Tango

Style: American Style

Category: Smooth Ballroom
Rhythm: 4/4 time (Beats of Equal Intensity) (Rarely 2/4 Time)
Tempo: American
Competition 30-32 Bars per minute
Social 28-34 Bars per minute

The tango is the ballroom dance where the character varies most between the
American and International styles. In the International style, the character of tango is
best described as fierce and aggressively powerful. The American style is much more
open to interpretation, allowing characters which range from sensual, to fierce, to sad.

There is no Rise & Fall in Tango.

Phrasing:

48 American Smooth
Tango

Closed Basic ........................................................................................................................................... 50

Outside Basic .......................................................................................................................................... 52
Promenade Basic .................................................................................................................................... 54
Argentine Walks ..................................................................................................................................... 56
Tango Rocks ........................................................................................................................................... 58
Corte’ ...................................................................................................................................................... 60
Promenade Opening to Fan .................................................................................................................... 62
Left Turn................................................................................................................................................. 64
Left Turn w/ Outside Swivels ................................................................................................................. 66

American Smooth 49
Tango

Closed Basic
Rhythm: SSQQS Gentleman
Rhythm

S Position
Beat/

t Align-
Turn Foot-Work Description
e ment
p Foot Body Dance
CBM& Facing
1 1,2-S LF Fwd Closed - H
CBMP LOD
Facing
2 3,4-S RF Fwd Closed - H
LOD
CBM& Facing Steps 3-5 is a ‘resolution’
3 5-Q LF Fwd Closed Com L H
CBMP LOD called the ‘TANGO-CLOSE’
IE of BH,
Facing 1/8 L bet
4 6-Q RF side Closed then Whole
DC 3&4
foot
LF close Facing * LF almost closes to RF,
5 7,8-S Closed LF:IE of B
to RF* DC without weight.

50 American Smooth
Tango

Closed Basic
Rhythm: SSQQS Lady
Rhythm

S Position
Beat/

t Align-
Turn Foot-Work Description
e ment
p Foot Body Dance
CBM& Backing
1 1,2-S RF back Closed - BH
CBMP LOD
Backing
2 3,4-S LF back Closed - BH
LOD
CBM& Backing Steps 3-5 is a ‘resolution’
3 5-Q RF back Closed Com L BH
CBMP LOD called the ‘TANGO-CLOSE’
IE of BH,
Backing 1/8 L bet
4 6-Q LF side Closed then Whole
DC 3&4
foot
RF
Backing * RF almost closes to LF,
5 7,8-S close to Closed LF:IE of B
DC without weight.
LF*

American Smooth 51
Tango

Outside Basic
Rhythm: SSQQS Gentleman
Rhythm

S Position
Beat/

t Align-
Turn Foot-Work Description
e ment
p Foot Body Dance
L Side Facing Prepare to step Right outside
1 1,2-S LF Fwd* Closed - H
leading LOD partner
Facing
2 3,4-S RF Fwd CBMP ROP - H ROP= Right outside Partner
LOD
Facing Steps 3-5 is a ‘resolution’
3 5-Q LF Fwd Closed Com L H
LOD called the ‘TANGO-CLOSE’
IE of BH,
Facing 1/8 L bet
4 6-Q RF side Closed then Whole
DC 3&4
foot
LF close Facing * LF almost closes to RF,
5 7,8-S Closed LF:IE of B
to RF* DC without weight.

52 American Smooth
Tango

Outside Basic
Rhythm: SSQQS Lady
Rhythm

S Position
Beat/

t Align-
Turn Foot-Work Description
e ment
p Foot Body Dance
R Side Backing
1 1,2-S RF back Closed - BH
leading LOD
Backing POR=Partner Outside on
2 3,4-S LF back CBMP POR - BH
LOD Right
Backing Steps 3-5 is a ‘resolution’
3 5-Q RF back Closed Com L BH
LOD called the ‘TANGO-CLOSE’
IE of BH,
Backing 1/8 L bet
4 6-Q LF side Closed then Whole
DC 3&4
foot
RF
Backing * RF almost closes to LF,
5 7,8-S close to Closed LF:IE of B
DC without weight.
LF*

American Smooth 53
Tango

Promenade Basic
Rhythm: SSQQS Gentleman
Rhythm

S Position
Beat/

t Align-
Turn Foot-Work Description
e ment
p Foot Body Dance
Facing:
Prom DW
1 1,2-S LF side - H
Pos Moving:
LOD
1/8 L
RF Fwd Slight Com:PP
Pointing (Strong *Commence pointing LOD,
2 3,4-S & CBM & End: H
LOD* Body end facing LOD
across CBMP Closed
Turn)
CBM& Facing 3-5 is ‘Tango Close’ from
3 5-Q LF Fwd Closed Com L H
CBMP LOD Basic
IE of BH,
Facing 1/8 L bet
4 6-Q RF side Closed then Whole
DC 3&4
foot
LF close Facing * LF almost closes to RF,
5 7,8-S Closed LF:IE of B
to RF* DC without weight.

