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Tango Argentino4 minutes

Learn Tango Argentino Ocho Cortado: Steps & technique

By Bernhard De LucaUpdated

In a nutshell
  • The Ocho Cortado is a fundamental figure in Argentine Tango, where an initiated figure-eight movement is stopped prematurely and led back.
  • The figure is perfect for crowded dance floors, as it can be danced in minimal space and serves as an elegant change of direction.
  • The core of the movement lies in the conscious stopping of the weight and the subsequent crossing of the partner's feet.

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The Ocho Cortado brings the typical melancholy and dynamics of Tango directly to your feet. With this guide, you will master the interrupted eight confidently, even in the tightest of spaces.

What you need beforehand

  • Secure command of the forward ocho
  • Basic understanding of the cross step (cruzado)
  • Dance shoes with a smooth sole
  • A dance partner for practicing together

The broken eight as a savior when space is limited

The Ocho Cortado is one of the most fascinating and at the same time most useful figures in Argentine Tango. The name translates to broken eight, which perfectly describes the dynamics of this movement. While in a classic eight (Ocho) the turns flow into one another, the movement in the Ocho Cortado is abruptly stopped and led back. This change of direction makes the figure a real lifesaver when things get tight on the dance floor. You can incorporate it almost anywhere to avoid a collision and maintain the flow of the dance elegantly.

To dance the figure successfully, the partners use the interplay of the systems. If you have already learned how the Argentine Tango parallel and cross systems work, you will find it particularly easy to get started with the Ocho Cortado. The figure uses exactly this system change to lead the partner into a cross position and then gently bring them back, without the need for large lunges.

Master the perfect Ocho Cortado in 5 steps

  1. Initiate a side step

    The leader initiates a side step to the left, while the follower steps out to the right. The weight is shifted cleanly onto the new foot to create a stable base for the turn.

  2. Initiating the Ocho

    The leader turns their upper body slightly to the left to guide the partner into a forward-ocho movement. The follower takes a step forward and places the foot at a slight angle.

  3. Blocking the movement

    In the middle of a forward movement, the leader stops the momentum through a clear weight shift in their own body. The follower feels this stop and halts the movement before the step is completed.

  4. Leading into the cross

    The leader gently guides the partner into a cross (cruzado), where the follower places their free foot in front of the supporting foot. Both partners hold their balance on the spot for a brief moment.

  5. Dissolving and moving on

    The leader shifts their weight back and guides the partner out of the cross back into the starting position or a side step. The figure is thus elegantly completed and the flow of the dance continues.

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The most important do's and don'ts for the Ocho Cortado

Correct

  • Stop the movement from the center
  • Give your partner time to cross their feet
  • Dance on the spot and use the space

Wrong

  • Pulling or pushing with your arms
  • Stringing steps together in a rush
  • Taking large lunges forward

Your checklist for the Ocho Cortado

Before training

Preparation

While dancing

During

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. The Ocho Cortado is a broken eight, where a forward or backward Ocho is stopped before completion and led back in the opposite direction. This creates a fast, rhythmic change of direction.

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