Fundamentals 1: Feb - Mar 2026

Join us for a Special Afternoon of Tango!

🌟What to Expect

Workshop: Refine your skills and deepen your understanding of tango as we review key techniques and explore the essential etiquette of social Argentine tango dancing.

Practilonga: Enjoy the chance to dance with fellow students and connect with Sydney's tango enthusiasts!

🌟Save the Date!  

Both the workshop and Practilonga are included in your course fee. Click here for more details 👉

Milonga SoFeliz

You're warmly invited to our next Milonga SoFeliz on 25 April 2026 (long weekend)!   Click below for more details:

Fundamentals 1 Course Dates:

7 Mondays: 6.30pm - 7.45pm:  February 2, 9, 16, 23; March 2, 9, 16

plus Workshop / Practilonga 🎉 on Saturday March 21: 2pm - 5pm.

Lesson 7:   March 16 - Preview

We will introduce the Change of Direction move a useful 180 degree turn for navigating the floor:

Lesson 6:   March 9

We reviewed and improvised with all moves from this term:

• C-Step

• Parallel Cross with Resolution

• Ochos - Forward and Backward (linked to Parallel Cross)

Lesson 5:   March 2 

• We introduced the Back Ocho and linked it to the Week 4 combination:

Lesson 4:   February 23

• Revised the Parallel Cross and C-step and the concepts of dissociation and positions.

• Linked the Forward Ocho to the Parallel Cross:

Tango Positions (Based on the Parallel Cross)

Tango positions are defined using the Parallel Cross and describe how the Leader and Follower are positioned relative to each other at key moments in the movement.

Referencing the video below:  

Position 2: 0:06

Position 3: 0:07

Position 4: 0:08

Position 5: 0:09

Suggestion: watch the video on a slow time setting (e.g 0.5) to best understand the transitions.

Further breakdown...

2nd Position

End of the first side step

• Leader’s weight is on the left leg

• Follower’s weight is on the right leg

3rd Position

End of the Leader’s first “outside” forward step

Leader’s right leg is forward

Follower’s left leg is back

Weight is shared between both legs for both Leader and Follower

This position often feels very crossed-over and compact, requiring clear body alignment and balance.

4th Position

End of the Leader’s second “outside” forward step

• Leader’s left leg is forward

• Follower’s right leg is back.

• Weight is shared between both legs for both Leader and Follower

• Leader’s torso is angled slightly to the right toward the Follower (dissociation)

This creates a more open position.

Note that this is contra to normal walking, where the torso naturally rotates in the same direction as the stepping leg.

5th Position

Follower enters the Cross

The Follower transfers her weight onto her left leg as she enters the Cross

This is led by the Leader stepping forward onto the right leg

The Leader’s torso angled leftward toward the Follower

There is no torsion or dissociation in the Leader’s or Follower's bodies at this moment

Lesson 3:   February 16  

• Revision of the Parallel Cross and C-Step.

• The first two steps are the same in both movements (from 2nd to 3rd position).

• Reinforced the importance of knowing 3rd, 4th, and 5th positions as key reference points for both current and future tango movements.

• Focused on dissociation – the chest (upper body) moves independently from the hips (lower body).

• Dissociation encourages the follower to slightly under-step, which allows the leader to remain stable when stepping into 3rd position.

Lesson 2:   February 9 

In Lesson 2 we introduced the Parallel Cross with Resolution.

Note how it differs from the C-Step, and what causes the Follower to the Cross, namely 'the inside - outside rule' meaning 2 consecutive steps from 3rd position leads the Cross.

We also introduce the Lapiz Walk—an excellent drill to practise between classes to refine your walking technique, balance and musicality.

We recommend practising to Cara Sucia by Carlos Di Sarli, a classic tango ideal for developing control and phrasing.

You can find this track on SoTango's Tango (Trad) Spotify playlist, and it is also available on YouTube: 

Lesson 1: February 2

We covered:

• Musicality - walking to single (1-3) double (all beats: 1-2-3-4) and half time (1-1)

• Synchronising with a partner

• Walking technique (side, forward, back) There are only really 3 steps in tango (a step is defined as a change of weight).

• Leading from the core / torso

• Practice Hold and open embrace

The move introduced was the 'C Step':

Tango Music - for practicing 

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)

Progression

Once you complete Fundamentals 1 you are ready for Fundamentals 2, an 8-lesson course which continues at 6.30pm starting  March 21.

Click below for more details....

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 loose and level (this removes tension from your free leg)

• Never lock your knees: Your standing leg knee is softly flexed (not locked) - this gives you better contact with the floor.

• 'Collection' - Thigh or ankle (as you prefer) connection as you walk

• Push off the floor as you walk - to make your walk more dynamic.

• Look forward as you walk (down diagonal is fine but don't look straight down at your feet as this distorts your posture.