How to Do a Boleo in Tango
Like many tango moves, a boleo just happens if you allow your body to relax and do what a good leader is asking. Learning to relax and to be in the moment are important skills to acquire as you practice doing boleos.
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Instructions
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Master ochos, or figure eights. A boleo is led from a pivoted move, so you must be able to pivot well. If your ochos are nearly flawless, you are ready to move on to boleos. If you have problems pivoting, tension in your body will make the boleo more difficult.
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Understand the feeling of a boleo by first practicing alone. Use a wall or dance bar to practice stationary back ochos, then change to front ochos without pausing. If your leg is relaxed, it will naturally come off the ground into a boleo.
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Practice with a good leader as you are learning to do a boleo. Starting your boleo practice with an inexperienced or pushy leader might give you bad habits. At practice, ask the better leaders if they are interested in practicing boleos with you.
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Be patient as you listen to the lead, just as in all tango. If you anticipate the lead or try to do a boleo just because your partner is leading one, your boleos will not be timed properly and will look forced and artificial.
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Relax your free leg. A boleo happens because you do not try to fight against the natural momentum of the change in direction. Your free leg should be entirely relaxed, from the hip downward. Any tension will stop the boleo.
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Pivot fully. If you stop your pivot early, you will hold some tension in your body that won't allow you do to a full and natural boleo.
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Let your leg move by itself. When you feel the boleo lead, just let your body respond to it. There is nothing different you need to do. If you try to move your leg into the boleo, the boleo will not work and will be artificial.
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Refine your boleo. Once you can do a boleo whenever it is properly led, practice altering your boleo. Still use the natural momentum of the lead, but try describing a circle in the air behind you when doing a boleo. Also try altering the speed at which you do the boleo, using it as a musical accent.
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Tips & Warnings
Even if you haven't mastered ochos, you will naturally follow a good boleo lead if you can listen to the lead, relax and not try to move your leg.
Keep your knees close when doing a boleo. The movement mainly occurs from the knee down.
As you are learning to do a boleo, realize that your boleos won't look like the boleos that you see on the dance floor. Be patient with yourself and don't try to alter your boleos to conform to what you know they should look like. Only after you are consistent with your boleos should you try to refine them.
Realize that a boleo can be low or high. If you respond naturally to a low boleo lead, your foot will not come off the floor. You can respond to a high boleo lead with a low boleo if you are afraid that you might kick someone, such as at a crowded milonga.
If the leader is leading with too much force, let him know immediately. A boleo should feel comfortable and natural, and a forcefully led boleo can cause back or knee problems.
