Argentine Tango -"Compulsory" Reading

I thought it would be interesting to read up a bit on the Argentine Tango prior to Worlds. About all I ever hear about this dance is what is included on ice-dance.com. It was first skated by Reginald Wilkie and Daphne Wallis at Westminster rink in Longon, in 1934.

http://www.ice-dance.com/reference/compulsories/#argentine

As one of the older dances, it is relatively easy, and all of the top 12 teams should be able to skate it without significant error, even though several of them have never skated it in competition. Because it is an easier dance where attitude, timing, speed and extension are most key, I expect that Domnina & Shabalin will win this CD, provided that his leg is in good enough shape to allow them to skate at all. Their great height and long lines work well. And they have great edges. Plus we have ample evidence from their FD that they are well able to maintain the man fighting/arguing with the woman/controversy aspect of the dance.

Here's what ice-dance says about the Argentine:

"The Argentine Tango is a sinuous dance and should be skated with strong edges and considerable élan. Good flow and fast travel over the ice are essential and must be achieved without obvious effort or pushing. [...]

This tango is danced to the rhythm of Latin American tango music where the musical count is 1-2-3-4-and-1, etc. This differs from the Spanish tango rhythm of 1-2-and-3-4-1, etc. The many varied step sequences in this dance are complementary to the dramatic and romantic character of the music. Dancers must at all times be aware of the rhythmic timing and reflect this in the execution of steps and in expressive interpretation of the music. Prolonged free leg extension, upright, graceful carriage and good unison are needed for this dance. Where appropriate, rotations must be fast but controlled. The partners should make maximum use of the interpretive elements of the dance, including the short steps, quick turns and serpentine movements."

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What may make the difference between teams may be their ability to convey the character of the dance. If you want to judge along with the judges, I hope the following info will help:

Articles

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Tango

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentine_Tango

The Argentine tango arose among lower class immigrants to Argentina. It has no fixed step layout and relies on the following partner to sense what the leading partner is doing to avoid tripping. There are, however, a number of 'moves' or 'figures' that are frequently used:

From the wiki article:

Steps
While Argentine tango does not teach amalgamations of steps like swing, salsa, or ballroom dances do, there are some recurring figures that are taught. Here is a fairly typical order of steps that may be taught in a beginner classes.

Walks - a couple, in embrace, walks in unison
Salida Simple, or "eight-count basic" - salida as "the way out" onto the dance floor
Cruzada - (from cruzar - to cross) Action of the follower crossing her left foot over her right at certain points in the dance
Ocho - a figure-8 traced by the follower's feet when moving forward or backward.
Media Luna - a half giro.
Lapiz - "the pencil" - curved figures traced by the toe as an adornment
Molinete - "windmill" a turning figure of the follower around the leader (synonym for Giro)
Giro - a turn (in either direction)
Chave - synonym for giro
Sacada - one partner displaces the other's unweighted leg
Gancho - one dancer hooks their leg around their partner's leg.
Barrida - one partner sweeps the others foot, displacing it along the floor
Arrastre - (= drag) synonym for "barrida"
Volcada - rotating the woman around her axis, while her axis is tilted toward the man, causes her to "capsize" making the free leg "spill" tracing a figure on the floor
Colgada - both dancers pivot with their axes tilted away from vertical, counter-balancing each others weight.
Parada - one dancer, usually the leader, halts the motion of the other dancer usually by blocking with the foot
Sandwich - one dancer, usually the leader, places both feet on either side of the others dancers foot. Generally occurs after a Parada, with the second foot brought in forming a gentle squeeze on the other side of the foot which was halted with the parada.

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Here's some clips that show how this works out in practice:

ON THE FLOOR

Tango Dancers from Argentina
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmby9J42OfE

Garcia and Palacios, dancing in Buenos Aires
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN0o_ZgdCL0&feature=related

ON THE STAGE
Simone & Cacace
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wH3Gw9H_eY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFHWN_Yqabs&feature=related

Argentine Tango vids of step of the week
http://www.andresamarilla.com/video.htm

Embellishments we might expect to see our ice dancers use in the pre- and post- dance steps:
expect-foot flicking.
The partner's leg wrapping around the leg of the other partner.
Curved figures traced by the toe.
Foot crossing.
The woman falling over, as in the volcada
Lots of attitude, particularly macho attitude by the guy and sinuous seductiveness by the lady.

And how have this year's dancers done in the Argentine in the past?

The Argentine Tango was skated at Cup of China:

Here's the ISU Press Release
http://isu.sportcentric.net/db//files/serve.php?id=742
Belbin and Agosto 'lacked their customary attack' relative to Domnina and Shabalin.

However,
http://www.goldenskate.com/articles/2007/coc_1.shtml
Belbin and Agosto say they have been practicing the dance all summer and like it. Faiella & Scali said that it was the first time they had skated it in competition.

