Argentine Tango Glossary

Amague

Fake movement. (Lady does her own things with her free leg.)

Baldosa

Square step. (Tile)

Barrida

To sweep.

Boleo

Whip

Caminata

To walk.

Cierre

To close. Same meaning as Resolucion (Resolution).

Colgada

Hang off axis

Cortada

To cut. (Step is cut short, change direction)

Cortina

A cortina (curtain) is a short piece (20–60 seconds) of music that is played between tandas at a milonga (tango dance event). The cortina lets the dancers know that the tanda has ended.

Cruce or Cruzada

To cross.

Cunita

Rock step

Ganchos

Hooks

Giro

Turns

LLEVADA

To carry on

Media Luna

Half moon.

Monlinete

Windmill or grapevine

Ochos

Figure eight

Parada

Stop

Punteo

To point

Resolucion

Resolution

Sacada

To remove. Displacement.

Salida Basica

Basic Step. Salida means Exit.

Tanda

The Tanda is a group of musical pieces, normally three (Vals or Milonga) or four (Tango), played together, which are of similar timing, structure, and most often from the same orchestra.

Volcada

To lean toward your partner.