Tango Argentino Calesita

La Calesita is a Tango move where the leader moves around the follower while turning the follower on the axis with him.

It is not one move or even an overarching technique how to do it, but a general description based on the visual that unites a variety of variants and options within the variants under one name. I collected the videos I found below but I you find the different variants I could think of (there are more) in a structured way. They also describe some options that I haven’t found in videos (but we might have done in class).

Entrance

Usually a calesita is shown from an ocho (back OR forward) – but while an ocho fits the dynamic, there is no need for that.

The Stop

The follower needs to be stoped, so the leader can revolve around. The stop can be done:

by a downward move: In this case it has to be lead before the follower closes the feet and the free leg remains extended
by an upward movement: In this case it is led while the follower closes the feet into either
- ths basic position or
- a cross

The Direction

The calesita can be done towards the closed side or the open side of the embrace. If lead from the backward ocho, the closed side is the natural direction for the leader to go, while from the forward ocho the open side is the natural direction to move into. If reversed it creates a counter movement that has a more dynamic feel.

The Steps

While all the videos show only forward (on the open side) or backward steps (on the closed side), those can be alternated with side steps or even a full mulinete sequence (forward -side – backward – side- …), creating a more dynamic movement (but also the danger of more instablitity).

The Embrace

The calesita can be danced in both open or cosed embrace or by opening the close embrace in the moment of stopping. Just don’t change the embrace during the calesita. Doing it in close embrace with a mulinete sequence is the most difficult on and should only be tried, once the other variations can be done stable by both partners.

Independent of the embrace both partners should face each other as much as possible through dissociation of the upper bodiy to keep the connection. It can also be done side by side, but thats not really Tango.

The exit

During the calesita at least the lower bodies are at an ancle to each other (and often the upper bodies as well). To exit the easiest way is to move back into the basic position in one of these ways:

The leader releases his dissositation and move with a pivot fully in front of the follower before moving out with a step
The leader releases the dissositation of the follower and the follower pivots fully in front of the leader. Now the leader can move out with a step
The leader moves into a basic positon and leads the follower out with a forward ocho (backward ocho) into the basic position.

Depending on which foot was used last by the leader, the leader might need to make a silent foot change before moving out – so always check the followers axis before leading a step.

Watch the last video for a very cool exit.

From back ocho, downward move, calesita to the closed side, backward steps