Tango Basic and Advanced Routine

The short answer: this lesson gives you two Tango routines to follow along with. The basic routine uses 2 Walks, a Progressive Link, Closed Promenade, Four Step and a Natural Twist Turn with a Back Corte ending. The advanced routine adds a Natural Promenade Turn, Chair and Slip Pivot, a Same Foot Lunge with a Turning Five Step ending and The Chase. Each routine is danced in full, then named figure by figure and counted in slows and quicks.

What is in this Tango lesson?

Two routines in one video, which I dance with Madeline: a nice basic version, then an advanced version with some exciting figures. For each one you see the routine danced in full, then every figure named, then the timing counted. At the end I share a tip on the slow and quick counts.

Why is Tango different from the other Ballroom dances?

Tango is treated as its own separate dance, apart from what we call the swing dances: Waltz, Slow Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz and Quickstep. It's known as the dance that starts and stops.

So pay attention to your timing, your posture and your footwork, especially how you use your feet and legs in Tango compared with the other dances.

How should slows and quicks feel in Tango?

Both routines are counted in slows and quicks, and in the advanced routine you'll also hear "and" counts, like "quick and quick". But not every movement in Tango is sharp and crisp.

The slow counts are legato: longer, so they're not as abrupt. The quick counts are staccato: accented and punctuated. Think of a sentence, with one long phrase, then a comma, then an exclamation mark or a full stop at the end.

What steps are in the basic Tango routine?

1. 2 Walks: left foot, then right foot.
2. Progressive Link
3. Closed Promenade
4. Four Step
5. Natural Twist Turn with a Back Corte ending: not ending in Promenade, so you finish facing diagonal to wall, ready to repeat.

What steps are in the advanced Tango routine?

1. Natural Promenade Turn: starting in Promenade Position and ending in Promenade, so it's checked.
2. Chair
3. Slip Pivot
4. Contra Check: back into Promenade Position.
5. Walk and Close
6. Chasse to Right: a closed chasse.
7. Back Whisk
8. Same Foot Lunge: with a Turning Five Step ending.
9. The Chase
10. Back Whisk: into Promenade Position.
11. Closed Promenade: to finish the section.

Common mistakes

• Treating Tango like the swing dances. It's its own dance, known as the dance that starts and stops.
• Making every movement sharp and crisp. The slows are legato, longer and less abrupt, and the quicks are staccato.
• Ending the Natural Twist Turn in Promenade in the basic routine. Here it finishes with a Back Corte ending.
• Moving on to the advanced routine before you can dance the basic routine comfortably.

Try this in your next practice

Dance the basic routine with the timing section of the video, saying the slows and quicks out loud. Make each slow long and smooth, and each quick accented, like the punctuation in a sentence. When that feels comfortable, try the advanced routine and listen for the "and" counts.

Frequently asked questions

How do you count Tango?

In slows and quicks. I count the basic routine from 2:02 in the video and the advanced routine from 4:15.

How fast is Tango music?

WDSF competition rules set Tango at 31 to 33 bars a minute.

Should every Tango movement be sharp?

No. The slow counts are legato, longer and less abrupt, while the quick counts are staccato, accented and punctuated.

Is Tango a swing dance?

No. Tango is treated as its own separate dance. The swing dances are Waltz, Slow Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz and Quickstep.

Which ending does the Natural Twist Turn use in the basic routine?

A Back Corte ending, not an ending into Promenade, so you finish facing diagonal to wall, ready to repeat the routine.

Related lessons

• Tango walks with music and the 80/20 rule
• Tango Terrific New Vogue routine
• 3 tips for Ballroom and Latin timing and music
• Waltz basic and advanced routine with Contra Check

Vaughan Liddicoat is a 4 time World Professional 10 Dance representative for Australia, an accredited coach and the founder of Ballroom Mastery. He has a passion for dance and wants to help you become the best dancer you can be and have an amazing time doing it.