Alignment In Argentina Tango

Alignment

The position of the foot in relation to the room at the end of the step.

The normal dance teachers’ notations are used.

• Facing LOD — Facing around the room with the flow

• Facing DW — Facing Diagonally to the Wall with the flow

• Facing Wall — Facing squarely to the Wall along which you’re dancing

• Facing DW against LOD — Facing Diagonally to the Wall against the flow

• Facing against LOD — Facing against the flow

• Facing DC — Facing Diagonally to the centre line of the room with the flow

• Facing Centre — Facing squarely to the centre line of the room

• Facing DC against LOD — Facing Diagonally to the centre line of the room against the flow

• Centre — The centre line of the room and running parallel to the wall along which you are dancing

The above also have reciprocals so that, for example, Facing Wall is also Backing Centre. The description used is determined by the following step. If you are Facing Wall/Backing Centre and your next step will be towards the wall, then Facing Wall is used.

In Tango, we need only use these as reference points at key points during a move or manoeuvre.

Circulation

Tango moves in an overall counter‑clockwise direction around the floor. This may be likened to a running track where considerate dancers will generally try to stay in one lane rather than continually changing lanes ‘cutting up’ other couples. Good dancers will try to move with the flow rather than against or across the flow.