Posts in Beginner Tango
The Meaning and Purpose of Embellishments and Adornments in Argentine Tango

Just when you thought the Argentine tango couldn’t get any better, along came the adornos. 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.


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.

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All You Need To Know About Ochos

Learn about the different types of Ochos including Ocho Adelante, Ocho Atras, and Ocho Cortado. Discover techniques for executing the Back Ocho and Ocho Defrente, and understand the significance of tortions in these movements. This guide also covers the 'Traveling' Ocho and Ochos en Espejo, popular combinations, and common mistakes. Gain practical tips to perfect your Ocho technique and enhance your tango performance.

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Displacement in Argentine Tango: All You Need To Know About Sacadas

It's important to teach yourself new things to eliminate monotony on your choreography. "But it's hard and complicated, it's only for the expert," you say.

You have to remember though, every expert started as beginners.

So, delve learning new step such as sacada, and witness how such a step can elevate within your Tango dance.

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The Devil Cloaked as an Angel: All You Need To Know About the Gancho in Argentine Tango

In tango,

the gancho is an intricate movement of a leg hook that can be executed by either the leader or the follower.

The Argentine Tango Lab defined the term in “TANGO TERMINOLOGY” as follows:

Hook: Occurs when a dancer hooks a leg sharply around and in contact with their partner’s leg by flexing the knee and releasing. May be performed to the inside or outside of either leg and by either partner.”

It creates a visually striking and dramatic effect, mostly done by the follower with her partner’s lead.

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The Influence of African, European, and Indigenous Cultures on Argentine Tango

We can trace back the African influence on Argentine tango to the 19th century when African slaves brought their cultural heritage to the shores of Argentina.

Numerous influences from African culture — primarily in the form of rhythms and instruments — significantly contributed to the formation of the tango.

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Understanding Mirada in Argentine Tango: A Guide for Followers

Argentine Tango is a dance full of uniqueness. One of it's controversial etiquette is called, mirada.

This non-verbal invitation respects the traditional codes of Tango and maintains the elegance and respect that the dance embodies.

Dance without verbally asking for it, a glimpse to the magic of tango.

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How to Politely Say 'No, Thank You' to an Unwanted Dance During Argentine Tango Milonga Without Hurting the Leader's Ego

Receiving an invitation to dance is one of the best feeling in attending a milonga. However, there are a few instances where you want to say no for some personal reasons.

You want to politely decline but you don't know how to do it without hurting the ego of the one who invited you.

How do you actually say no?
The art of declining a dance invitation at a Milonga while maintaining the delicate balance of respect and camaraderie is an invaluable skill in the social dynamics of Argentine Tango.

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Sweeping and Dragging: All You Need To Know About Barridas

Derived from the Spanish word “barrer,” meaning “to sweep,” the barrida is a graceful sweeping action that adds a touch of drama and excitement to the tango dance. To create an elegant and visually striking barrida,

the leader should aim to sweep the follower’s leg towards her back rather than outward.

This subtle adjustment adds depth and dimension to the movement, enhancing the overall aesthetic of the barrida.

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Leaning Out Away: All You Need To Know About Colgada

Within this rich dance style, there are numerous techniques and movements that dancers strive to master.

One such movement that adds elegance, dynamism, and excitement to the dance is the colgada.

Whether you are an avid tango dancer or simply intrigued by the art of dance, let us provide you with everything you need to know about the colgada!

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Close Embraces and Falling Off: All You Need To Know About Volcada

Over the years, tango has evolved and incorporated various styles and techniques, captivating dancers and enthusiasts worldwide.

One of the most intriguing and challenging movements in Argentine tango is the volcada.

Learn everything about volcada.

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The Argentine Tango Merry-Go-Round: All You Need To Know About Calecita

Many tango dancers do this step, but not everyone knows what it really is.

A graceful and dynamic movement that creates a beautiful sense of rotation more commonly known as the Merry-Go-Round step is called Calecita.

Explore and learn more about calecita and why you should add it on your tango repertoire!

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Tango as an Art Form: Most Famous Tango Shows

From the passionate embraces that fill dance floors and stadiums around the world to the lively music that drives it home, tango influences every aspect of life in Argentina and beyond.

Tango’s complexity allows us to be creative and express ourselves differently. Its complexity is indisputable, but its artistry continues to lure people in. Why?

Because tango enables us to understand “art” in ways other dances just cannot.

Watching a couple dance tango is like watching a story unfold on the floor; learning how they’re making something complex look simple and smooth is an art.

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When the Embrace Whispers: A heartwarming novel …about unexpected turns, rediscovering passion, and tango

…it was the photo of the red dress that resonated with her the most. The fluid movement of the dancer, her dress a cascade of crimson, had etched itself into Sarah's heart, evoking feelings she couldn't quite name but always longed to experience.

… He worked hard to provide a comfortable, calm life, she knew that. A life she couldn't have imagined creating on her salary. With him, she was safe. No man is perfect, but she felt he was as close to it as a woman approaching her forties could hope for. Traveling, children, and dreams could wait one more year. Good enough, she thought, looking at the half-cleaned stain on her shoes, the rest will wash away with the rain.

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UNESCO’s Recognition of Tango as a Cultural Heritage

When UNESCO declares one thing as part of a nation’s cultural heritage, it means something.

And UNESCO’s recognition of tango in 2009 was a big deal.

Explore the history of the Argentine tango, its impact on the culture of Argentina, and what UNESCO’s recognition means.

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What Is the Color of Tango?

When it comes to tango, colors are probably one of the last things a dancer or enthusiast thinks about. Of course, it matters when choosing your tango dress or suit. But about the dance itself, it’s rare to wonder if there’s really a color associated with it. Some do, however, and we’re here to wonder with you!

Perhaps, it matters because colors play an important role for humans. As said by ARTECHOUSE in “THE IMPACT OF COLOR,”

colors help us communicate our ideas and emotions and define experiences.

They add richness to our lives, influencing how we feel and think!

And since tango is a dance that thrives in connection, emotion, and communication, colors can also be relevant in tango.

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Tango Song Structure: Your Guide To Dancing Tango

Regardless of how you got involved with tango, it’s inevitable to feel confused about tango music at some point. While some communities dance the tango to non-tango music,

many firmly believe it’s only considered tango dance if it’s danced to tango music.

But what if the tango song makes it feel impossible to move? That’s likely because you don’t understand the tango song structure. Learning about tango structure is vital as a tango dancer. That’s what we’ll be discussing in this article!

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The Three Characters in Tango: Compadrito, Guapo, and Malevo

Let’s dive deeper into tango songs and the stories they tell that reflect upon Argentine culture. As listeners who don’t speak the language that tango songs are written in, it’s unsurprising that we don’t know the repetitive themes and characters. As shared by Nati & Bruno in “Famous tango (song) characters,” the heart of Argentine culture who are often depicted in tango songs are the gauchos, compadres, and compadritos.

the heart of Argentine culture who are often depicted in tango songs are the gauchos, compadres, and compadritos.

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