54 American Smooth
Tango

Promenade Basic
Rhythm: SSQQS Lady
Rhythm

S Position
Beat/

t Align-
Turn Foot-Work Description
e ment
p Foot Body Dance
Facing:
Prom DC Prom Pos= Promenade
1 1,2-S RF side H
Pos Moving: Position
LOD
Com:PP
CBM& 3/8 L
2 3,4-S LF Fwd End: PP= Promenade Position
CBMP (Swivel) HBH
Closed
CBM& Backing Steps 3-5 is ‘Tango-close’
3 5-Q RF back Closed Com L BH
CBMP LOD from basic
IE of BH,
Backing 1/8 L bet
4 6-Q LF side Closed then Whole
DC 3&4
foot
RF
Backing * RF almost closes to LF,
5 7,8-S close to Closed LF:IE of B
DC without weight.
LF*

American Smooth 55
Tango

Argentine Walks
Rhythm: SSQQSSQQQQS Gentleman
Rhythm

S Position
Beat/

t Align-
Turn Foot-Work Description
e ment
p Foot Body Dance
CBM& Facing
1 1,2-S LF fwd Closed Nil H
CBMP LOD
R side Facing
2 3,4-S RF fwd - - H
leading LOD
CBM& Facing * a slight curve to left may
3 5-Q LF fwd - - H
CBMP LOD be takenon steps 3-5
RF side
R side Facing
4 6-Q & slt - - IE of foot
leading LOD
back
CBM& Facing
5 7,8-S LF fwd - - H
CBMP LOD
9,10- R side Facing
6 RF fwd - - H
S leading LOD
CBM& Facing
7 11-Q LF fwd - - H
CBMP LOD
RF side
Facing
8 12-Q & slt - - IE of foot
LOD
back
CBM& Facing 3-5 is ‘Tango Close’ from
9 13-Q LF fwd - Com L H
CBMP LOD Basic
IE of BH,
1 Facing 1/8 L bet
14-Q RF side - then Whole
0 DC 3&4
foot
1 15,16 LF close Facing * LF almost closes to RF,
Closed LF:IE of B
1 -S to RF DC without weight.

56 American Smooth
Tango

Argentine Walks
Rhythm: SSQQSSQQQQS Lady
Rhythm

S Position
Beat/

t Align-
Turn Foot-Work Description
e ment
p Foot Body Dance
CBM& Backing
1 1,2-S RF back Closed Nil BH
CBMP LOD
L side Backing
2 3,4-S LF back - - BH
leading LOD
CBM& Backing
3 5-Q RF back - - BH
CBMP LOD
LF side L side Backing
4 6-Q - - IE of BH
& slt fwd leading LOD
CBM& Backing
5 7,8-S RF back - - BH
CBMP LOD
9,10- L side Backing
6 LF back - - BH
S leading LOD
CBM& Backing
7 11-Q RF back - - BH
CBMP LOD
LF side Backing
8 12-Q - - IE of BH
& slt fwd LOD
CBM& Backing Steps 3-5 is ‘Tango-close’
9 13-Q RF back - Com L BH
CBMP LOD from basic
IE of BH,
1 Backing 1/8 L bet
14-Q LF side - then Whole
0 DC 3&4
foot
RF
1 15,16 Backing * RF almost closes to LF,
close to Closed LF:IE of B
1 -S DC without weight.
LF*

American Smooth 57
Tango

Tango Rocks
Rhythm: SSQQSQQSQQS Gentleman
Rhythm

S Position
Beat/

t Align-
Turn Foot-Work Description
e ment
p Foot Body Dance
Slt
Facing
1 1,2-S LF fwd CBM& Closed Nil H
LOD
CBMP
R side Facing
2 3,4-S RF fwd - - H
leading LOD
Slt
Facing
3 5-Q LF fwd CBM& - - H
LOD
CBMP
Replace
weight Backing
4 6-Q CBMP - - B
back on A-LOD
RF
LF fwd, Slt
Facing
5 7,8-S Small CBM& - - H
LOD
step CBMP
Facing
6 9-Q RF fwd - - H
LOD
Replace
weight Backing Inside Edge
7 10-Q - -
back on A-LOD of BH
LF
RF fwd,
11,12 Facing
8 small - - H
-S LOD
step
CBM& Facing 3-5 is ‘Tango Close’ from
9 13-Q LF fwd - Com L H
CBMP LOD Basic
IE of BH,
1 Facing 1/8 L bet
14-Q RF side - then Whole
0 DC 3&4
foot
1 15,16 LF close Facing * LF almost closes to RF,
Closed LF:IE of B
1 -S to RF DC without weight.

