Lovers of Long Island". We are
extremely fortunate and thankful to all those who
have made this reality possible.
- Paul & Maggie Cesare
***
*Take
private Tango lessons
*
Call to arrange affordable, quality coaching *
Book performances for weddings, bar mitzvahs and
private parties
Info: Call Sherry at
(631) 242-0686
Sherry Palencia, President
email:
s2step@aol.com
(631) 242-0686
