Level 4 Jul - Aug 2022

Here are the new moves and combinations introduced each week. Happy practicing!
This course focuses on Vals and Milonga

Week 8: August 15
Milonga Part 4 of 4

We introduced 2 new moves:

1) Small Ocho Cortados:

2) Quick Fake Boleos from Forward Ochos:

Here's an improvisation using all moves from this term:


Week 7: August 8
Milonga Part 3 of 4

We introduced 'The Follower is the Metronome' exercise to improve musicality for dancing milonga.
It is vitally important that the follower takes some ownership of the music  and does not rely on the leader to lead her into the music. Followers, when you focus on the beat (baseline 1-2-1-2 etc)  and on your connection with your partner your free leg will know where to go next. Similarly, the leader needs to focus on the beat and the follower's free leg. 

No new moves were introduced due to the focus on musicality and connection.

Here's  an improvisation from previous term using simple moves with which you are already familiar.


Week 6: August 1
Milonga Part 2 of 4

Turning Step to the Right

Week 5: July 25
Milonga Part 1 of 4

Milonga Lisa and Traspié using the C-Step with Back Step:


Week 4: July 18
Vals Part 4 of 4
The theme was linking moves from previous weeks noting that Vals suits Giros and double time moves.
Simple Giro to Right - Ocho Cortado - Giro to Left from Closed Side - Double Parallel Cross:

We have not uploaded video for Simple Giro to Left x 2 as we'd like to discuss a better way of doing this (for  navigation) in Week 5 and will fit in before we start Milonga.

Week 3: July 11
Vals Part 3 of 4

Simple Giro to Left:


Simple Giro to Right with Retraced Ocho Cortado:


Closed Side Giro to Left:


Week 2: July 4

Vals Part 2 o 4
Reviewed Giro to Left with Leader's Back and Front Crosses:

Introduced Double Cross (Parallel):

Week 1: June 27
Vals Part 1 of 4
Cross System Cross
Giro to Right with Leader's Back Cross then Front Cross
Videos will be uploaded shortly

Here are videos from other terms:
For Cross System Cross:

For Giro to Left from Cross System Cross. The difference here is that the leader back crosses (instead of front crosses) when follower does back step in Giro:

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Here's some notes and resources from previous terms that you may find useful as a refresher...

Tango Music - for practising 
Spotify 
Check out Sophia's Spotify lists:
Tango (Trad) Best for practicing musicality - walking to single, double and half time.
Tango (Neo) contemporary songs (good for practicing technique)

Link to 250 songs
The following link will download a collection of 250 of the most popular songs (tango, vals and milonga) played in milongas around the world! Focus for now only on the tangos. Also focus on instrumental songs as opposed to vocals as these are easier to find the beat. Di Sarli is one of the better orchestras to start with: 250 songs download
This link goes to a zip file (little less than a 1 GB file). 

Here's a link to help you better understand tango music for dancing. 

Good habits for tango dancers
  • 'Steel vs spaghetti': Your standing leg is like steel - dynamic, strong and grounded, your free leg is like spaghetti: light and loose without tension.
  • Your free leg hip is stable yet loose and lower than your base leg hip (this removes tension from your free leg)
  • 'Collection' - Thigh or ankle (as you prefer) connection as you walk
  • Push off the floor as you walk - to make your walk more dynamic. 
  • Never lock your knees: You standing leg knee is softly flexed (not locked) - this gives you better contact with the floor.
  • Always find your axis - 'it's your beauty and your power'
  • Walk in the line of your hips - Imagine your hips are at the centre of 2 crossing lines: one going forward / back and the other - left /right. The first line is the guide for forward and back steps, the second line guides side steps.