The Meaning and Purpose of Embellishments and Adornments in Argentine Tango
Anyone who loves the Argentine tango will have many things to say about the dance’s beauty.
A couple walks over to the dance floor together, seals the deal with an embrace, and then tells a story about love, longing, and sensuality together with every move.
And,
what ties together all the aspects to make Argentine tango so captivating are the embellishments and adornments.
Tango beginners or those simply watching the dance can easily overlook these features. However,
tango masters and enthusiasts know just how much these embellishments and adornments add to the overall performance.
In this article, we’ll touch on what they mean in Argentine tango and how to use them in your own tango.
Types of Argentine Tango Embellishments and Adornments
The best way to understand what embellishments and adornments in Argentine tango are is to look at the words’ literal definitions. The Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries define embellishment as
“a decoration or other addition that is intended to make something more beautiful or interesting.”
The same source says an adornment is
“something that you wear to make yourself look more attractive; something used to decorate a place or an object.”
The two words are semantically related. Regarding tango,
they refer to the styled and ornamental movements added to traditional steps to make them more beautiful.
Both the leader and follower in tango can have embellishments or “adornos” in their movements, but it’s the followers who usually have more of them. They can be subtle or exaggerated, adding a flair of artistry to the dance.
Tango Voice in “Women’s Adornments for Tango Social Dancing,” says several classes of adornos include the following:
On the Floor: Golpecito, Dibujo, Low Back Boleo, Amague, Toque
Some embellishments happen on the floor when the followers make use of subtle movements like golpecito, dibujo, the low back boleo, amague, and toque.
Golpecito is tiny taps on the floor with the dancer’s free foot, while dibujo or rulo is drawing small circles with the toe.
A boleo, which means “throw,” is one of the most popular adornos in tango, and doing a low back one means creating a “whip” action without lifting.
Moreover,
a follower can also flick their foot in front of their ankle or shin, which is called the amague.
Some call this adorno the low front boleo!
"TOQUES" (Argentine Tango figures) by MIRIAM LEONARDO Tango
And lastly,
toque, which means “touch,” is like playing with each other’s legs.
The leader could be leading his follower over his foot from one side to the other, with the woman touching his foot slightly to step over it.
Above the Floor and Inside the Couple’s Frame: Caricias
There are also embellishments that tango dancers do above the floor but still inside the couple’s frame.
One noteworthy adorno is the caricias, which is a move of caressing with feet or legs.
When you see a follower caressing their leader’s body, particularly his legs and back, with her feet or legs, that’s a caricias. This move adds an air of sensuality to the dance!
Above the Floor and Outside the Couple’s Frame: High Back and Front Boleo, Linear Boleo, Gancho, Piernazo, Cuatro
Unlike the caricias, the high back and front boleo, linear boleo, gancho, piernazo, and cuatro are done outside the couple’s frame.
The high back boleo, unlike the abovementioned low back boleo, is a sharp upward movement of a leg behind the other.
The follower makes a circular motion while keeping both knees in contact.
On the other hand,
a high front boleo is the same sharp upward movement but with one leg crossing in front of the other.
A linear boleo, unlike the low back, high back, and high front boleo, is a sharp lineal tracing of one leg.
It could be forward, backward, or sideways, and a follower does this when a movement is interrupted.
Gancho is raising a leg and bending it briefly around the partner’s leg,
while piernazo is encircling the partner’s back and waist with the leg.
Lastly,
cuatro, which translates to “four,” is when the follower crosses her active leg in front of her supporting leg.
You do this in a “flicking” motion, and the goal is to create the “4” shape.
Embellishments and adornments in Argentine tango are both a challenge and a joy. Some dancers love the creative freedom it affords them, while others find the technical skill and musicality difficult. Generally, these adornos, when executed correctly, add layers of beauty and excitement to the dance!
The Role of Embellishments and Adornments In the Dance
“Are adornos just additional steps to practice?” you might ask. It’s completely unsurprising to feel this way, as embellishments and adornments may seem merely ornamental or decorative. But if you understand the dance more deeply, you’ll discover how meaningful and purposeful these embellishments are.
Adornos can take many shapes and forms, ranging from intricate figures to footwork, and all of them allow you to do the following:
Express Yourself Creatively
As a tango dancer, whether a leader or follower, you have the ability to express yourself in creative ways. You tell a story through the dance in a way you wouldn’t be able to with just basic steps.
Embellishments and adornments add another layer of storytelling, helping you create an even more powerful narrative.
They allow you to contribute to the musicality and flow of the dance, as well as to express your individuality. As said by Kim in ““ADORNOS” & WHY I LOVE THEM”:
“Every human being is born with an instinct to move when they hear music. Also important is how we choose to move and express ourselves in tango and that we exist in the dance as individuals, not only as somebody’s partner.”
Enhancing the Connection Between Dance Partners
Of course, giving importance to yourself in tango is also a way of giving importance to your partner and your connection. When you can express yourself creatively and freely, you also include your partner in that creative process.
Embellishments and adornments can be a way to strengthen the connection between you and your partner, allowing you two to express your individualism as a collective.
