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Master Argentine Tango: 3 Essential Box Step Exercises to Improve Your Skills

Master Argentine Tango: 3 Essential Box Step Exercises to Improve Your Skills

Argentine Tango is a dance of precision, grace, and deep connection, and one of the best ways to master its intricate movements is through consistent practice. In this post, you’ll find three key exercises based on the Box Step, a fundamental tango movement that helps dancers develop better balance, footwork, and control. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced dancer, these drills will help you refine your skills and build a solid foundation for your Argentine Tango journey.

Each video focuses on a specific variation of the Box Step, designed to target different aspects of your tango technique:

  1. The Basic Box Step – Perfect for learning and reinforcing the essential movements.
  2. The Slow Box Step – A practice in control and fluidity, ideal for improving your balance and posture.
  3. The Box Step with Taps – An advanced variation to sharpen your footwork precision and rhythm.

Argentine Tango Box Step Exercise | Master Basic Tango Footwork

In this video, we break down “The Box”, a fundamental Argentine Tango exercise. This simple but powerful drill involves one step to the left, two steps forward, one step to the right, and two steps backward. Practicing the box step regularly helps improve your coordination, balance, and foot placement. It’s an excellent exercise for beginners and experienced dancers looking to refine their basic tango movements.

Slow Box Step for Argentine Tango | Improve Control and Balance

In this video, we focus on performing the Box Step slowly, an essential exercise for Argentine Tango dancers who want to improve control, balance, and fluidity. Moving through each step at a slower pace helps you connect with the rhythm, fine-tune your posture, and gain more control over your movements. This drill is perfect for tango dancers looking to refine their footwork and improve their overall technique.

Argentine Tango Box Step with Taps | Boost Your Precision and Rhythm

In this video, we introduce an advanced variation of the Box Step in Argentine Tango, adding a tap at each step. This exercise helps improve your rhythm, precision, and musicality. By tapping after each movement, you’ll build stronger foot coordination and a more refined connection to the tango beat. It’s a great drill for both beginners and experienced dancers looking to take their footwork to the next level.

By incorporating these exercises into your daily routine, you’ll not only enhance your technical abilities but also deepen your connection to the music and your partner.

Dive into each video and start transforming your tango skills today!

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Mastering the Art of Argentine Tango: A Roadmap to Dance Excellence

Mastering the Art of Argentine Tango: A Roadmap to Dance Excellence

Marcelo Solis dancing Argentine Tango with Mimi at our beginner class.

Building Your Tango Foundation: The Power of Solo Practice and Musicality

Regular practice incorporating walking, weight changes, pauses, pivots, turns, “paradas” (stops), “calecitas” (merry-go-rounds), and embellishments serves as the cornerstone of your dancing freedom.

The best part? You can enhance these crucial elements without a partner by your side.

But that’s not all. Argentine Tango demands solo dedication in various aspects.

Musicality, for instance, plays a pivotal role in your tango journey.

To hone your musicality, immerse yourself in active listening to Tango music, delving into the intricacies of what you hear.

This newfound understanding will elevate your dancing to new heights.

The forthcoming tips are universally applicable, whether you’re engaged in solo practice or dancing alongside your partner:

1- Enhance Your Walking Skills:

Unlock the Potential in Your Walking Technique Initiate your practice sessions focusing on walking.

Explore four different walking speeds: regular, fast, slow, and very slow.

Begin by mastering the slow pace, allocating 4 counts for each step.

Next, dedicate time to practicing at a regular pace, aligning your steps with each downbeat of the music.

To work on fast-walking skills, engage in what’s commonly referred to as the “corrida.”

This involves walking to a rapid rhythm following a quick-quick-slow pattern or a down-up-down sequence.

Tango invites you to transform your walk – and, by extension, your entire life – into a masterpiece of artistry.

More walking exercises…

2- Change Of Weight:

A ‘change of weight’ is essentially a nuanced form of walking. It takes place in one spot without any physical displacement.

When you begin your dance, consider incorporating at least one change of weight to infuse elegance into your movements. However, avoid excessive changes, as moderation is key.

Here, you’ll discover a selection of exercises aimed at refining and enhancing your ability to execute seamless changes of weight:


Approach these changes with a composed demeanor. When dancing with your partner, your execution of this element should convey a soothing and serene presence to them.

More change of weight exercises…

3- Pauses:

Pauses rank among the paramount components of Tango.

While honing your techniques, actively seek instances where you can incorporate pauses.

For instance, consider incorporating a pause during a salida to the side, also known as a “salida in 2,” as a prime example.

You can make a pause in position 3:

After change of direction:

4- Pivots:

To refine your pivot technique, you can commence with bar exercises.

In the absence of a bar, utilize a chair, preferably one with a high backrest, to assist in practicing forward and backward ochos. Place your hands on the back of the chair for support.

Afterward, push your limits by practicing ochos without relying on the bar or chair for support.

Work on forward and backward ochos with both displacements and without any displacement during your practice sessions.

5- Mastering the Art of Tango Turns: A Guide to Five Essential Techniques

One of the most effective methods for enhancing your turning abilities in Argentine Tango is through chair exercises. These exercises provide an excellent platform for refining your technique and balance, making them valuable to your practice routine. Incorporating chair exercises into your training regimen can significantly improve your turns and elevate your overall dance performance.

Chair exercises offer a controlled environment where you can focus on the precise mechanics of turning. They allow you to work on your posture, balance, and footwork, which is essential for executing smooth and graceful turns in Tango. The support provided by the chair also ensures that you can practice safely and confidently, gradually building your skills.