58 American Smooth
Tango

Tango Rocks
Rhythm: SSQQSQQSQQS Lady
Rhythm

S Position
Beat/

t Align-
Turn Foot-Work Description
e Ment
p Foot Body Dance
Slt
Backing
1 1,2-S RF back CBM& Closed Nil BH
LOD
CBMP
L side Backing
2 3,4-S LF back - - BH
leading LOD
Slt
Backing
3 5-Q RF back CBM& - - BH
LOD
CBMP
Replace
weight Facing
4 6-Q CBMP - - H
fwd on A-LOD
LF
RF
Slt
back, Backing
5 7,8-S CBM& - - BH
small LOD
CBMP
step
9,10- Backing
6 LF back - - BH
S LOD
Replace
weight Facing
7 11-Q - - H
fwd on A-LOD
RF
LF back,
Backing
8 12-Q small - - BH
LOD
step
CBM& Backing Steps 3-5 is ‘Tango-close’
9 13-Q RF back - Com L BH
CBMP LOD from basic
IE of BH,
1 Backing 1/8 L bet
14-Q LF side - then Whole
0 DC 3&4
foot
RF
1 15,16 Backing * RF almost closes to LF,
close to Closed LF:IE of B
1 -S DC without weight.
LF*

American Smooth 59
Tango

Corte’
Rhythm: SSQQS Gentleman
Rhythm

S Position
Beat/

t Align-
Turn Foot-Work Description
e ment
p Foot Body Dance
Slight
L side Backing
1 1,2-S LF back body turn BH Corte’
leading A-LOD
L
Replace
weight Facing
2 3,4-S - H
fwd on LOD
RF
CBM& Facing Steps 3-5 is a ‘resolution’
3 5-Q LF Fwd Closed Com L H
CBMP LOD called the ‘TANGO-CLOSE’
IE of BH,
Facing 1/8 L bet
4 6-Q RF side Closed then Whole
DC 3&4
foot
LF close Facing * LF almost closes to RF,
5 7,8-S Closed - LF:IE of B
to RF* DC without weight.

60 American Smooth
Tango

Corte’
Rhythm: SSQQS Lady
Rhythm

S Position
Beat/

t Align-
Turn Foot-Work Description
e Ment
p Foot Body Dance
R side Facing Slt body
1 1,2-S RF Fwd H Corte’
leading A-LOD turn L
Backing
2 3,4-S LF back - BH
LOD
CBM& Backing Steps 3-5 is ‘Tango-close’
3 5-Q RF back Closed Com L BH
CBMP LOD from basic
IE of BH,
Backing 1/8 L bet
4 6-Q LF side Closed then Whole
DC 3&4
foot
RF
Backing * RF almost closes to LF,
5 7,8-S close to Closed LF:IE of B
DC without weight.
LF*

American Smooth 61
Tango

Promenade Opening to Fan

Rhythm: SSQQ&SSSQQS Gentleman
Rhythm

S Position
Beat/

t Align-
Turn Foot-Work Description
e Ment
p Foot Body Dance
Facing
DW,
Prom Prom Pos= Promenade
1 1,2-S LF side Moving - H
Pos Position
along
LOD
Facing
RF fwd Com:PP DW,
CBM& *End backing DC
2 3,4-S & End: Moving ¼ R on 2 HBH
CBMP Lower L hand at end of 2
across L SxS Along
LOD*
Backing 1/8 R bet
3 5-Q LF back L SxS BH Release right hand
LOD 2&3
Facing
4 6-Q RF side L SxS Whole Foot L SxS= L Side-by-Side
A-LOD
LF
brushes Facing
5 & to RF, L SxS IE of B
A-LOD
no
weight
LF
points Facing
6 7,8-S L SxS IE of B
side, no A-LOD
weight
Facing
LOD, 3/8 L
9,10- CBM& L SxS LF: HBH *RF points diagonally back,
7 LF Fwd* END: on 7
S CBMP End: PP RF: IE of B no weight
facing (Swivel)
DW
RF fwd PP
11,12 Pointing 1/8 L
8 & CBMP End: H PP= Promenade Position
-S LOD on 8
across Closed
Facing Steps 9-11 is a ‘resolution’
9 13-Q LF fwd Closed H
LOD called the ‘TANGO-CLOSE’
1 Facing
14-Q RF side Closed IE of BH
0 LOD
LF close
1 15,16 to RF, Facing * LF almost closes to RF,
Closed IE of B
1 -S no LOD without weight.
weight*

62 American Smooth
Tango

Promenade Opening to Fan

Rhythm: SSQQ&SSSQQS Lady
Rhythm

S Position
Beat/

t Align-
Turn Foot-Work Description
e Ment
p Foot Body Dance
Facing
DC,
Prom
1 1,2-S RF side Move: H2895 Tw ( ) Tj 14.25 0 TD -0.0214 Tc .75 2478D -0.09
Pos
along
LOD

