I have been looking for a way to write down tango steps since I began dancing. I experimented with drawing arrows, writing full text, abbreviations, inventing signs, … I’m not alone in this quest:
or 
And that is only when you take into account the feet. The Labanotation system (developed by professional dancers) has a graphical element for each movement of the legs and arms.
While this is probably one of the best systems around, it’s too complicated for us laymen dancers. So I decided to distill a base vocabulary for writing down tango steps: Tangotation.
Tangotation
Tangotation is an effort to standardize simple tango notation. It concentrates on the feet of both dancers. Let’s show an example:
Inverted base step (8 count)
LEAD FOLLOW
1 MRB WLF
2 MLS WRS
-MRC
3 MLF WLB
4 MRF WRB
-WLBX
6 MLF WRB
7 MRS WLS
8 MRC WRC
Every step is described as a sequence of at least 3 letters: WLF is ‘woman (follower) – left (foot) – forward’, MRS is ‘man (leader) – right (foot) – sideways’.
In WLBX, the extra X stands for ‘Cross’/'Cruzada’ (foot crossed in front of the other).
The leading ‘-’ means that the step should be taken immediately after the previous one, not on a beat of its own. To sum it up:
syntax: (
[-'])[MW][LR][FBSCP]([X8G...])
- WHO: [M/W] – Man/Woman (or for the politically correct: Marca/counterpart)
- WHAT: [L/R] – Left/Right foot
- WHERE: [F/B/S/C/P] – Front, Back, Side, Close, change weight
- WHEN: [-/'] ; every step is on the next beat unless “-”: link to previous step, “‘”: link to next step
- HOW: [X/8/G]: Cross (Cruzada), 8 (ocho), G (gancho)
(from Tangotation)
Each letter has one unambiguous meaning, the full Tangotation alphabet is here.
I’ve even made a print-out form to allow easy notation:
(as a JPG, as a PDF)
This is just a first draft, so all input is appreciated!
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Nice.
But what do you use to indicate rotations? For exemple, in the central part of a “left turn” the man’s feet don’t move, just the body does.
Other symbols could be introduced, like N-S-W-E to indicate “facing”
brave attempt at tango notation! I first wanted to reply here, but instead I dedicated a post to it on my blog:
http://petere.wordpress.com/2006/12/29/tango-steps-notation/
Nice work, and a lot of it, I’d say.
But how do you notate expressing the music?
Connecting with your partner’s feelings?
Sensuality?
Improvisation?
Perhaps some things must be felt, not notated.
@Cherie
To start dancing tango for a guy is daunting, and any tool that helps to remember the base steps is welcome. Once you get further, the limitations of a notation system like this become unsurmountable.
So yes, all your remarks are true, but they only come into play once a dancer is a lot further.
Hi
I’ve not been doing tango for long so this looks very useful. A couple of questions:
1. In your example short and long base step notations, in step #8 the lead step is given as MRC. I was puzzled as it is the man’s left leg that is closed to the right leg in the dance. Is this a typo or can you clarify please?
2. How would you notate the Hero sequence?
Thanks and regards