Tango

A crisp tango of quick crossed steps on shallow curves, slower four-beat rolls into closed hold, and a promenade skated side by side in open hold.

dance

Not checked yet. The mechanics on this page are a first draft by a non-expert, and no coach has seen them yet. Read them as a starting point and check them with a coach. Corrections are very welcome.

The dance

Tango in 4/4, 108 beats a minute. The hold is outside, closing on each roll, then open from step 16. The partners skate different steps. 24 steps and 52 beats to one pattern.

Steps for the lead the follow

One sequence on a 60 x 30 metre rink, drawn upright as the rulebooks draw it, starting at the dot and travelling anticlockwise. The two partners skate side by side on one track; the switch shows where each one's steps fall and on which edge. The faint half is the same steps skated again. Rinks vary, and on a smaller one the pattern shrinks to fit. Measured from the diagram in U.S. Figure Skating 2026-27 Rulebook, page Dance-37.

Step	Hold	Lead	Follow	Beats
1	Outside	XF-RFO	XB-LBO	1
2		XB-LFI	XF-RBI	1
3	Closed to Outside	RFO	LBO	4
4		XF-LFO	XB-RBO	1
5		XB-RFI	XF-LBI	1
6	Closed to Outside	LFO	RBO	4
7		XF-RFO-Rk (shallow)	XB-LBO	1 + 1
8		XB-LBO	RFO	1
9		XF-RBI	XB-LFI	1
10	Closed to Outside	LBO	RFO	4
11		XB-RBO	XF-LFO	1
12		XF-LBI	XB-RFI	1
13	Closed to Outside	RBO	LFO	4
14		CR-LBO	CR-RFO3	2
15	Closed	RFO-SwR	LBO-SwR	4
16	Open	LFO	RFI	1
17		RFI	LFO	1
18		LFO	RFI	2
19		RFI	LFO	2
20		LFI Sw-ClCSt	RFO Sw-ClCSt	4
21		RBI-SwR	LBO-SwR	4
22a		LFO	RFI3	1
22b		RFI-Ch		1
22c	Closed	LFO		4

The steps are in the rulebook's own notation: foot, direction and edge, with Pr for a progressive, Ch for a chassé, SwR for a swing roll, XB and XF for a cross step behind or in front, 3 for a three turn, CSt and SSt for C and S steps, Op for open and Cl for closed. From the step chart in US Figure Skating's 2026-27 rulebook.

Pairs of one-beat crossed steps on shallow curves, one crossed in front and one behind, lead into four-beat rolls on deeper curves, and during each roll the couple passes through closed hold and comes out on the other side in outside hold. The third lobe opens with a shallow crossed rocker for the lead partner.

After a cross roll and a swing roll, the couple opens out for a promenade of two quick and two slow steps, then each partner skates a four-beat swing closed C step. The follow partner finishes with an inside three-turn while the lead partner skates a chassé and a roll. US Figure Skating asks for an upright carriage, neat footwork and pace without visible pushing.

British Ice Skating lists it at National 7, one of five dances to choose from there. US Figure Skating tests it at Silver.

Appears in

In New Zealand's grades

None of the New Zealand level lists in this guide name it.