Find a sturdy chair with a high backrest to get started with chair exercises for turns. Position it in an open space with ample room to move around. Here are some essential exercises you can incorporate:

And exercises involving the 1-2-3 structure of the turns:

Ensure that you practice all exercises in both clockwise and counterclockwise turning directions.

Engage in chair exercises but without the use of an actual chair.

Another element frequently incorporated into turns is the “rulo.”

And “enrosques” movements:

6- Exploring the Technique of “Paradas” (stops):

Developing control over both your own inertia and your partner’s is a crucial skill in Argentine Tango.

A valuable practice method is to challenge yourself to halt your movement at any point within the first five elements previously mentioned.

A classic illustration of stops is the “sanguchito” or “mordida” move:

7- Unlocking the Elegance of the “Calecita” in Argentine Tango

In this element, the follower must align her axis over one of her feet, enabling the leader to maintain a continuous pivot in one direction.

See an example:

8- Elevating Your Tango with Exquisite Embellishments:

A solid foundation in your dance forms the basis for its beauty.

Think of embellishments as a natural expression of your well-honed technique rather than mere add-ons or flashy movements.

It’s crucial to understand that no matter how many embellishments you incorporate into your dance, if your foundational walk is lacking, it will detract from the overall appeal.

Embellishments should seamlessly emerge from the groundwork you’ve laid in your dance practice. They are not isolated tricks but rather an integral part of your dance vocabulary, enhancing the elegance and expression of your movements. So, focus on building a strong foundation first, and let embellishments naturally enrich your dance as an organic extension of your skills.

Here are a few instances of embellishments, starting with “Cepillo” (brush):

“Rulos” (circles):

“Cross and go”:

9- The Art of Musicality:

Elevating your musicality involves actively immersing yourself in the world of Argentine Tango music.

Listen to Tango music now!

Osvaldo Pugliese, Argentine Tango orchestra.

Important Considerations to Keep in Mind:

Embrace regular and mindful practice.

Ensure it fills you with joy. By prioritizing your own enjoyment during practice, you cultivate generosity in sharing this joy with your dance partners and fellow dancers on the milonga and class floors.

Furthermore:

Dancing shouldn’t be daunting – It’s a journey of joy, creativity, and self-discovery.

Dancing is your time for amusement, self-expression, and relaxation, a chance to socialize and unwind in a friendly environment. To dance with a sense of freedom and confidence, you’ll need to embrace a challenge greater than Tango itself – the journey of classes and practice sessions.

Moreover:

Prioritize self-care for peak performance in your dancing.

    1. Incorporate stretching and regular exercise into your routine.
    2. Cultivate healthy eating habits and ensure adequate sleep for enhanced dance performance.

To Summarize:

Dancing Argentine Tango offers a path to not only organize your life but also to empower yourself and discover meaningful life goals.

Ultimately, it’s a journey towards making life more beautiful.

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Enhance Your Tango Dancing Skills with These Effective Exercises

Enhance Your Tango Dancing Skills with These Effective Exercises

Becoming a skilled Tango dancer takes dedication and practice. Try these video exercises to refine your technique and elevate your performance:

Mastering Weight Transfers:

Learn the art of seamless weight shifts for graceful movements.

Perfecting the Tango Walk:

Transform your walk into a captivating Tango experience.

The Basic Box Pattern:

Explore foundational choreographic patterns for a solid dance base.

Mastering Movement Techniques:

Refine your dance skills by focusing on the subtleties of Tango movements.

Mastering Pivots:

Elevate your Tango expertise by honing your pivoting skills.

Enhancing Body Awareness:

Cultivate a deeper understanding of your body’s motion for a more fluid dance experience.

Constant improvements

Being a good dancer requires you to manage your time to maintain an active and aware relationship with your body.

Bar and Chair Exercises:

Engage in effective exercises tailored for enhancing your tango prowess.

Molinete

Learn essential techniques for executing flawless turns in Argentine Tango.

Expand your body’s potential and improve your tango skills by incorporating these exercises into your routine.

With dedication and perseverance, you’ll elevate your Tango prowess and become a better dancer.

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How to dance Argentine Tango: salida cruzada variation

How to dance Argentine Tango: salida cruzada variation

For this sequence, we start with “Salida cruzada“.

Then, on 5 (see “Salida básica”  and “Salida cruzada”), the leader crosses after he made the woman cross, maintaining the crossed system.

Crossed system: when the man moves his left foot, he makes the woman move her left foot, and vice versa.

If you have any questions about this sequence, please write in the comments👇🏻

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How to dance Argentine Tango: salida cruzada

How to dance Argentine Tango: salida cruzada

It starts like a salida básica.

After movement “Two”, the leader changes weight to his right foot, leaving the left foot free of weight. You can embellish with your left foot; for example, a circle.

The follower can also take her opportunity to make an embellishment with her left foot.

Movement “Three” is with the left, and movement “Four” is with the right for the leader.

For the follower, the Salida cruzada is same as Salida básica.

After position “Five” (follower cross), it continues as a Salida básica.

The Salida cruzada utilizes the “crossed system”. This is when the leader and the follower move both their left foot or their right foot simultaneously, instead of the leader’s right foot simultaneous with the follower’s left, and vice versa.

The crossed system is unique to Argentine Tango and was one of the innovations its first dancers brought into the partner’s dance.

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