COC Scores:
1 Oksana DOMNINA / Maxim SHABALIN RUS 38.77 19.88 18.89 7.60 7.35 7.70 7.65 0.00 #9

2 Tanith BELBIN / Benjamin AGOSTO USA 35.89 17.72 18.17 7.40 7.05 7.35 7.30 0.00 #10

3 Federica FAIELLA / Massimo SCALI ITA 33.54 17.08 16.46 6.65 6.35 6.65 6.75 0.00 #8

4 Alexandra ZARETSKI / Roman ZARETSKI ISR 30.81 16.16 14.65 5.90 5.65 5.95 6.00 0.00 #6

5 Sinead KERR / John KERR GBR 29.52 15.36 14.16 5.80 5.35 5.70 5.90 0.00 #7


Golden Skate Article on NHK, where it was skated
http://www.goldenskate.com/articles/2007/nhk_1.shtml
Neither V&M nor K&N had ever skated the Argentine Tango in competition before. K&N said that this was not a problem because it is one of the easier and older dances. Virtue likes this dance because of the passion in it.

Sadly, the CD was not telecast from NHK. Here's how they scored:

1 Isabelle DELOBEL / Olivier SCHOENFELDER FRA 38.96 19.94 19.02 7.60 7.45 7.65 7.80 0.00 #10

2 Tessa VIRTUE / Scott MOIR CAN 34.67 17.36 17.31 7.00 6.75 7.00 7.00 0.00 #9

3 Jana KHOKHLOVA / Sergei NOVITSKI RUS 34.23 17.42 16.81 6.70 6.60 6.75 6.90 0.00 #8

4 Sinead KERR / John KERR GBR 31.79 16.42 15.37 6.20 5.95 6.25 6.25 0.00 #7

Here are some videos of the major teams from Cup of China, dancing the Argentine Tango:

Domnina & Shabalin Cup of China
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKUJ19DvrQc

Belbin & Agosto Cup of China
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tD5_c8D0ZkU

Faiella & Scali, Cup of China
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDYipAw4W6A

Zaretski & Zaretski, Cup of China (poor quality clip)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok7eJeXLeh8

Kerr & Kerr Cup of China (poor quality clip)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vX09KBge6Is&NR=1

Side by Side Belbin & Agosto and Domnina & Shabalin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gA4SXPLoyM&feature=related

The NHK CD was not televised, so V&M's, K&N's, Delobel and Schoenfelder's Argentine is not available. And Davis and White, Carron and Jost, Capellini & Lanotte, and Pechalat and Bourzat have not skated the Argentine in competition this year, and may never have skated it in competition. However, the tango was the OD last year. You can watch them in these clips to see whether they 'get' the tango and will proprerly be able to convey the character of the dance.

Delobel & Schoenfelder's Tango at Europeans. British Eurosport commentary.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8oCsJXXFt8

Khoklova & Novitski's Tango at Europeans. British Eurosport commentary.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwAJfB-6jA0

Here's V&M's tango at 4CC's. British Eurosport commentary.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5neEK14gB4Y

Here's D&W's at 4CC's. British Eurosport commentary.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=xi02SuSSsPI

Here's Pechalat and Bourzat at Worlds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KNjAJbrnQU

Here's Carron & Jost at Europeans
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsC3J4HEjxk

Capellini and Lanotte OD at 2007 Europeans. (British Eurosport coverage)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpxK2W-7e2U


PAST CHAMPIONS SKATING THE ARGENTINE
I am sad to say that none of the Argentines I've seen this year compare favorably with those of the past. Here's some great ones:

Krylova & Ovsiannakov 1998 Olympics (My favorite!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5-WWjjuDKk&feature=related

Grishuk & Platov 1998 Olympics- Canadian coverage like their "snappy" movement.,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OJxObwphJc

Anissina & Peizerat 2000 Worlds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyLshoPXiLQ&feature=related

And although this is not the compulsory dance, this is how the attitude of the Argentine Tango should definitely be conveyed!!!!
Duchesnay & Duchesnay OSP 1988 Worlds BBC Betty Calloway
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-UJ0YHUQfk

So post anything tango that comes to your mind!

interesting read! thanks for that! (where were you when I needed info in St. Paul! I need to carry a pocket Doris at skating events )

Thanks Doris! I miss Angelika Krylova.

Thanks Doris - I like the Tango on skates. It can and should flow quite well. Edges and Attitude is how it should be done. The Duchesnays were to the Tango as Torvahl and Dean were to the Bolero.

(btw, I do not like the Carribbean dances on ice nor anything attempting Jive.

