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Argentine Tango3 minutes

Argentine Tango hand position: guide for perfect arms

By Bernhard De LucaUpdated

In short
  • The leading hand is at the follower's eye level and is held without pressure.
  • The leader's right arm firmly encloses the follower's back below the shoulder blade.
  • The follower's left arm rests relaxed on the leader's shoulder or upper arm.
  • Both partners keep their elbows slightly raised to maintain a stable dance frame.

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The arms in Argentine Tango are the bridge between two bodies. With the correct positioning of hands and elbows, you create a stable frame that transmits subtle signals without any effort.

What you need before building your posture

  • Upright, proud posture while standing
  • Relaxed shoulders and a free neck
  • A dance partner at eye level for direct feedback

The stable dance frame as the key to a subtle connection

Anyone starting with Argentine Tango quickly realizes: the arms are not decoration, but the antennas of the couple. The Argentine Tango dance frame is not created through force, but through the precise alignment of bones and joints. When you position your arms correctly, you enable a subtle, almost telepathic communication with your partner. In this, the posture is not a rigid corset, but a living, breathing system. Any tension in the shoulders or an incorrect angle in the elbow blocks the signals originating from the chest. If, on the other hand, you build the dance posture in a couple cleanly from the start, the embrace feels stable and wonderfully light at the same time. It is worth looking at the positioning of the hands in isolation to prevent typical mistakes like gripping tightly or pushing down from arising in the first place.

Step-by-step guide for hand positioning

  1. Opening the elbows

    Lift both elbows to rib height and consciously let your shoulders sink downwards. This way, you create space in front of your chest and prevent the frame from collapsing.

  2. Close the open position

    Bring your left hand together with the follower's right hand. The fingers gently enclose each other without applying pressure, with the connection being at the follower's eye level.

  3. Setting up the closed position

    As a leader, place your right hand flat under the follower's right shoulder blade. As a follower, place your left arm flat on the leader's upper arm and shoulder.

  4. Activate the connection

    Exhale deeply together and let the weight of your arms flow into the connection, without losing the muscle tension in your upper back. The frame is now stable and ready to receive.

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The most important do's and don'ts for your arms

Like this

  • Keep the elbows slightly raised and active
  • Place your hands softly and without a gripping reflex
  • Adapt the frame flexibly to the movement

Don't do this

  • Let your elbows hang loosely downwards
  • Cling to or pull your partner with your hands
  • Pull your shoulders up to your ears in a cramped way

Your checklist for the perfect arm position

Before the contact

Preparation

When taking the position

Setup

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. The joined hands should be roughly at the eye level of the follower. This height allows for a relaxed bend in the elbow and prevents the shoulders from being pulled upwards.

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