Beginning and Intermediate Tango Terminology

BASICO (THE BASIC) - The first figure usually taught to beginning students after the walking steps. The 8 count basic includes elements which are used throughout the dance, although the complete figure itself is not much used socially. The name refers to counts in music, however, the man is not constrained to rigidly mark a step on each count or beat of the rhythm. He is free to hold or to syncopate, or cut the beat, as the music moves him or as space on the floor around him allows. Also the figure may be danced into or out of at various points and is not always entered at the beginning. There are also shortcuts within the 8 count basic. For instance, the man may lead the lady from the cruzada at 5 directly to 2, or he may close his left foot to his right without weight on 7 and step side left directly to 2. So in actuality the positions which the dancers move through at each step are numbered as reference points. In closed dance position, they are as follows;

1. The man steps back right, the lady forward left. Or, variations: the man settles his weight on his right leg, placing the lady on her left, and holds. Also, the man may settle on his right leg, placing the lady on her left, quickly extending his left leg to his left side to point then closing back to his right leg without weight, as the lady mirrors his action with her right leg. Or the man may step through with his right leg between the partners, leading the lady to mirror his action (espejo) by stepping through with her left leg, remaining in closed position although briefly resembling promenade position.
2. The man steps side left, the lady side right, with the man stepping slightly further than the lady.
3. The man steps forward right in outside right position keeping his upper body turned toward the lady in contra-body, the lady back left paralleling the man and also in contra-body. This is a common point of entry to the figure which the ladies should be aware of.
4. The man steps forward left, the lady back right stretching slightly more and seeking the man's center.
5. The man closes his right foot to his left with weight and rotates his upper body to face forward, leading the lady to cross her left foot in front of her right with weight (cruzada) as she finishes moving back in front of the man. Many variations for the lady begin from this position.
6. The man steps forward left inside his partner (to her center), the lady back right.
7. The man steps side right, the lady side left.
8. The man closes his left foot to his right with weight, the lady her right foot to her left.

Steps 1 through 3 (sometimes 1 through 5) are known as the salida. Steps 3 through 5 are known as walking the lady to the cross. Steps 6 through 8 are known as resolucion. See Basico.

Contra Body Movement - This happens when the upper body rotates in the opposite direction from the lower body while moving. (unlike the "stick man" in our illustration above - this is what happens to many of us, when we try to think about CBM) - the stick man has the wrong arm forward, for the movement of his feet.  Actually CBM is what happens when you are walking along, allowing the NATURAL swing of your arms with your stride.  As you stride forward on your LEFT foot, your RIGHT arm goes forward in a very natural balancing movement. The same principle works in dancing. (And, your dance partner will APPRECIATE it.)

To try this out stand with your weight on the Right foot. Step out on your Left foot and at the same time twist your upper body to the left (Right shoulder forward). Next step back with your Left foot and twist your upper body to the Right. (Right shoulder back) If it feels like a wind up for a spin it should. If you were to place and center your weight on the moving foot you could spin easily.