Hinge - Waltz, Foxtrot, Quickstep, Tango
Tango. The figure will be danced as below, but of course with Tango technique and character. Be careful not to rise or swing into 1-2. Normally, each step will be taken sharply and with a feeling of a "stop" at the end of 2. A sharp staccato action is used on 3, however, it is also possible to add beats to 3 to create a very slow and expressive change of shape into the Hinge.
| Man |
Foot Position |
Alignment |
Amount of Turn |
Rise & Fall |
| 1 |
RF back, toe turned in |
Down LOD, backing DC |
1/8 to L between previous step and 1. Body turns less |
Lower into a flexed L knee on previous step. Down in a flexed R knee |
| 2 |
LF back to end to side & slightly fwd in PP |
Pointing DW, body facing btw wall & DW against LOD |
1/4 between 1-2. Body turns less |
Down in a flexed L knee, then slightly rise by straightening L knee |
| 3 |
Hold Position. R leg remains extended to side without weight |
Pointing DW, body facing between DW & LOD. RF pointing DW against LOD |
Body overturns to L |
Lower into a flexed L knee. R leg remains extended |
| Footwork |
1 o/e TH; 2 i/e TH; 3 WF (LF), i/e T (RF) |
| CBM |
on 1 |
| Sway |
L L R |
| Head Weight |
slightly L, L R |
| Timing (W) |
1 2 3 (other timings are acceptable) |
| Timing (F,Q) |
Q Q S (other timings are acceptable) |
| Timing (T) |
Q Q S or Q Q SS |
| Lady |
Foot Position |
Alignment |
Amount of Turn |
Rise & Fall |
| 1 |
LF fwd |
Facing LOD |
Com to turn L |
Lower into a flexed R knee on previous step. Down in a flexed L knee |
| 2 |
RF fwd and slightly to R in PP |
Pointing DC |
1/8 between 1-2. Body turns less |
Down in a flexed R knee, then slightly rise by straightening R knee |
| 3 |
LF back in CBMP, small step, then extend RF forward in CBMP without weight |
Backing LOD, RF pointing between against LOD and DC against LOD |
3/8 between 2-3 |
Lower into a flexed L knee. R leg remains extended |
| Footwork |
1 HT; 2 i/e of TH; 3 B with foot flat (RF) & i/e of T (LF) |
| CBM |
slightly on 1 |
| Sway |
S S slightly L |
| Head Weight |
R R L |
| Timing (W) |
1 2 3 (other timings are acceptable) |
| Timing (F,Q) |
Q Q S (other timings are acceptable) |
| Timing (T) |
Q Q S or Q Q SS |
Suggested Popular Combination
Precede
|
1-3 Reverse Turn |
Follow
|
Hover to PP |
Suggested Advanced Combination
Precede
|
Promenade Pivot |
Follow
|
Lady's Developpé to Leg Hook
(Lady: Transfer weight fwd to RF, then as 4-5 of Developpé to Leg Hook) |