Incorporating Embellishments and Adornments Into the Dance
Adornos can be an additional challenge, yes. But when you go beyond the basics of tango, you’ll feel the desire to do and give more.
When you learn to do embellishments, every step will initially feel wrong.
Eventually, they will feel like an opportunity to explore and enjoy the music and the dance!
Basic Techniques and Movements for Embellishments and Adornments
You don’t learn about adornos on your own. Every embellishment has basic techniques and movements; and understanding them will help you master them. For example,
doing the golpecito requires you to keep your ankle relaxed.
You must do a dibujo on the floor and not in the air, and toque and caricias may look similar, but like “touch” and “caress,” they’re literally not the same. Another thing to remember about the caricias is that you should stay within a horizontal line.
It’s also vital to know that some adornos always need a leader, while others are follower-only. Generally,
it’s crucial to keep your legs relaxed when executing tango movements to make them look elegant.
Timing and Execution of Embellishments and Adornments
Another challenge with using embellishments in tango is learning about timing and execution.
Knowing where to add adornments and whether or not it’s possible to add one requires awareness and knowledge of the music.
Using an adorno anytime and however you like isn’t ideal. Unfortunately, it’s also impossible to technically explain when and how to add adornments. A dancer can only learn through observation and experience!
Musicality and Embellishments in Argentine Tango
Without knowing the music, it’s difficult to add embellishments without looking robotic or out of time.
Musicality is the thread that ties together all elements — timing, rhythm, and adornment.
Being able to identify musical cues, interpret them, and then add embellishments without breaking the flow is an essential skill for an Argentine tango dancer.
Common Mistakes When Using Embellishments and Adornments
Generally, learning the tango is already demanding. Adding adornments into the mix can make everything even more overwhelming! Here are three of the most common mistakes that dancers make:
Overusing Embellishments and Adornments
Once you see the beauty of embellishments, it’s possible to feel like you want to keep adding more and more. While this is understandable,
it’s also crucial to remember that less is often more in tango dancing.
If you overuse the embellishments and adornments, you will not only distort the music and rhythm but also take away from the real purpose of using them in the first place.
Lack of Control and Precision In Execution
A more evident example of misuse of adornos is that they are executed without control and precision. As a result, they become a mere distraction instead of a source of creativity and sophistication.
Dancers lacking control and precision often need more practice to do the steps clearly.
They should also learn that embellishments are not just decorations.
Failure To Maintain Connection With Partner
Lastly,
some dancers can become too focused on embellishments that they fail to stay connected with their partner.
As said by Ani Andreani de Herrera in “Tango embellishments: a 3 step formula to better adornos”:
“Never forget that embellishments are what they called: embellishments
Yes, today the dance is more free, followers may lead and leaders may follow, but… do not ever give priority to your ornament instead of the leading of your leader. Believe me, in most cases your leader has a plan and it was difficult enough to create it. Now when the leader gives the best to put it on the dancefloor and you interrupt this process, you probably will destroy the connection and the trust between you. Your leader will feel insecure and probably enjoy the dance less.”
Practical Tips for Mastering Embellishments and Adornments
Your head must be spinning after all the new learnings, but don’t worry! It’s difficult to master adornos, but it’s not impossible. Here are three tips you can keep in mind:
Build Confidence and Trust With Your Dance Partner
Go back to the importance of trusting your dance partner.
It’s the foundation of Argentine tango, meaning it’s also the foundation of all adornos. In our article “IS TANGO MORE DIFFICULT FOR LEADERS? SPECIFICALLY, MALE LEADERS?” we shared:
“Some tango dancers liken a leader to a choreographer and a follower to a dancer.
As a leader, you must envision the entire dance before performing it. And once you’re on the dancefloor, you guide your follower to “fulfill your choreography.”
When you trust yourself, you feel confident that you’re capable of mastering adornos. And when you trust your partner that they’ll allow you to shine and excel, you’ll surprise yourself with the creativity that flows!
Focus on Technique and Execution
Learn as many techniques as you can and focus on execution. Start with the basics and gradually add complexity.
Having the proper techniques will help your embellishments fulfill their purpose!
Moreover, when you focus on execution, you stop fearing messing up. Instead, you become more confident in how to make the most of your limited time on the dancefloor. Remember: each movement should be purposeful and serve the music. That way, your adornos will appear lush and effortless.
Practice and Persevere
Ultimately, style of embellishing Argentine tango. And don’t forget to enjoy the process!
no matter how many technique classes you take, it all comes down to practice.
Before adding embellishments, you must get comfortable with the basic steps and moves. Persevere and try different techniques until you find your own style of embellishing Argentine tango. And don’t forget to enjoy the process!
Argentine Tango: The Dance Embellished and Adorned
Just when you thought the Argentine tango couldn’t get any better, along came the adornos.
Embellishments and adornments come in all shapes and sizes, but all serve to highlight the beauty of tango.
They may require more time, patience, and practice, but they are well worth your effort. Soon enough, Argentine tango adornos will mean more to you than just fancy footwork. They’re movements that magnify this passionate dance!