tangoguide

[tangoguide]

A la parrilla

A la parrilla The steam from my cortado fogs the window, blurring the hurried figures on Avenida Corrientes. Here, inside the cafe, time moves differently. It follows the rhythm of a distant bandoneon, a rhythm that speaks of stories, of encounters, of a dance born from the soul. A young dancer asked me the other day about the “real” tango, the one not found in polished shows. I smiled and began…

[tangoguide]

Abanico

Abanico Definition The Abanico, Spanish for “fan,” is a follower’s embellishment, or adorno. In a moment of pause, the follower pivots on their standing leg while the free leg traces a semi-circular, fan-like shape on the floor. It is not led directly, but rather invited by the leader creating a space in the music and the movement for the follower to express herself. Abanico in the Soul of…

[tangoguide]

Abrazo

Abrazo Definition The world knows it as an embrace, a hug. For us, in tango, the abrazo is the universe in miniature. It is the physical and energetic frame that makes the dance possible. It is the silent conversation that begins before the first note of music is played. Technically, it is the connection from the leader’s right arm around the follower’s back, the follower’s left arm resting on…

[tangoguide]

Academia

Academia The marble tabletop is cool beneath my hands, a stark contrast to the warmth of the cortado beside me. Outside, the morning rush of Avenida de Mayo fades into a familiar hum, a rhythm that has pulsed through this city for over a century. It is the rhythm of life, of encounter, of hurried steps. But here, inside, we speak of a different kind of step, one that is deliberate, felt, and…

[tangoguide]

Acento

Acento Definition In its simplest form, acento means accent. But in tango, this word breathes. It is the rhythmic emphasis, the heartbeat of the musical phrase. It is not merely the beat itself, but the soul of the beat—the deliberate weight, the pause, the surge of energy that gives a step its character and intention. Think of it as the punctuation in the language of tango. A simple step without…

[tangoguide]

Acentuación

Acentuación Definition In the language of tango, Acentuación is the punctuation. It is the emphasis, the stress, the deliberate pressure placed on a musical note and, in turn, a step. It is not a step in itself, but the soul within the step. Imagine speaking a sentence without any change in tone or volume—it would be a lifeless string of words. The acentuación is what gives the dance its…

[tangoguide]

Acompañamiento

Acompañamiento Definition One pulls a dictionary from the shelf and finds the word “accompaniment.” A simple, dry word. But here, in the half-light of a San Telmo café, where the ghosts of a hundred tangos still linger in the wood grain of the tables, acompañamiento means something else entirely. It is not merely following. It is the profound, active, and intuitive response to a lead. It is the…

[tangoguide]

Adelante

Adelante Definition Adelante. Forward. A simple word for the most fundamental of movements in tango. It is the forward step, the leader’s proposal to journey into the space ahead. But to call it just a step is like calling a poem just a collection of words. It is the initiation of a dialogue, the first syllable spoken in the language of the body. Adelante in the Soul of Tango In the embrace, the…

[tangoguide]

Adorno

Adorno Definition An adorno, in its simplest translation, is an adornment, an embellishment, a decoration. In tango, it is a movement that is not structurally necessary for the dance—you can dance an entire tanda without a single one—but is added by either the leader or, more commonly, the follower to interpret the music and express a feeling. It is a moment of personal artistry within the shared…

[tangoguide]

Aficionado

Aficionado Definition In Spanish, an aficionado is simply a devotee, a fan. But in the universe of tango, the word breathes with a different life. An aficionado is not merely a spectator. They are a guardian of the culture, a person whose passion for tango is a deep, knowledgeable, and consuming fire. They may be a dancer, a musician, a collector of old records, or simply a silent observer in the…

[tangoguide]

Agujas

Agujas Definition Ah, the aguja. The needle. The name itself tells you everything about its intention: precision, sharpness, a single point of intense focus. In the language of the dance floor, an aguja is a follower’s embellishment, a type of rulo, where she pivots on one leg—the axis—while her free foot draws a small, tight circle on the floor around the supporting foot. It is a moment of…

[tangoguide]

Al costado

Al costado Definition In the simplest terms, al costado means “to the side.” It is a side step. Along with the forward step (adelante) and the backward step (atrás), it forms the holy trinity of tango’s fundamental movements. It is the lateral displacement of the foot and body, a building block for countless figures from the basic salida to the most intricate changes of direction. Al costado in…

[tangoguide]

Amague

Amague Definition An amague, in its most literal sense, is a feint, a threat, or a bluff. In the language of tango, it is a deceptive movement, an intention of a step that is initiated but not completed. It can be a simple tap of the foot, a small circular motion on the floor, or a subtle shift of weight that suggests a change of direction. It is a pause filled with potential, an adornment that…

[tangoguide]

Anillo

Anillo Definition In Spanish, ‘anillo’ means ‘ring.’ In tango, it is a beautiful adornment where the follower traces a circle on the floor around the leader’s standing leg with their free leg. It is a moment of stillness and circular artistry within the linear flow of the dance. Anillo in the Soul of Tango The music pauses for a breath, and in that space, the walk stops. But the tango does not.…

[tangoguide]

Apertura

Apertura Definition The old men by the window, stirring their coffee in a rhythm that has measured decades, they don’t use diagrams. For them, an Apertura is simply a breath. It is the moment in the dance when the sacred, closed embrace opens. The leader steps to the outside of the follower’s frame, or invites the follower to do the same. It is not a break, you understand. It is an expansion. A…

[tangoguide]

Apilado

Apilado Definition The word itself, apilado, means “piled up” or “stacked.” In the language of our tango, it is something far more profound. It is not a step, but a state of being. Apilado describes a specific type of connection in the close embrace where both dancers share a single, dynamic axis, leaning their upper bodies slightly forward into one another. It is a mutual surrender of balance, a…

[tangoguide]

Apoyo

Apoyo Definition In the language of the dance, apoyo means support. But to leave it there is like saying a violin is just wood and string. Apoyo is the conscious, committed transfer of your weight onto your standing leg. It is the grounding of your axis, the firm and deliberate connection you make with the floor. It is not merely standing; it is an active state of being, a declaration of…