Continuing my survey of Philadelphia dancing master Albert Newman's short tango sequences, here are the next two: the "Argentine" and the Two-Step Tango. The quotes around "Argentine" are Newman's, but I approve of them, since I feel these sequences are very American in style, despite Newman's use of Argentine steps.
These sequences can be paired with each other or one or both can be attached to Newman's Minuet Tango for a longer sequence. No particular music beyond "Tango (slow)" is suggested; any period tango piece will do.
Both "Argentine" and the Tango Two-Step follow a similar pattern to the Minuet Tango:
- an introductory sequence
- followed by a spin turn
- the two dancers mirror each other with some sort of cross steps
- and finish progressing forward along the line of dance
Also like the Minuet Tango, both sequences begin with partners in a normal ballroom hold, but turned outward slightly so that both face along line of dance. The steps given are the gentleman's; the lady dances opposite except during the scissors sequence, when she mirrors the gentleman's feet, both of them crossing in front on the cross steps.
"Argentine" (16 measures/32 counts)
1 Step forward left
2 Step forward right
3 Step forward left
4 Reverse direction, facing "over elbows" and point right foot against line of dance
5-8 Repeat all of the above traveling against line of dance; end pointing left foot forward along line of dance
9-16 Slow spin turn clockwise as in the Minuet Tango;, but one quarter offset; gentleman begins by stepping back left along line of dance and ends the turn with his back to the center; partners face each other throughout
1-8 Scissors sequence, partners facing and lady mirroring the gentleman's steps (both cross in front); moves against and then along line of dance
1 Cross left over right
2 Step side right
3 Cross left over right
4 Point right foot to side
5-8 Repeat all of this in reverse, crossing the right foot over and traveling to the left
9-16 Traveling turns and forward steps
9 Step left across line of dance, turning halfway clockwise
10 Step right along line of dance, completing turn; both end facing line of dance
11 Step forward left (opening up slightly so both partners face line of dance)
12 Step forward right
13-16 Repeat traveling turn and steps
Performance and reconstruction notes
1. "Argentine" is not as progressive as the Minuet Tango -- it travels against line of dance part of the time, making it more Argentine in style but potentially awkward on an American dance floor if all the other dancers are traveling steadily along line of dance. If it is not being danced as a group sequence dance, the dancers need to be conscious of other couples moving around them so as not to create collisions.
2. The direction of travel on the scissors steps is ambiguous; the dancers could either be moving first against line of dance and then along it or back and forth toward the wall and then toward the center of the room. Moving against and along line of dance leaves the dancers better positioned at the end of the sequence to begin the traveling turns.
3. Newman does not actually specify that the lady also crosses in front on the scissors, but I feel it is more in keeping with the general pattern of Newman's tangos. It is also possible to do the scissors step with the lady dancing opposite, crossing behind when the gentleman crosses in front.
4. For the traveling turn: on the first step (count 9) the gentleman steps strongly across the line of dance while the lady steps directly along the line of dance with her right foot landing between the leader's feet. On the second step (count 10), the roles reverse: the lady steps strongly across the line of dance with her left foot while the gentleman steps forward with his right foot landing between her feet. These are the same traveling turns I have previously described for the one-step. Newman states that the turn "should be quite rapid, with the appearance of a whirl, and the forward steps should be long and stealthy."
Tango Two-Step (16 measures/32 counts)
1 Step forward left
2 Step forward right
3&4 Two-step foward (step-close-step, left-right-left)
5-8 Repeat all of the above starting on opposite foot
9-16 Slow spin turn clockwise as in the Minuet Tango; partners face each other throughout
After the turn, change the hold so that both dancers' arms are extended outward, both hands joined, as in the illustration below left (click to enlarge).
1-12 Picture poses
1 Step left to side along line of dance
2 Cross right over left and dip slightly, his left/her right hand raised high (illustration at left)
3 Shift weight back to left foot
4 Step right to side
5 Cross left over right and dip slightly, his right/her left hand raised high
6 Shift weight to back to right foot
7-12 Repeat all of the above
13-16 Four walking steps along line of dance, partners opened out slightly to both face line of dance, gentleman starting on his left foot and lady on her right
Performance note
Newman states that the "picture pose" segment can also be done in a normal closed position.
Newman's last two tango sequences will be covered in the final post in this series.
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