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American Tango (Silver)
Compiled by Yanfeng Lim
February 1998
 
Basic action  ~Picking up foot, placing foot.
  ~Forward(L), across-contra body-(R), forward(L), side(R), hold is   basic
for lead,
  Backward(R), across(L), backward(R), side(L) and hold is basic for   follow.
  This results in quarter turn to left of lead each basic.
        ~Contra body motion. Tango is danced side-ways not flat on.
  ~Lowering of knees, 5 points of contact.
  ~Each partner dances on right side of other partner.
  ~Leads dance through their ankles to give follows indication of
direcion (i.e. weight moves in a direction and holds till feet have   to to
be taken and placed, creating a certain amount of pressure in   ankles)
 

Basic into a progressive link and closed promenade:

Preparatory lowering into knees after taking dance position.

Basic
Slow-slow-quick-quick-hold
Note: Staccato effect by making quicks crisp and being very still on the hold.

First 2 steps of basic:
Slow-slow
 
Link:
quick-quick
**Lead overturns in first quick, a lot of contra body motion here, taking a
left step- thus left foot infront of right, but right sholder comes in
front of left. Gives follow momentum for the snap of the link
*Follows take cue, natural opposite contra body motion.
In second quick, leads bring their right foot just behind their left foot,
and swing their upper bodies out from contra body position to give a final
promenade position. Bodies facing partner at a slight V, and feet and heads
facing diagonal center down line of dance.

Closed promenade:
Slow-quick-quick-slow
*Follows remember that head goes from 'home' to 'neighbours' from link to
promenade and here goes back to 'home'. Also 2nd quick is 'pidgeon toe'
position, almost as if knees were close together- this is turning step.
Final step finishes turn and position is feet firmly closed to each other
and facing lead.
**Lead- think of the 'cape' analogy, bodies are at first facing to right
where 'cape' is in promenade. At 2nd quick and last slow, it moves in front
and we're back to closed position. Upper body rotation again.