ENROSQUE, LAPIZ, PLANEO, CALECITA
Lapiz translates directly into a pencil. It's a circular motion of the free leg, done with the toe or inside edge. Planeo is similar but more passive, the leg is extended but that affixed position is being spun around by the other partner. Calecita happens when one person who becomes a center of the turn is being pivoted by the other one waking around - planeo can be incorporated into calecita. Enrosque, from enroscar - to coil or twist, goes even further in the difficultly level.
ENROSQUE, LAPIZ, PLANEO, CALECITA
OCTOBER 2023
Lapiz equals pencil
Lapiz is a circular motion of the free leg, done with the toe or inside edge. Lapiz can be both a small adornment, that takes only one or two counts and is meant to accent the music, fill the gap in dancing, and show off your speed, coordination, and precision, or it can be an actual tango figure. If that's the case, the movement will take more time, and the arch created by the free foot will be larger, with a sweeping motion. This kind of lapiz is mostly performed by a Leader and it's literally looking like the Leader is sweeping the floor right before the lady's foot. Lapiz comes in few different versions under different names. We can do a rulo (curl) or dibujo (drawing) - circular, or other small shapes that are drawn on the floor with the free foot. The point is - the free leg is active and ‘doing’ the lapiz.
Planeo
Planeo can be executed by either Leader or Follower. The moves are different though. In the Follower case, she is being pivoted by the Leader and so needs first to be stopped mid-stride with a slight downward lead and free leg extended. Then the pivoting action happens - quite passively though she has to actively engage in keeping the position. You can imagine a figurine of a ballerina being spin around.
For a Leader to make the movement look effortless a lot of practice and small muscle engagement are involved. The leader usually steps forward with the free leg left behind to trail as he is pivoting himself and leading the Follower into the molinete around him. Tango multitasking…
Enrosque, from enroscar - to coil
Enrosque, from enroscar - to coil coil or twist, goes even further in the difficultly level. The man is leading the Follower around him but he suspends his pivot for 2-3 steps of the Follower, so his lead torques him into a corkscrew position, which he then releases to generate very sharp 'un-torquing action. The leader's free foot is not extended but instead hooked or coiled behind or in front of the standing/supporting leg.
Calecita mean carousel
Calecita happens when one partner who becomes the center of the turn is being pivoted by the other one waking around her either forward, back, sideways, or in a grapevine or molinete pattern. It is a fairly simple step but requires a good understating of the spatial relationship between Leader and Follower.
If the Leader is doing the plane and has the Follower walking around, then the step becomes extremely difficult. On top of correctly judging the distance, the leader needs to keep his balance on one foot all while continuously transmitting his intention and leading the Follower into a chosen pattern around him.