English
From cruzar - to cross; the cross: A cruzada occurs any time a foot is crossed in front of or in back of the other The lady’s position at 5 of the 8-count basic May also be called Trabada
A square; A box step: Used mostly in Milonga Canyengue and Milonguero- and Club-style tango See Baldosa
Poses: Dance lines struck and held as dramatic flourishes at the end of a song Large dramatic ones are used for stage or fantasia dancing smaller softer versions occasionally in Salon style and not used in Milonguero style at all See Corte
A figure created when the lady flicks her lower leg up the outside of the opposite leg keeping her knees together and briefly creating a numeral 4 in profile This can be led with a sacada or with an arrested rotational lead like a boleo or it can be used ...
The spoon A lifting of the lady’s foot with a gentle scooping motion by the man’s foot to the lady’s shoe usually led during forward ochos to create a flicking motion of the lady’s leg
Cradle: A forward and backward rocking step done in time with the music and with or without chiches which is useful for marking time or changing direction in a small space This movement may be turned to the left or right danced with either the left or ri ...
Displacement: Displacing the partner’s leg or foot using one’s own leg or foot See Sacada
Drawing; sketch: A dibujo is done by drawing circles or other small movements on the floor with one’s toe See Firulete Lapiz and Rulo
Dancing without keeping the feet on the floor This was the style before the turn of century when tangowas danced on dirt surfaces in the patios of tenements low-class taverns and on the cobble stone streets Once tango went uptown enough to actually be d ...
Hooking; coupling; the little hook: Occurs when a partner wraps a leg around the other’s leg or uses a foot to catch and hold the other’s foot or ankle
From enroscar - to coil or twist: While the lady dances a molinete the man pivots on his supporting foot hooking or coiling the working leg behind or around in front of the supporting leg
Entrance: Occurs when a dancer steps forward or otherwise enters the space between their partners legs without displacement
Mirror: To mirror the movement of ones partner as in "ochos en espejo" a figure where the man and woman both do forward ochos at the same time