Newman's Tango "Argentine"

(1914)



Contemporary Description

This is an easy, 32-count tango sequence described by Albert Newman of Philadelphia in 1914.


The Position

Tango Position and Closed Position, as illustrated below.


The Footwork

Part I - Three-Step Promenade (8 counts): Promenade three steps along LOD in tango position (1, 2, 3), then point second foot against LOD. Promenade three steps against LOD (5, 6, 7), then point first foot toward LOD. (Position and hand hold are not specified for the promenade against LOD.)

Part II - Rocking Turn (8 counts): Lead steps back left as the Follow steps forward right. Then the Lead rocks forward right, as the Follow rocks back left, turning 1/4 to the right. Repeat three more times, rotating one full turn in total.

Part III - Double Overlapping Step (Scissors Step) (4 counts): Lead crosses left foot in front of right (1), steps side right (2), crosses left foot in front of right (3), then points right to the side (4), as the Follow mirrors him. Repeat opposite, traveling to the Lead's left (5, 6, 7, 8).



Part IV - Walking Pivots (4 counts): Two traveling, half-turning pivot steps, Lead backing and then Follow backing in closed position (1, 2), followed by two promenade steps in tango position (3, 4). Repeat (5, 6, 7, 8). According to Newman, the pivots "should be quite rapid, with the appearance of a whirl, and the forward steps should be long and stealthy."


The Music

No music is specified, so any square tango tune of the era will work.

© 2016 Nick Enge


(Click to expand)

Historical Descriptions

Newman Tango "Argentine" (Newman, Dances of To-Day, 1914, p. 128):




Fan Tango (Clendenen, Dance Mad [Early 1914 Edition], 1914, p. 62):



Fan Tango (Clendenen, Dance Mad [Late 1914 Edition], 1914, p. 98):



For more dance descriptions, see our three books on dancing:
The Book of Mixers: 100 Easy-Teach Dances for Getting Acquainted (2022) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge,
Cross-Step Waltz: A Dancer's Guide (2019) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge, and
Waltzing: A Manual for Dancing and Living (2013) by Richard Powers and Nick Enge.

For full-length teaching videos, visit: University of Dance.

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