American Smooth 63
Tango

Left Turn
Rhythm: QQSQQS Gentleman
Rhythm

S Position
Beat/

t Align-
Turn Foot-Work Description
e Ment
p Foot Body Dance
CBM&
1 1-Q LF Fwd DC Com L H
CBMP
¼ L bet
2 2-Q RF side BDW BH
1&2
Partner
Backing
Outside 1/8 L bet
3 3,4-S LF back CBMP Down BH
on Right 2&3
LOD
(POR)
Down
4 5-Q RF back CBM Com L BH
LOD
LF side 3/8 L bet
Pointing Body Facing Wall, Left toe
5 6-Q & slt 4&5, IE of foot
DW facing slightly leftwards
Fwd BTL
RF
close to Facing
6 7,8-S BCT Whole foot
LF, slt DW
back

64 American Smooth
Tango

Left Turn
Rhythm: QQSQQS Lady
Rhythm

S Position
Beat/

t Align-
Turn Foot-Work Description
e Ment
p Foot Body Dance
CBM& Backing
1 1-Q RF Back Com L BH
CBMP DC
1-3 Turn L to Face LOD. LF
LF side Pointing 3/8 L bet
2 2-Q Whole Foot pointing down LOD,
& slt fwd LOD 1&2, BTL
Releasing R heel
Right Facing
3 3,4-S RF fwd CBMP Outside Down BCT H
Partner LOD
Facing
4 5-Q LF fwd CBM Down Com L H
LOD
RF side
Backing ¼ L bet
5 6-Q & slt IE of BH
DW 4&5
back
LF close
Backing 1/8L bet
6 7,8-S to RF, Whole Foot
DW 5&6
slt fwd

American Smooth 65
Tango

Left Turn w/ Outside Swivels

Rhythm: QQSSQQSSQQS Gentleman
Rhythm

S Position
Beat/

t Align-
Turn Foot-Work Description
e Ment
p Foot Body Dance
CBM& Facing
1 1-Q LF Fwd Closed Com L H
CBMP DC
RF back
Backing 3/8 L bet
2 2-Q & slt Closed BH
LOD 1&2
side
Partner
CBM& Backing
3 3,4-S LF back Outside - BH
CBMP LOD
on Right
Replace
Body
weight CBM& Prom Facing
4 5,6-S turns H
FWD on CBMP Pos A-LOD
slt L
RF
CBM& Facing
5 6-Q LF Fwd Closed Com L H
CBMP A-LOD
RF back Backing
3/8 L bet
6 7-Q & slt Closed DC BH
5&6
side A-LOD
Partner Backing
CBM&
7 8,9-S LF back Outside DC BH
CBMP
on Right A-LOD

66 American Smooth
Tango

Left Turn w/ Outside Swivels

Rhythm: QQSSQQSSQQS Lady
Rhythm

S Position
Beat/

t Align-
Turn Foot-Work Description
e Ment
p Foot Body Dance
CBM& Backing
1 1-Q RF Back Closed Com L BH
CBMP DC
LF side Pointing 3/8L bet
2 2-Q Closed Whole Foot
& slt fwd LOD 1&2, BTL
Facing *RF is FWD ROP, then a
Right LOD, swivel is performed on the
3/8 R
CBM& Outside End: ball or the RF and LF is
3 3,4-S RF fwd* on 3 HB
CBMP Partner, Facing closed to RF without weight,
(Swivel)
End: PP DW ending in Promenade
A-LOD Position
Facing
DW
LF fwd 3/8 L
CBM& Prom A-LOD
4 5,6-S & on 4 HB
CBMP Pos End:
across (Swivel)
Backing
A-LOD
CBM& Backing
5 6-Q RF back Closed Com L BH
CBMP A-LOD
Pointing
LF side 3/8 L bet
6 7-Q Closed DC Whole Foot
& slt fwd 5&6, BTL
A-LOD
Facing *RF is FWD ROP, then a
Right DC swivel is performed on the
3/8 R
CBM& Outside A-LOD, ball or the RF and LF is
7 8,9-S RF fwd* on 7 HB
CBMP Partner, End: closed to RF without weight,
(Swivel)
End:PP Facing ending in Promenade
LOD Position
Facing
LF fwd LOD, 3/8 L
10,11 CBM& Prom
8 & End: on 8 HB
-S CBMP Pos
Across Backing (Swivel)
DW
CBM& Backing
9 12-Q RF back Closed Com L BH ‘TANGO-CLOSE’
CBMP DW
1 Backing ¼ L bet IE of BH,
13-Q LF side Closed
0 DC 9&10 then WF
RF
1 14,15 Backing * RF almost closes to LF,
close to Closed LF:IE of B
1 -S DC without weight.
LF*

American Smooth 67