Six steps? Resolving Tango Algorithm and breaking The Code
Two legs, three directions, six steps (possibilities) assigned to partner one. Two legs, three directions, six steps (possibilities) assigned to partner two. Add the embrace, rhythm, and music as a common factor.
So what are we getting at?
To analyze from the Beginner perspective let’s add some conditions that, since you possibly do not know Tango yet, or not from this perspective, you might find it surprising that they need to be stated. But in Tango nothing has one answer, nothing has one side, nothing is white or black and fifty shades of gray is the understatement. So assume nothing, be open to anything.
The good news is — all dances have box patterns, so once you learn it you can dance any dance. But once you start exploring Tango you really never leave, as only Argentine Tango managed to explore, continue exploring, and… actually, USING all possibilities. One can set the horizon as a destination, but the best part of that trip is the actual journey. Get on.
CONDITIONS
Condition 1
Partner 1 and Partner 2 need to be treated as One Unit.
Condition 2
The partnership understood as One Unit, which needs to move in the same direction.
Condition(s) 3
If Partner 1 moves forward — Partner 2 MUST move back.
If Partner 1 moves back — Partner 2 MUST move forward.
If Partner 1 moves left — Partner 2 MUST move right.
If Partner 1 moves right — Partner 2 MUST move left.
Condition(s) 3 — expanded.
**It’s called PARALLEL or NORMAL system in Tango. There also is a CROSS system (to be analyzed later)
If Partner 1 moves forward with the Right Leg (RL) — Partner 2 MUST move back with the Left Leg (LG). If Partner 1 moves forward with the Left Leg (LL) — Partner 2 MUST move back with the Right Leg (RG).
If Partner 1 moves back with the Right Leg (RL) — Partner 2 MUST move forward with the Left Leg (LG). If Partner 1 moves back with the Left Leg (LL) — Partner 2 MUST move forward with the Right Leg (RG).
If Partner 1 moves left with the Left Leg (LL) — Partner 2 MUST move right with the Right Leg (RG). If Partner 1 moves left with the Right Leg (RL) — Partner 2 MUST move right with the Left Leg (LL).
If Partner 1 moves right with the Right Leg (RL) — Partner 2 MUST move left t with the Left Leg (LL). If Partner 1 moves right with the Left Leg (LL) — Partner 2 MUST move left with the Right Leg (RG).
Condition(s) 4
The Left Foot (LF) of partner 1 must occupy the same track as the Right Foot (RF) of partner 2.
The right Foot (RF) of partner 1 must occupy the same track as the Left Foot (LF) of partner 2.
Condition 5
**This condition introduces basics of what in Tango is called IMPROVISATION
The movement has to be initiated/proposed by Partner 1.
The movement has to be executed by Partner 2.
Condition 6
The movement is happening within time expansion (think THE MATRIX movie) — at the same time but with the millisecond delay according to the following sequencing:
Partner 1 proposes/initiates the movement.
Partner 2 accepts the movement, confirms understanding and starts the execution of the movement.
Partner 1 accepts receipt of confirmation of understating and follows the proposed execution of the movement.
Condition 7
If weight is placed on the Left Leg, the Right Leg is considered FREE and available for the next movement. If weight is placed on Right Leg, Left Leg is considered FREE and available for the next movement.
Condition 8
For each movement, each leg can only be used ONCE! If the movement is executed with the Right Leg of Partner 1, the next proposed movement has to use Left Leg. The same leg cannot be used twice. This might seem logical to your brain, but since the connection between The Brain and The Legs is quite distant, you will be surprised that your legs actually need constant supervision…
Condition 9
Only linear (straight) directions are accepted for this Algorithm. One can go Forward, Back, Right, or Left. Legs cannot cross.
Discovering 3 Directions
Let’s focus on Partner 1 assuming that partner 2 will execute the exact opposite.
If the left leg bears weight right leg can be moved in only 3 directions: forward, back or side. As you noticed the direction to the left or right does not need to be specified. One can only move to the side that has a free leg available. So if one stands on the Left Leg and wishes to move to the side — the only available option is moving to the right. And vice versa.
That brings us to the following conclusion:
- Continues walks forward alternating Left and Right foot is possible.
