Modern Tango World N° 3 (Buenos Aires, Argentina) | Page 32

LEVELS
There are three basic levels, and seven levels, in all.
Level 0
Just as a house has a ground floor, in tango,
we can consider level zero to be the caminar.
When both partners are walking together;
this is level zero, from here moves go up or
down.

Level +1
If the leader projects the energy a little upward
while the follower has her feet collected, this will
generate a change of weight, traspie.
Many of tango’s movements and steps and figures can
be described with just these three basic levels. It is
crucial to understand that the levels describe the leader’s marca.This is where the leader directs the impulse,
not the end result of the lead.
If the couple is walking, and the leader wants to stop
the follower, there are two options:
Level -1 - with the feet apart
Level 0 - with the feet collected
Follower’s ganchos at Level 0 also, because they are
an intercepted step. To produce a balanceo, a cunita,
an ocho cortado or a sandwicitto, the leader needs to
project an impulsec to Level -1. To produce a calesita,
a sostenida or a high boleo, the impulse must be projected to Level +1One.
But this is not all. There is also Levels -2, -3 and +2, +3.
These levels are best understood by example.
Level +2
To raise the follower’s foot up to knee level, requires a Level +2 impulse from the leader. This
is used in the kick type of boleos, the piernazzo,
and llevaldas.
Level -2
To cause the follower to bend the knee of the
weighted, standing leg, the leader needs a Level
-2 impulse. This is used for movements such as
lapiz, planeo, corte.
Level +3
For the follower to jump or for movements such as
sentada, Level +3 is needed.

Low Front Boleo

photo by Bucharest Social Dance

Level -1
When walking together, at some point the
leader projects an impulse, marca. If it is a
little down, the follower will naturally stop
with her feet apart with straight knees, as in
a balanceo.

Level -3
To cause the follower to flex the weighted foot all the
way down, Level -3 is required.
All the movements in tango can be categorized in
more detail using the concept of levels. Some movements are a combination of levels, starting at one level
and end in another. Some other movements, such as
circular boleos, may be done at several levels with different results.

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