Tango Notes

Back Ocho

The Back Ocho (backward ocho, ocho atrás) is one of the common tango moves and is usually taught in the first lessons to beginners after the Basic Eight and the Front Ocho. Although the back ocho appears to simply be the reverse of the front ocho, it is more difficult for the follower than the front ocho.

Instructional Videos

Somewhat more advanced videos.

Steps in the Back Ocho

The Back Ocho consists of a back cross step (follower steps across the line between the partners), followed by a half-turn pivot to repeat a back cross with the other foot in the opposite direction.

Where to start a back ocho. A back cross can be initiated from many places, but it’s commonly taught from step 2 in the Basic Eight after the leader changes feet.

Where to stop a back ocho. There are many ways to exit the back ocho. If you are just beginning, the easiest is to stop one of the pivots at a quarter turn so the follower is facing the leader.

  • If this is on the open side the follower’s right foot will be free. The leader should shift to their right foot so they can then step forward on their left, eg to go to a typical tango resolution (step 6 in the Basic Eight).
  • If the pivot on the closed side was stopped, the follower’s left foot will be free. The leader should shift their weight onto their left so that they may step back with their right (step 1 of the Basic Eight).

Technique

Follower Technique

  • Stay on balls of feet. If your heels touch the floor the pivots will be a problem.
  • Step straight back. Stepping straight forward on a front ocho doesn’t seem to be a problem, but followers often step back across the line back from their pivoting foot without realizing it.
  • Dance on one level. Dance smoothly, keeping on one level. Do not bob up and down. To do this keep your knees soft throughout the movement.
  • Pivot with legs together. Followers must keep their feet and legs together as they pivot. After stepping with the working leg (which will pivot), the free foot must immediately be brought next to the working leg.  If the leader has lowered the follower, it may be nice to extend the free foot to make a big sweep.
  • Dissociate to keep chest facing your partner. Follower dissociates more and keeps chest toward the leader as much as possible.
  • Follow only what is led. Follower waits for the lead. If nothing is led, the follower should wait and do nothing. Once a follower gets into the rhythm of an ocho they want to keep going. Resist this urge.

Leader Technique

  • Dance on one level. Dance smoothly, keeping on one level. Do not bob up and down. To do this keep your knees soft throughout the movement. This is the same advice as for the follower.
  • Lead by moving the chest, not the arms. The leader should think about leading primarily by turning the chest and the arms will follow.
  • Leader must lead every ocho.
  • Dissociate to keep chest facing the follower. Leader must dissociate slightly to keep their chest facing the follower.
  • Hand pressure on back. The leader can use their hand pressure to help guide the follower’s pivot. Putting more pressure on either the fingers or the heel of the hand can indicated the pivoting that is desired.  Don’t use the hand to push the follower!

Back Ocho Flow Diagram

Click on Back Ocho Flow Diagram.  To make use of these diagrams you should be familiar with Compact Tango Notation and the Flow Diagram Guide.

There i also a less detailed overview of moves that can follow front and back ochos

Flow From Front and Back Cross (Ocho) – Overview

Back Ocho Lesson 1

T-embrace back ocho

The back ocho is a combination of a back cross and a pivot.   In the T-embrace the leader faces the follower with the follower crossing back and forth in front of the leader.

Start from

  • Fom #2X, #7X or any side step.

Technique

  • General
    • No bobbing up and down.
  • Follower
    • Keep knees soft.
    • Weight on the balls of the feet.  If the heels touch, pivoting will be difficult.
    • Follower’s free leg, knees, ankles should return and remain close to pivoting leg.
    • Make large steps. They look better and allow the leader to do certain moves.
    • Only ocho if there’s a lead.  Ie, don’t go on automatic.
    • Follower must dissociate.
  • Leader
    • Use a light lead from chest. Too strong a lead can disturb a follower’s axis.
    • Footwork: use side touches in cross foot in T-embrace ochos.  More techniques described below.
  • Can underturn or overturn.

Where to go from back ocho (part 1)

  • Facing on open side. W pivots only 90.
  • Facing on closed side. W pivots only 90.
  • Stop and reverse with W front boleo.  Continue with WL front cross or sailor.
  • WalkXL > Pivot- > Cruzada.
  • WalkXR > Cruzada.

