Tango Glossary with VIDEOS
- digitaldaliamiami
- Jul 25
- 5 min read
Bookmark this Tango glossary with video examples! And speaking directly to my fellow UrbanKiz dancers: let's not reinvent the wheel. When we think we're "inventing" a step, a name and a technique for that step, but, chances are it has long existed in Tango. Tango’s 150+ years of technique, practice, analysis and instruction is an enormous benefit for the UrbanKiz community. Tango vocabulary can be an invaluable reference that can shorten an UrbanKiz dancer's learning curve. Once you have a proper name for a Tango step you can research the 150 years of technique for that step instead of trying to invent or figure it out in a vacuum … and you just might fall in love with one of the most passionate dances in the world 😘
Are Tango and Kizomba or UrbanKiz related?
Historically, there has been some contact between Angola and Argentina and Uruguay. Starting with Angolan slaves being brought to Argentina and Uruguay, which influenced Candombe, Tango’s base. In fact, the word “Tango” is Swahili for “close dance.” And there’s also the possibility of some cross-pollination during the years of Angola’s independence struggle.
Two similarities in the dances make Tango a natural go-to for learning technique in Kizomba and UrbanKiz.
The “abrazo” or “embrace” in Tango and Kizomba are very similar. Can you think of many dances where the embrace is that close? Eureka. This means that steps led by the torso in Kizomba or UrbanKiz can often be executed in the same way that you would in Tango.
Both dances are free for interpretation. In Salsa, Bachata, Waltz and any other dances, each foot has a place in a specific count of the music. Tango and Kizomba are both free from this restriction.
So let’s learn the Tango terminology!
This Tango glossary was graciously partly purveyed by co-writer, Gina Santamaria, the owner of Tango House St Pete! Reach out directly to Gina if you're a tanguero/a and want to practice, teach or spend some time in the Tampa Bay/St Pete area.
TANGO GLOSSARY
Abrazo: the “embrace,” i.e. how the dancers connect in the arms and/or torso.
Adorno: any “decoration” that the dancers add.
Amague: any “fake” movement, usually a kind of rock step, so like the lead intended to take a full step in a direction but quickly moved the weight back to the original foot.
Apertura Americana: the lead opens his follow so they are facing the same direction and are usually in a 45 degree angle.
Boleo: the lead twists energetically with their torso in order to provoke the follow’s free (unweighted) leg to whip in a particular direction. The boleo can be instigated for the free leg to kick back or to twist in front, swiping at the knee.
Barrida: the lead places their foot next to the follow’s, which indicates that the follow should keep the contact, and together they “sweep” or drag along the floor. After the lead has initiated the foot contact, the follow can now “sweep” her partner’s foot, as well. Related: after a barrida a "llevada" goes one step further and actually changes the follower's weight to the other leg.
Colgada: guided off-access pivots for the follower, almost like a centrifugal force. One of the more exciting and difficult moves to find balance between two opposing bodies.
Cruce/Cruzada: the dancer “crosses” one leg in front or behind the other and changes their weight to the other foot. Crossing the leg behind is known as a “cruce atrás” or “back cross.” Exactly the cross-step in UrbanKiz.
Cunita: rocking steps done in succession, like a “cradle,” usually with a rotation.
Disasociación: the hips and torso are "disassociated." Normally, the follows body is engaged and reacts like a plank, or one piece in UrbanKiz, but in very limited occasions, dissasociation could be an extra tool and a styling option for the follow.
Enganche: the lead invites a "leg wrap."
Espiral: applying the concept of dissasociation, the lead places the follows weight on one foot and turns their torso in a more than usual disassociation or can also turn around the follow. This causes the follow to likewise dissasociate greatly, usually causing a hip drop and a dramatic pivot or "spiral."
Gancho: when the lead or follow’s leg “hooks” around the other’s leg or hips.
Giro: almost any “turn” in which one dancer circles around the other. Not to be confused with "vuelta," which also means "turn" in English, because usually a "vuelta" is initiated with the hands, like in Salsa dancing.
Juntar: usually in classes they say "juntamos," or "collect." Unless the lead has blocked the follow and specifically indicated not to collect, walking and movement for both leads and follows are always through the "center," meaning not out. So "collecting" the knees/feet is primordial to any good basic step and will ensure good technique for more complicated steps later.
Parada: the lead interrupts or “stops” the follow’s step.
Planeo: the lead guides the follow in a low-level rotation with the free leg projecting out and the foot “gliding” across the floor. Also known as a "rond de jambe" in French.
Ocho: the lead turns their torso and asks for the follow to step, and once the weight is on the other foot, the lead turns their torso in the opposite direction, thereby creating a "figure eight." Ochos can be lead forward (where the follower is asked to walk in front of their feet) or backwards (where the follow is asked to walk behind their feet).
Sacada: a displacement where the lead interrupts the follow’s leg (usually by crossing) and displaces it, causing the follow’s leg to swing out.
Salida: simple steps used to initiate the dance. There's an 8-count "basic" salida that is often taught in beginner classes, but this can be shortened, with the "collecting" of the feet being the final punctuation of a short sequence.
Sandwich (sangüichito): the lead places the foot on one side of the follows foot, blocks the follow from moving so that the lead can then place their other foot on the other side of the follows foot, i.e. "sandwiching" the follows foot.
Volcada: face-to-face, the lead takes the follower off their axis. The lead then rotates their torso and takes a step forward, which guides the free leg to swing in an oval along the floor, following the rotation of the torso, and into a cruce. Similar to a cross-step but with a much more pronounced lead from the torso, which creates a much wider sweep across the floor. This can also be done in an exaggerated incline, for a dramatic effect. This is one of my absolute favorite steps! Delicious!
Keep the Tango glossary top of mind with a sleeveless tee or mug.
Great gift for tango lovers.
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