Portal a Tango in
Vancouver Latin American Film Festival
Portal a Tango & The Tryptich
at Latin Vox 2007
A Tango Proposal
To provide feedback and suggest ammendments please email us at info@portalatango.com
Malevo/a
Ruffian
Mano (f)
Hand
Marcar v., la marca n.
From Marque - to plot a course; guide: To lead. La marca is the lead.
Media luna (f)
Half moon: A sweeping circular motion of the leg similar to a ronde in ballroom but always danced in contact with the floor, never lofted. Usually danced by the lady and often led with a sacada to the lady’s leg. May be used to bring the lady to an inside gancho.
Media vuelta (f)
Half turn: Usually done when the man’s right foot and the lady’s left foot are free. The man steps forward outside right (3 of 8 count basic), leading the lady to step back left, then side right across his right leg, and forward left around him as he shifts weight first to his center, then onto his right foot as he then pivots on both feet ½ turn with his partner, the lady pivoting on her left foot. Media Vuelta is used by itself to change direction or maneuver on the dance floor and as an entrance to many combinations.
Milonga (f)
May refer to the music, written in 2/4 time, or to the dance which preceded the tango, or to the dance venue where people go to dance tango, or to a tango dance and party.
Milonguero (Milonguera, Milonguita fem.)
Refers to those frequenting the milongas from the early 1900s to the present who were or are tango fanatics. A person whose life revolves around dancing tango and the philosophy of tango. A title given by other tango dancers to a man (woman) who has mastered the tango dance and embodies the essence of tango.
Milonguero Cross
A step in which the man leads the lady to step side left around him, reverses before she completes the step, and leads her back into the cross. Also known as ochos cortados.
Milonguero Style
Term originally given by Europeans and some North Americans to the style of dancing in a very close embrace; also referred to as confiteria style, club style, apilado style, etc. Usually used in the very crowded clubs frequented by singles in the center of Buenos Aires. Milonguero Style is danced in a very close embrace with full upper body contact, the partners leaning into each other (but never hanging on each other), and using simple walking and turning steps. This style relies on music of the more rhythmic type as characterized by orquestas like those of D’Arienzo or Tanturi.
Milonguita
Questionably, an affectionate diminutive for the milonga. Milonguita is also a name used for the young girls brought from eastern Europe and France (Madame Yvonne) with the promise to marry a rich Argentinean, or the poor girls from the conventillos, all of whom ended up as a hostess’ or prostitutes in the tango bars.
Mina
A lunfardo word for woman. See grelas, paicas, or pebeta.
¡Mira!
From mirar - to look; see; observe; take notice: Look at this. Observe.
Molinete (m)
Windmill; wheel: A figure in which the lady dances a grapevine on a circumference around the man, stepping side-back-side-forward using forward and back ocho technique and footwork, as the man pivots at the center of the figure. This is a very common figure in tango which challenges both the man and the lady to maintain good posture, balance, and technique in order to perform it well. One of the central codes of tango.
Molinete con Sacadas
An exciting and more complicated form of molinete in which the man steps into the lady’s space, displacing her leg with his, and pivots on a new center to face her as she continues around him. Many combinations are possible.
Mordida
From morder: to bite; the little bite: One partner’s foot is sandwiched or trapped between the other partner’s feet. If the other partner’s feet are also crossed it may be referred to as Reverse Mordida. Sometimes called Sandwiche, or Sanguchito.
Mordida Alto
A variation in which a dancer catches a partners knee between both of their own.
Morir
To die, to pass away
Muerte (f)
Death
Malevo/a
Ruffian
Hand
From Marque - to plot a course; guide: To lead. La marca is the lead.
Half moon: A sweeping circular motion of the leg similar to a ronde in ballroom but always danced in contact with the floor, never lofted. Usually danced by the lady and often led with a sacada to the lady’s leg. May be used to bring the lady to an inside gancho.
Half turn: Usually done when the man’s right foot and the lady’s left foot are free. The man steps forward outside right (3 of 8 count basic), leading the lady to step back left, then side right across his right leg, and forward left around him as he shifts weight first to his center, then onto his right foot as he then pivots on both feet ½ turn with his partner, the lady pivoting on her left foot. Media Vuelta is used by itself to change direction or maneuver on the dance floor and as an entrance to many combinations.
May refer to the music, written in 2/4 time, or to the dance which preceded the tango, or to the dance venue where people go to dance tango, or to a tango dance and party.
Refers to those frequenting the milongas from the early 1900s to the present who were or are tango fanatics. A person whose life revolves around dancing tango and the philosophy of tango. A title given by other tango dancers to a man (woman) who has mastered the tango dance and embodies the essence of tango.
A step in which the man leads the lady to step side left around him, reverses before she completes the step, and leads her back into the cross. Also known as ochos cortados.
Term originally given by Europeans and some North Americans to the style of dancing in a very close embrace; also referred to as confiteria style, club style, apilado style, etc. Usually used in the very crowded clubs frequented by singles in the center of Buenos Aires. Milonguero Style is danced in a very close embrace with full upper body contact, the partners leaning into each other (but never hanging on each other), and using simple walking and turning steps. This style relies on music of the more rhythmic type as characterized by orquestas like those of D’Arienzo or Tanturi.
Questionably, an affectionate diminutive for the milonga. Milonguita is also a name used for the young girls brought from eastern Europe and France (Madame Yvonne) with the promise to marry a rich Argentinean, or the poor girls from the conventillos, all of whom ended up as a hostess’ or prostitutes in the tango bars.
A lunfardo word for woman. See grelas, paicas, or pebeta.
From mirar - to look; see; observe; take notice: Look at this. Observe.
Windmill; wheel: A figure in which the lady dances a grapevine on a circumference around the man, stepping side-back-side-forward using forward and back ocho technique and footwork, as the man pivots at the center of the figure. This is a very common figure in tango which challenges both the man and the lady to maintain good posture, balance, and technique in order to perform it well. One of the central codes of tango.
An exciting and more complicated form of molinete in which the man steps into the lady’s space, displacing her leg with his, and pivots on a new center to face her as she continues around him. Many combinations are possible.
From morder: to bite; the little bite: One partner’s foot is sandwiched or trapped between the other partner’s feet. If the other partner’s feet are also crossed it may be referred to as Reverse Mordida. Sometimes called Sandwiche, or Sanguchito.
A variation in which a dancer catches a partners knee between both of their own.
To die, to pass away
Death