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Women's Techniques for the Tango

The dance of the tango is said to have originated in Argentina, in brothels on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. Since then, it has been adapted and developed and there are now different styles of tango, including the Argentine style, the salon style and the milonguero style. Despite the differences in style, the tango dance contains basic principles which make it characteristic. Traditionally, the man is the leader and the woman becomes the follower. Although the follower must always be led by the male leader, there are correct techniques for the woman to learn in order for a polished performance.

  1. Position of the Head

    • Depending on the style of tango that you want to perform, the position of the head for the woman will be different. For a salon style tango, position your head with your left cheek bone against your male partner’s right cheek bone. For a milonguero tango dance style, position the right side of your face to the right side of your partner’s face. With this positioning technique, you will be able to stand directly in front of your partner. A variation on the milonguero tango style is to position your nose and forehead to the right side of his face.

    Weight of the Body and Balance

    • Weight of the body and balance are important techniques for women to learn when performing the tango. Before each step is performed, the weight of the body should always be on one foot. As the follower, the woman’s weight is controlled by the male leader. It is for this reason that the woman should not change the weight by herself unless a clear weight change has been made by the leader. Each partner in the tango should have control of their own balance; the woman, as the follower, should not expect the male leader to support her balance. Balance can be improved by practicing balancing exercises, such as standing on one leg and moving the free leg in the air in different positions.

    Extend and Transfer

    • Learning the proper techniques of extending and transferring is a vital part of moving correctly in the tango. Extend your leg straight by sliding it along the floor, keeping the upper part of your body still. Transfer your weight onto the other leg and relax your knee, making sure that you do not bounce as you transfer your weight. Practice the technique of extending and transferring frequently, taking as large of steps as possible.

    The Embrace

    • How to correctly perform the embrace in tango is an important technique for a woman to learn. The left hand should be placed on the neck of the male leader, with your arm placed on the top of his right arm. No pressure or resistance to the opening of a hold should be exerted. When an embrace needs to be relaxed, slide your left arm along the arm of the male leader up to his elbow.

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