Tango History

    Tango is one of the most fascinating of all dances.  Originating in Spain or Morocco, the Tango was introduced to the New World by the Spanish settlers, eventually back to Spain with Black and Creole influences.  It began as a solo dance perfomre by the woman and evolved into a couple dance with castanets.  For exhibition dancing, a Tango dancer must develop a strong connection with the music, the dance, and the audience.  The Tango is like a story; it contains sentences and paragraphs.
 

Tango Steps

 *Basic Steps
bent knees/frog steps for-ward; for-ward; for-ward; right, slide-together
 *Corte
back-ward; forward (same foot); tango close
 *Repeated Corte
 *Corte in outside posistion
 *Flair Step (Parallel Corte)
 *Promenade Turning Left
on 3rd step don’t go so far forward, then move to left, on 3rd forward, bring her around to you
 *Promenade Turning Right
3rd forward, swing on right foot to her
 *Open Fan Variation
3rd forward short/ release right/ swing her around for-(to left)-ward; swing 180 dig; end prom turn left
*Figure Eight
begin promanade: slow, quick, quick (feet together facing partner), slow (swing left leg around and back), quick, quick, slow (kick foot to the side ), slow, tango, close
 *Lunge Step
quick, quick, slow (to outside partners), quick, quick, slow (to promenade), lunge, straighten (without shifting weight), quick (turning as in quick step), tango close