JMO - Joe

Doris, thanks for such a comprehensive report. I'm not sure why- but Latin rhythms and music on ice don't really do it for me ... I think it may be because so often the music isn't truly compelling and doesn't seem thoughtfully chosen. Almost like "we're doing Latin this season- just chose something." For me, this applies to all disciplines- but I find it least successful in singles.

Perhaps this Argentine tango will change my mind.

waxel, for the most part I agree with you. Latin rhythms are not my favorite. Punsalan & Swallow did way, way too many Latin rhythm programs. I so felt cheated of the voidy promise of their Race Cars program that they did at their first Worlds.

OTOH, there are exceptions. I do love the Duchesnay's Tango OSP that I linked to above. And tangos by Krylova & Ovsiannakov (also linked above)!

Krylova & Ovsiannakov --- boy, those were the days! I still get chills remembering their Masquerade Waltz.

i love the tango... on ice or off. I think with Domina and Shabalin gone, Belbin and Agosto might actually win the CD, but i would not bet on it. CD has NEVER been thier strength, whether they like the dance or not. Virtue and Moir might even be in first! they have had very good CD scores in the past.

Well, I would think that DelSchoes will likely win the CD, now that DomShabs have withdrawn.

V&M finished behind them in the Argentine at NHK, after all. The Argentine is a good fit for V&M-Scot smolders very well, and Tessa's extension is good-but their Yankee Polka at 4CC's wasn't exceptional, and it wasn't much better than it was at Skate Canada and Canadian Nationals. I expect the VM Argentine we see will be at the NHK level, and DelSchoes will beat them at it. For one thing, like Bourne & Kraatz, V&M don't 'get' the oppositional nature of the Argentine, and don't perform it with snappy movements. They tend to do more lyrical movements--I'm basing this on their last year's tango, and their problems with the sharp, snappy Yankee polka. They are a great waltz couple, but the Argentine isn't a waltz.

I refuse to predict where B&A will come in on this. They have been working on the Argentine and all their CD's this year, recognizing it is a weakness. Tanith's interview on icenetwork was telling-she said that they choose classical this year, even though such an FD might reveal their weakness, because to be the best, you have to be a team that has no weakness, not one that covers the weakness up. And then she talked about working on CD's and basic skating & so forth.

I expect that the B&A Argentine at Worlds will be better than the B&A Argentine at CoC. Where that will place them with respect to DelSchoes and V&M, I can't say.

Tinymavy15 said:

i love the tango... on ice or off. I think with Domina and Shabalin gone, Belbin and Agosto might actually win the CD, but i would not bet on it. CD has NEVER been thier strength, whether they like the dance or not. Virtue and Moir might even be in first! they have had very good CD scores in the past.

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I wouldn't bet on B&A winning the CD either, especially after seeing their Argentine Tango at CoC. It was really what Dick Button would call "almost second-rate" and they should be working very hard to be anywhere near DelSchoes. B&A should have the edge with their OD, but the FD could go either way. DelSchoes' performance of The Piano has gotten better and better with each competition, whereas skating to Chopin highlights the weaknesses in B&A's skating IMO (though I know there are a lot of people - and judges as well - who love it)

Dorispulaski, thank you for this thread and the links. I wanted to 'educate' myself before the CD tomorrow. I liked the Dom/Shab, B/A side by side. The Russians performed a Tango...B/A were sorta tangoing.

Loved the Kry/Ovs CD. With CDs, the couple really has to set themselves apart in the intro steps by getting in character....and keeping that throughout and then ending strong.

I think the Tango is tricky in that it can be over-danced or under-danced. As you said, 'opposition' really needs to come to the surface but kept in check... push/pull, love/hate, snappy/sexy, cool/smoldering... Yeah, a good frame/framing from the man makes a big difference (Maxim's was better than Ben's). Attitude in the shoulders and distance in upper half of the body in contrast to the close, busy, sensual lower half. And I agree Scott Moir will do well in this area (but it takes two to tango, so Virtue needs to do her part).

I'm concerned about my fave team: Davis/White. I hope they do well enough to stay within the top five. I think the young ones will really have a harder time selling this dance. I expect Delobel/Schoenfelder to do well here.

fanofskate, Barring terrible situations of one sort of another, I do expect that DelSchoes will be leading after the CD.

I'm crossing my fingers for Davis & White myself. Too bad for them it's not the Yankee Polka--only DelSchoes have really done a better Yankee this year than D&W at 4CC's. They have never done the Argentine in competition. However, their rhumba last year surprised me, so they may make top 5 or 6. I hope so!

dorispulaski said:

I'm crossing my fingers for Davis & White myself. Too bad for them it's not the Yankee Polka--only DelSchoes have really done a better Yankee this year than D&W at 4CC's. They have never done the Argentine in competition. However, their rhumba last year surprised me, so they may make top 5 or 6. I hope so!

