ENROSQUE, LAPIZ, PLANEO, CALECITA

ENROSQUE, LAPIZ, PLANEO, CALECITA

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 mainly performed by a Leader, and it literally looks like the Leader is sweeping the floor right before the lady's foot. Lapiz comes in a 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

Either the Leader or the Follower can execute Planeo. 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 spun around.

For a Leader to move effortlessly, a lot of practice and small muscle engagement are involved. The leader usually steps forward, leaving the free leg behind to trail as he pivots and leads 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 means carousel

Calecita happens when one partner, who becomes the center of the turn, is pivoted by the other one, walking around her in a forward, backward, sideways, or grapevine or molinete pattern. It is a relatively simple step, but it requires a good understanding of the spatial relationship between the Leader and the Follower.

If the Leader is managing the plane and the Follower is 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.