ARGENTINEAN TANGO PROGRAMME
by Pedro Arandia

This program was created to facilitate to Australian students the logic, structure and fundamentals of the Argentinean Tango at its most authentic version. Pedro is from Argentina, where the best tango artists in the world are produced.

Arandia, with 15 years of professional experience dancing and teaching the Tango, including qualifications gained in Buenos Aires, recognises the need to expand and share his culture and pass on his experience of learning with the greatest Tango Masters. For this reason, he has developed this authentic program to enable his teaching. His teachers have included Mingo Pugliese, Antonio Todaro and Pepito Avellaneda (Waltz / Milonga specialist).

The program consists of 5 levels:

• Level 1:Beginners
• Level 2: Pre-intermediate
• Level 3: Intermediate (and introduction to the Milonga)
• Level 4: Pre-advanced (and introduction to the Waltz)
• Level 5: Advanced (including Tango, Milonga and Waltz

All the classes start with a series of exercises including walking, turning and footwork that gradually become more complex at each level. We recommend that you bring ballroom or tango shoes with leather soles and heels for the woman. Also, please bring water and a towel to each class. All the floors are wooden.

To progress to the next level, it is necessary to demonstrate the ability to perform the majority of steps from the previous level.

We also recommend private classes to students with ambitions to join the Tango Takes 2 performing group or students who want to make rapid progress. Our director recommends private classes from his own experience.

You will receive a certificate for completion of each level and a special Diploma upon completion of the Advanced Level.

Students are welcome to show off their abilities at the Glamour Events or Practicas, as well as experience dancing the Tango in a social atmosphere

Level 1: BEGINNERS

This level is for people without any previous Tango experience. It consists of 6 classes and it is highly recommended to start from the very beginning and not to mix styles in order to appreciate the technique. We guarantee results. The steps for this level are:

1. Salidas (or basic step - eight steps)
2. Caminar adelante / atras (walking to step no.4 and walking 2 steps back)
3. Ochos adelante mujer (8 forward steps by the female dancer)
4. Sandwich and gancho (female hook)
5. Ochos atras mujer (backwards ochos for the female dancer)
6. Medio giro der hombre (half turn to the right)

Level 2: PRE-INTERMEDIATE

This level is recommended for students who have mastered the basics of the Tango. It is recommended that students from other tango studios enrol in this level to adapt to our style of instruction. At this stage we ensure accuracy of technique. The steps for this level are:

1. Sandwich and sweep
2. Calesita (Carousel)
3. Sweep to the right
4. Half turn left
5. Pencil, half turn and sandwich
6. Pencil, half turn, sandwich and sweep

Level 3: INTERMEDIATE

Consists of 9 intensive classes and the students who enrol in this level need to know how to turn right, left, do sweeps, hooks and combinations between these steps. This level is fundamental because it provides the key to develop from a social dancer into a student fit to perform. The steps are:

1. Complete turn (men 8 steps, women 10 steps)
2. Pencil, half turn and sweep by woman
3. Sweep by woman plus sweep by man
4. Left turn and sweep
5. Chain to the right
6. Chain to the left
7. Change of direction: turn to the right and the left
8. Introduction to the Milonga: Cuadrado, basico Milonga, triangulo
9. Milonga pasos: footwork, chain, ochos and Milonga etc.

Level 4: PRE-ADVANCED

Consists of 9 intensive classes and the students should know ‘giro completo’ or the complete turn, sweeps right and left, hooks right and left, change and basic logic of Milonga plus multiple combinations of steps.

It has been historically proven that Mingo Pugliese and Antonio Todaro are the most influential teachers of the last 5 decades. Tango Takes 2 is the only Western Australian school that descends directly from these great masters.

The steps for this level are:

1. Boleos: position 2 and 4
2. Boleos with movement: 5 big turns, or 3 boleos consecutives
3. Exit sandwich and twist to the right with both legs, mixed with half turn
4. Dynamic ganchos
5. Sacadas (men and women)
6. Consecutive sacadas, including 8 different sacadas
7. Introduction to the Waltz; vaiven, traspies and giro etc.
8. Backwards ochos for the women, dynamic steps forward for the men

Level 5: ADVANCED

Consists of 10 intensive classes. The students should know ‘giro completo’ or the complete turn, sweeps right and left, hooks right and left, change and basic logic of Milonga plus multiple combinations of steps, as well as Waltz combinations, boleos and sacadas.
Since 1999, Tango Takes 2 has produced the best Tango dancers in Australia.
The steps are:

1. Half turn right with sacada left (men) , boleo with left foot of the woman, resolution with sandwich, sweep forward and hook
2. First jump from sandwich exit with sentada of the woman on top of the left leg of the man
3. Enrosque of the man, turn to the left, half turn and a complete turn on one leg
4. First jump in turn, half turn to the right, woman prepares in position 2 and jumps in position 3
5. Turn to the right until 5, lead boleo back and forward
6. Change including hooks of men and women, change with boleos (men and women)
7. Three consecutive sweeps
8. Big ochos forward for woman and men walking forward doing sacadas
9. Second jump and turn to the right. The same jump as before, including a forward boleo in the air
10. Endings: 3 different ending poses for choreography

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