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I think (or strongly hope) Davis/White are going to do well with the Argentine. Although it's a different situation, I thought last season that they really "got" the tango-they had a good feel for it IMO. This is a team you can't count out too quickly-I think they'll be at their best in all aspects as these WCh, and I'm crossing my fingers for a top 5 finish.

lmarie086 said:

I think Davis/White are going to do well with the Argentine. Although it's a different situation, I thought last season that they really "got" the tango-they had a good feel for it IMO. This is a team you can't count out too quickly-I think they'll be at their best in all aspects as these WCh, and I'm crossing my fingers for a top 5 finish.

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Hmm, I'm not so sure. While Meryl and Charlie did do a great job with their OD last year, the AT is all about lines, posture, and extension -- definite weak areas for the team as a whole. I guess we'll find out tomorrow!

all that said:

Hmm, I'm not so sure. While Meryl and Charlie did do a great job with their OD last year, the AT is all about lines, posture, and extension -- definite weak areas for the team as a whole. I guess we'll find out tomorrow!

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Those are good points. I hadn't stopped to really think about it before making my previous post, so thank you for reminding me of that. I think my main concern with them is their posture (hers more so), but I think it's been improving with time. Like you said, we'll find out tomorrow and I wish all the teams luck!

Well, the CD is over and as was projected here, Del/Schoe are at the top. I didn't watch it but listened to the live audio of British Eurosport. Both commentators loved V/M and hoped they would be 1st but recognize that D/S had a slight edge in presentation overall. Way to go D/S (the other 'subdued' team that I love)!

The opening/intro (just before the actual CD steps start) dinged D/W. Maybe they should study Kry/Ovs. The commentators said that there alone D/W lost points. (hope there's a youtube clip up). Why didn't their coaches give them a better set up going into the sequence? Hope their coaches would pay more attention to choreographing their CDs. Of course this wouldn't be an issue if the ISU took the CDs out of ice dance. But I hope they wouldn't do that.

And as some already pointed out the ff were problems: posture (they said Charlie was a bit driving forward) and lines (their free leg were too high and not matched at times). Oh well, seventh is good for first time in Argentine Tango. They can easily move up a place in the OD. If they do really well and others falter then maybe back up to 5th after the FD where I want them.

B/A........what can I say....

YES YES YES so far i pretty much love the placements. I'd have V&M a little lower because they never catch my interest but other than that, way to go judges!

fanofskate said:

The opening/intro (just before the actual CD steps start) dinged D/W. Maybe they should study Kry/Ovs. The commentators said that there alone D/W lost points. (hope there's a youtube clip up). Why didn't their coaches give them a better set up going into the sequence? Hope their coaches would pay more attention to choreographing their CDs. Of course this wouldn't be an issue if the ISU took the CDs out of ice dance. But I hope they wouldn't do that.

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I heard that when I was watching on youtube and it really annoyed me. I noticed how they didn't really set it up before the steps start; that darn well shows how important choreography is, and makes me hope they get someone new in even more for next season.
With just that little bit more choreography, might they have been 5th due to Tanith's fall?

Also, does anyone know where I could find Tessa and Scott's CD? I've been looking but can't find it yet.

lmarie086 said:

With just that little bit more choreography, might they have been 5th due to Tanith's fall?

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I just watched it on Youtube. Yes, better choreo may have been enough to bump them up. They are what, 2 pts behind B/A? Well, the commentators said that intro was about 2 points less. The ending wasn't that great either...what was that little jump back by Meryl? It doesn't look much of a Tango move for me. How frustrating, knowing that this team could do better. Lots of potential to exploit in this team.

fanofskate said:

I just watched it on Youtube. Yes, better choreo may have been enough to bump them up. They are what, 2 pts behind B/A? Well, the commentators said that intro was about 2 points less. The ending wasn't that great either...what was that little jump back by Meryl? It doesn't look much of a Tango move for me. How frustrating, knowing that this team could do better. Lots of potential to exploit in this team.

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5 Tanith BELBIN / Benjamin AGOSTO USA 35.02 16.88 19.14 7.79 7.54 7.46 7.82 1.00 #6
6 Nathalie PECHALAT / Fabian BOURZAT FRA 34.82 18.06 16.76 6.75 6.64 6.68 6.75 0.00 #11
7 Meryl DAVIS / Charlie WHITE USA 34.80 18.12 16.68 6.68 6.57 6.75 6.71 0.00 #22

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I believe it's about a .22 difference between B/A and D/W. Now I am definitely of the opinion that with better quality choreography, Meryl and Charlie could have been 5th, maybe even 4th (maybe a stretch). Yes I didn't think too much of the ending either...it made it look like the whole thing was just kind of slapped together and made me forget what I had really liked in the steps.
On a different note, it really couldn't have been closer between P/B and D/W? That's going to be interesting.