Back Ocho Lesson 2

Review

  • How to get into back ocho from lesson 1
    • 2X, 7X, any side step.
  • Where to go from back ocho from lesson 1
  • Facing on open side. W pivots only 90.
  • Facing on closed side. W pivots only 90.
  • IMPORTANT: Stop and reverse with W front boleo. > WL front cross or sailor.
  • IMPORTANT: WalkXL > Pivot- > Cruzada.
  • WalkXR > Cruzada.

More moves from back ochos

  • Paradas.
    • Most common is MRin Parada WLout.  Eg
      • MRin Parada WLout > ML Sanguchito WL > MR BCross > WR Pasada.
      • Emphasize optional pause to allow W embellishments.
      • Or same on other side. 
      • Pursue this further next time.  Very rich move. 
  • High Sacadas to Front Boleo.  [This didn’t add anything to BOchos. Skip next time.]
    • MRin Sacada WLout high > WL FBoleo
    • MLout Sacada WLout high > WL FBoleo
    • Same for other side.
    • Can do it twice in quick succession.
    • Exercise going from one side to the other.
  • Molinete covered with Molinete Lesson

Back Ocho Lesson 3

Review sessions 1 & 2

  • Especially going to WalkXL… and MRin Parada WLout.

Leader footwork – NEEDS WORK BEFORE TEACHING 

  • X Stay planted on left foot while follower ochos.
  • XRock back and forth with W.
  • ? Stand with feet together, dissociating.
  • ? Rock fwd and back on side ochos.
  • ? Side together, MR front. ???
  • ? M front ochos.
  • ? Dbl time.  MR fwd ML together. MR back ML together.

Where to go from back ocho (session 3)

  • MR Steparound Pivot+180
  • Start Ocho Corado, but instead of WL Rock, do WL Pivot+ > WR Pivot-180 > Walk to Cruzada.
  • “No you don’t” move.
  • X Calecita
  • Parada W back foot, eg
    • MRin Parada WRin > WL step back over MR > [Sanguchito] > ML fwd
      > MRin Barrida WR cw > WL Pasada
  • Ganchos

R-R side back ocho from 3

  • Advantage it that it can also be done in close embrace.
  • Start from 3 where W is turned cw 180.  M continues to face fwd while the W ochos to the right of M.
  • M may rock fwd L back R. as W ochos.
  • May crab to closed side.
  • ? Terminate by facing W to get in T formation back ocho.
  • Terminate by walking fwd to cruzada.

Milonguero style back ocho

  • Done when in close embrace.
  • M steps fwd on L, then back on R.   W does under-turned B8 with WR, then WL falls behind WR as MR goes back.
  • Walk out.

Leader Footwork Options

The back ocho is usually taught from 2X with the leader moving feet side to side.

Side-to-side. M does side touches to move with W (eg from 2X)

  • M Step from side to side, touching free foot to standing foot.
    • Styling: With free foot can also toe touch behind or tap next to standing foot.

???

  • MR diag fwd, ML tog, MR side, ML tog. This double time (QQ) style is a simple variation.

Stairstep

  • Stairstep (X MLWR forward, MR side as W back crosses (ie 8). 
  • Video 2013-02 Uruguay/2013-03-01 B8 Stairstep.

Weight on ML

  • Weight on ML with MR remaining extended to side.   As taught in Stockholm.

Wide stance.  M stands with wide stance (eg from 2X)

  • Very stable, but don’t use this unless turning a back ocho into a boleo.

Forward and back.  M shifts forward and back with W on closed side

  • Lead from #3.
  • M shifts weight back on ML and forward on MR as W ochos on closed side.
  • As above but with MR back and ML forward.  M can rotate +90 to transition to classic W ochos in front.
  • Styling: As with above either way but steps and free foot taps behind or front boleo.

Underturned back ochos. M walks forward

  • M walks forward with underturned back ochos. Only good for a couple of steps. Can easily convert to WalkX.

Overturned back ochos.  M walks back 

  • M Walks back with overturned back ochos.

M Back crosses/ochos

  • Asymmetric. ML back cross as WR back cross.  Stand as WL back cross.  Repeat. Results in turn.
  • Symmetric version of above.
  • M QQ–pivot style of back ochos as W back ochos.  
  • M back ochos as W back ochos.

M Front crosses/ochos

  • ??? ML front cross as WR back cross.  Stand as ML front cross.  Results in turn.
  • ??? Symmetric version of above.
  • ??? M2-step-QQ–pivot style of front ochos as W back ochos..
  • ??? M front ochos as W back ochos.
  • ??? M crosses in same dir as W or opposite???

M cruzada?

  • ML slide over MR into Cruzada