Savoy Tango

{1922}


Introduction

The Savoy Tango is an early tango sequence dance composed by Mrs. J. Warren in 1922.

It was a prize dance at the National Association of Teachers of Dancing (N.A.T.D) conference that year.


The Position

Closed position, both facing LOD.


The Dance

Part I - Promenade and Chassé (4 bars): Starting outside feet, promenade four steps along LOD (1, 2, 3, 4), then face partner and dance one slow chasseé and two quick ones along LOD (5, 6, 7-and-8-and).

Part II - Back the Lead, Back the Follow (4 bars): Back the Lead three steps into center of room (1, 2, 3), then Lead raises free foot in front as Follow raises free foot behind (4). Back the Follow three steps toward outside wall (5, 6, 7), then both point free foot forward along LOD (8).

Part III - Five-Step Promenades (4 bars): Promenade two steps along LOD (1, 2), then two-step along LOD (3-and-4), swiveling toward partner to face over the elbows on the last step. (Although not explicitly specified in this dance, it's nice to leave the free foot pointed against LOD on the swivel.) Repeat opposite, traveling against LOD, and then facing it (5, 6, 7-and-8).

Part IV - Back the Follow and Corte (4 bars): Turning 1/4 to the left, back the Follow four steps along LOD (1, 2, 3, 4), then do a classic Tango Corte as follows: back the Follow two more steps (5, 6), close (and), and back the Lead one step (7), Lead raising the free foot in front as the Follow raises the free foot behind and raise the free foot and back the Lead. Use the last count to swivel into promenade position to set up for the repeat.

Repeat from the beginning.


The Music

"Savoy Tango" by Alice Halstead is the specified tune, but it doesn't appear to have been recorded, so any square, early 20th century tango will do.


Sources


© 2019 Nick Enge

For more dance descriptions, see our three books on dancing:
The Book of Mixers: 100 Easy-Teach Dances for Getting Acquainted (2022) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge,
Cross-Step Waltz: A Dancer's Guide (2019) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge, and
Waltzing: A Manual for Dancing and Living (2013) by Richard Powers and Nick Enge.

For full-length teaching videos, visit: University of Dance.

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