Every move is communicated from the leader to the follower through the embrace so it is critical to get it right. The embrace must not only communicate the lead, it must also make the follower feel good
There are three general categories of embraces: open, close, and practice embraces. Most beginner instruction begins with the open embrace. Most common in current tango dancing is the flexible embrace, which is dancing in close embrace when possible and shifting to open embrace for many moves which are easier in open embrace.
Videos
- [LP03] Tango with Lori & Patrick – #1A – Connection & Embrace 25:17 There is lots of elementary advice about posture and moving. The embrace information starts at about 8:15, first with an interesting exercise without touching. Then we have an exercise with the follower’s hands on the leader’s chest. Has good advice on leading with the chest before the feet. It’s only at 19:00 do we get to the first open embrace. Part 1B (see below) continues with the close embrace.
- [LP04] Tango with Lori & Patrick – #1B – Close Embrace 17:05 A good, if somewhat long, introduction to close embrace. At 10:20 they discuss the important issue of choosing open or close embrace.
- [DV01] Argentine Tango Milonguero Style (Close Embrace) Volume 1 17:25 By Christy Coté and George García. This is a reasonable video introduction to the close embrace, but there is one bit of advice that is misleading. They suggest the feet should be aligned straight across from each other. However, because the follower is almost always offset so they are looking over the leader’s left shoulder, the feet are best offset by a similar amount. This slight offset also prevents some toe collisions.
- [PA45] The Ultimate Guide to Dancing Comfortably in Tango Close Embrace 9:42 by TangoSpace’s Pablo & Anne. Good advice on the close embrace and reasons to use it.
Open (or Salon) Embrace
Most beginning tango instruction teaches an open embrace. For beginners the open embrace is more comfortable and easier to manage. Torsos will not be touching. There must be a solid connection on the closed side with the closed side hand on the follower’s scapula (back) and the closed side follower’s arm firmly connected to the leader. The open side handhold should be slightly firm but quiet at approximately the follower’s shoulder height. This describes the most common, mainstream, approach to the open embrace. As a follower you will occasionally encounter other styles.
Common leader problems
- Leader’s open (left) arm is too active. It should mostly move as a result of the shoulders moving, it should not pump up and down, and should not grasp the follower’s hand too tightly.
- Leader’s shoulders should remain level. Lifting the right shoulder is a common mistake.
Common follower problems
- Follower’s left arm floats off the leader’s arm. Makes following/leading difficult.
- Follower’s right arm has a limp, “spaghetti”, feel. Makes following/leading difficult.
Close Embrace
Close embrace is the favorite of intermediate and advanced dancers. The upper chests are lightly pressed together. This allows the leader’s chest movements to be communicated very directly to the follower. This close contact allows for very precise leading, but also demands good leading because mistakes are also transmitted directly. Some dancers stay in close embrace all the time. However, this restricts the range and style of figures considerably.
Too intimate? The close embrace is definitely intimate. For beginners it is often socially uncomfortable. Most dancers eventually begin to like the closeness. If desired, the follower can make it clear that they are not comfortable in close embrace.
Flexible embrace. The most common intermediate and advanced style is to dance close embrace where appropriate and open up for moves that need extra space.
Other Embrace Topics
The above videos also address various topics such as lower or higher position of the open arms, how to adapt to height differences, dancing with heads touching, the V-embrace, and others.
Close embrace lesson
Standard Argentine tango dance embrace worldwide is the close embrace.
Contact is chest to chest, and leading is from the chest. This contact is maintained by a small amount of constant pressure on the part of both dancers. The follower has their weight on the balls of their feet and is slightly slanted forward, although still on their access. Some dancers rotate their pelvis (hips) back to make more room to step.
Practice: Without using arms, walking, stopping side steps, etc., keeping chest to chest pressure.
- Keep good posture on your own axis.
- Things NOT to do: slump, head to head, etc.
- Follower lifts her upper body up and slightly forward, keeping the pressure on her partner with a minimum of weight.
- If there is a height difference, follower’s arms and hands must not be placed above the follower’s shoulder height to keep their axis aligned.
Practice:
- Check if embrace looks right (standing quietly).
- Walk in close embrace: forward, back, stop and start, to the sides.
- Do the Basic Eight in close embrace.
Open and close the embrace by sliding your arms. Open when necessary for a move, and close up again.
Practice Embrace
There are many styles of practice embrace. Your instructor will show which style is appropriate for an exercise, eg, grasping forearms, biceps, follower’s hands on chest/shoulders/upper arm.