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Tango Terms Defined
Term: Description:
  • Ochos:
    		•  Literally "eights" - a front ocho consists of a step forward with a pivot and then another step forward, while a back ocho consists of two back steps with a pivot in between.
  • Giro, molinete, grapevine, turn:
    		•  A series of turning steps that follow the pattern of a forward step, side, back, side, forward, side, back, side, forward...
  • Parada:
    		•  Literally "stopped" - a step where the bodies stop and one foot of one person is adjacent to the foot of his/her partner. A foot-stop.
  • Sanguichito, mordida:
    		•  Literally "little sandwich" or "bite" - meaning a foot sandwich where both feet of one person are sandwiching the foot of the partner.
  • Barrida:
    		•  A foot-sweep.
  • Sacada:
    		•  A displacement. Sacadas are the entering of the foot of one person between the feet of the partner with a displacement of the other's space.
  • Gancho:
    		•  Literally "a hook" where one person flicks the leg between the legs of the his/her partner.
  • Enganche:
    		•  A leg wrap.
  • Boleo:
    		•  A leg flick of one person in the air, but not between the legs of the other person.
  • Change of direction, cambio de frente, alteracion:
    		•  The change of direction of a turn. A check- or rock-step that turns.
  • Cadena:
    		•  Literally "a chain" three or four steps involving changes of direction that repeats itself.
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