Glossary
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adornment
Follower’s response to the music that was not led by the leader. Examples include pique, lines, and circles.
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aguja
Spanish “needle”. A movement by the leader where the support foot is vertical, pivoting on the toe. Usually in the context of being in the center of a giro.
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americana
A figure where both dancers’ hips face the same direction, and have inside leg reaching forward; almost mirror of one another. The name comes from the impression that the Americans (United States) like to do this as they dance ballroom/show-flavored tango.
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apilado
Describes when a dancer’s center of mass is within the confines of their feet, and that they are not in danger of falling even if unsupported.
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axis
Whether the dancer’s center of mass is inside their base (in-axis, apilado) or out-of-axis.
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backward ocho
A figure where the follower is led to pivot so that the hips are perpendicular, step backward with the outside leg, and pivot again. A foundational figure in Argentine Tango along with the forward ocho.
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bandera
Spanish “flag”. An adornment where the leg whips around like a flag in the wind.
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barrida
Spanish “sweep / broom”. A figure where the leader’s feet sweeps the follower’s feet along the floor.
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basico
A basic pattern that transfers the couple one step away from the edge, forward into follower’s cross, and return into the edge. Passes through all the weight–feet combinations and useful as a framework to “hang” other movements off of.