Ocho

Eight (pl ochos); Figure eights: A crossing and pivoting figure from which the fan in American tango is derived Executed as a walking step with flexed knees and feet together while pivoting ochos may be danced either forward or backward and are so designated from the lady’s perspective El Ocho is considered to be one of the oldest steps in tango along with caminada the walking steps It dates from the era when women wore floor length skirts with full petticoats and danced on dirt floors Since the lady’s footwork could not be directly observed the quality of her dancing was judged by the figure she left behind in the dirt after she danced away