- Continues walks Continues walk backward alternating Left and Right foot is possible.
- Continues walks to the Left are not possible as Human Beings cannot continuously walk to the left unless one jumps, and we do not want to look funny, so we do not jump (continuously to the left…)
- The same applies to the Right as a matter of fact…
That drives us to 6 Tango Steps
Forward with the Left. Forward with the Right. Back with the Left. Back with the Right. Side with the Left. Side with the Right.
Traditionally in Tango, those steps have names, by which they are referred. Those names happen to be the numbers:
ONE — Back with the Right.
TWO — Side with the Left.
THREE — Forward with the Right.
FOUR — Forward with the Left.
FIVE — Side with the Right.
SIX — Back with the Left.
And that’s all that Tango consists of. 6 steps. That’s all.
Possible outcomes
Possible outcomes are many and therefore we need to introduce additional limitations. Only the above 6 steps are allowed, and each step can only be used ONCE.
Clockwise:
Start at 1 travel 1–2–3–4–5–6
Start at 2 travel 2–3–4–5–6–1
Start at 3 travel 3–4–5–6–1–2
Start at 4 travel 4–5–6–1–2–3
Start at 5 travel 5–6–1–2–3–4
Start at 6 travel 6–1–2–3–4–5
Counter-Clockwise:
Start at 1 travel 1–6–5–4–3–2
Start at 2 travel 2–1–6–5–4–3
Start at 3 travel 3–2–1–6–5–4
Start at 4 travel 4–3–2–1–6–5
Start at 5 travel 5–4–3–2–1–6
Start at 6 travel 6–5–4–3–2–1
If started on the other leg at step 6 it will travel 6–5–4–1–2–3.
But again — it can be started at any point and one still is able to keep the same drawing/trajectory/path.
If reversed it will travel 4–2–6–3–5–1 which translates into Forward-Side-Back starting with the Right.
Let’s move on faster and analyze the additional two possible patterns, which in total can give as 12 possibilities.
The original pattern would start at 2 and travel: 2–6–1–3–4–5, which translates into Side-Back-Back-Forward-Forward-Side starting with the Left.
The full 6 possibilities would be:
Start at 1 and travel 1–3–4–5–2–6
Start at 2 and travel 2–6–1–3–4–5
Start at 3 and travel 3–4–5–2–6–1
Start at 4 and travel 4–5–2–6–1–3
Start at 5 and travel 5–2–6–1–3–4
Start at 6 and travel 6–1–3–4–5–2
The original pattern would start at 5 and travel: 5–6–1–3–4–2, which translates into Side-Back-Back-Forward-Forward-Side starting with the Right.
The full 6 possibilities would be:
Start at 1 and travel 1–3–4–2–5–6
Start at 2 and travel 2–5–6–1–3–4
Start at 3 and travel 3–4–2–5–6–1
Start at 4 and travel 4–2–5–6–1–3
Start at 5 and travel 5–6–1–3–4–2
Start at 6 and travel 6–1–3–4–2–5
The original pattern would start at 2 and travel: 2–3–4–6–1–5, which translates into Side- Forward-Forward-Back-Back- Side starting with the Left.
The full 6 possibilities would be:
Start at 1 and travel 1–5–2–3–4–6
Start at 2 and travel 2–3–4–6–1–5
Start at 3 and travel 3–4–6–1–5–2
Start at 4 and travel 4–6–1–5–2–3
Start at 5 and travel 5–2–3–4–6–1
Start at 6 and travel 6–1–5–2–3–4
The full 6 possibilities would be:
Start at 1 and travel 1–2–5–3–4–6
Start at 2 and travel 2–5–3–4–6–1
Start at 3 and travel 3–4–6–1–2–5
Start at 4 and travel 4–6–1–2–5–3
Start at 5 and travel 5–3–4–6–1–2
Start at 6 and travel 6–1–2–5–3–4
Based on just the above conditions… — 48 possibilities
Let’s talk about possible variables… brought by — for example — creating additional tracks through positioning outside partner, incorporating the 7th element — weight change, modifying directions through the pivot, and finally the biggest one — introducing the Cross System unknown in any other dance.
