Porttango - Argentine Tango, Portland, ME | Chacarera :: Porttango, Argentine Tango of Portland, ME

Chacarera

CHACARERA: An Argentinean Folk – inspired Dance

2) very traditional performance version, but all parts of choreo really visibly clear

3) a bunch of happy people dancing ! (like us!) You can chacarera anywhere!

!!!This is a courting dance- keep your eyes on your partner as much as possible, flirt and tease and show off!!!

-The basic step: starting with the Left foot: Step-together-step, then the right foot, Step-together-step, the the left, then the right, so it alternates each time.

- guys start on one side of the hall, girls on the other, not too far away from each other, maybe 12 feet apart. Va-venir and media vuelta meet in the middle of the hall, then retreat back to original position

- vuelta entera means you switch places across the hall, then return to your original position

- hands usually stay up in “castanet” position, except for zapateo/zarandeo

- zapateo: The guys do a rhythmic stomp to keep time with the step-together-step basic timing. get creative and loud!

- zarandeo: The girls swirl their skirts while stepping the basic in the diamond shape, L hand on hip, R hand swishes skirt, or mimes it anyway, flirt flirt flirt.

CHOREOGRAPHY

Adentro! Introduction: 6 or 8 measures, clapping

1) Forward and Back (va-venir) 4, diamond shape, start with L

2) Forward and Back w turn (media vuelta) 4, diamond shape with a turn in the middle, start with L

Vuelta Entera to the other side (4) and back (4): 8 total, start w L
“Zapateo” (footwork, boys, in place ) and “Zarandeo” (Skirt, girls, diamond) 2 x 4 measures
Full Turn to the other side (4) and back (4) (vuelta entera) 8 start w L
“Zapateo” (footwork, boys) and “Zarandeo” (Skirt, girls) 2 x 4 measures
Cross to the other side (4)
Half way back (2)
Spin 360 in the middle (1) on the side you just came from, then “Coronation”: R hand on your partners shoulder, (stare deeply and longingly into each others eyes until your angry parents tear you apart.) *Boys, quickly escort your girl to the other side of the hall and do it again! Usually 2 entire dances per song.