Boleo

Figures of Argentine tango are elements of Argentine tango.

On the basis of several instructional tango books published between 1911–1925 early tango figures can be grouped into eight categories: corte, paseo, la marcha, ocho, grapevine, ruedas, media luna, molinette. From that period we still have: ocho, sentada, media luna, molinete, sandwich.

In 2010 there exists as many as 200 instructional DVDs discussing elements of Argentine tango dance. These include titles devoted to tango technique and basics tango nuevo milonguero style (also known by estilo del centro in Buenos Aires) and various elements of the dance such as giros. There are many guides and dictionaries to tango terminology on the internet. Tango terminology is described in several books.

Alternative names are provided in (braces) but usage of tango related names varies: for example entrada and sacada or voleo and boleo may be used to describe the same steps. The names used here follow many sources including English instructional DVDs (such as Christy Coté and George Garcia DVDs published by Dancevision), Argentine DVDs which often have English subtitles, internet resources, and published books and glossaries.

Effective lead and elegant following depends on proper position of feet, hips, and torso of the leader and the follower.

Position-related concepts of Argentine tango are axis and off-axis positions. Body position in which legs are approximately perpendicular to the floor is called 'axis' and there are two axis positions associated with one of two legs. Off-axis positions are called apile (apilado, carpa, volcada) or colgada. The center of balance moves outside one's body in case of the off-axis moves.

Argentine tango dancing consists of a variety of styles that developed in different regions and eras and in response to the crowding of the venue and even the fashions in clothing. It is danced in an embrace that can vary from very open, in which the dancers connect at arms length, to very closed, in which the connection is chest-to-chest, or anywhere in between. Styles of dance are not predefined by the embrace itself and many figures of tango salon style are danced in an open embrace, it is also possible to dance tango nuevo in close V-shape embrace. The milonguero (apilado) style is an exception; its close embrace without V-shape and emphasis on maintaining this embrace throughout the dance predetermines range of possible movements and their shape.

Embrace hold used during tango practice. One example is when both partners hold hands, the follower holds the leader's shoulders, and variants.

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