How to Do a Volcada in Tango

One of the tango moves that impresses beginners most is the volcada. In it, the follower is taken off axis and her leg sweeps around to generally land in a cross. A large volcada is especially dramatic, but it takes quite a bit of skill to dance well.

Instructions

1. Maintain a stable axis. Though a volcada is an off-axis tango move, you need to have a stable axis in order to be taken off of it. Once you have complete control over your axis, you're ready for off-axis moves.

2. Trust your tango leader and allow him to take you off axis. Trust is a skill developed with practice, and only with trust can a volcada work. If you have problems trusting a leader, do some trust exercises in which you lean on him and he supports your weight.

3. Direct your energy down into the leader once you're off axis rather than pushing your weight forward onto him. Maintain your spine length as you do this, just as you do whenever you dance tango. A good image to have is of pulling yourself out of a swimming pool.

4. Keep your core muscles engaged, but don't be stiff. Use your core muscles to ensure that your back doesn't sway or break at the waist, which can create a back problem.

5. Allow your free leg to be loose and to reflect whatever energy the tango leader gives it. There isn't a specific way your leg should move in a volcada, except that it must reflect the lead. Keep your leg free until you are led to change weight. The led weight change is as clear in a volcada as it is in any tango dance step.

6. Regain your axis once you are led back to it. You should return to your stable axis as soon as you are able to so you can continue the dance with full control and balance.

Tips & Warnings

• A volcada can feel like a step if you aren't used to it. As you work on volcadas, practice recognizing the difference between a step and a volcada to help you easily identify each. Pair up with an experienced leader during practica to try it out.

• Volcadas can be very small or quite dramatic. It's best to start with small ones and work up to dramatic volcadas.

• Only trust your leader if he's given you good reason to do so. You can injure yourself in a volcada-especially if the leader drops you. If you don't trust your leader, you can (and should) refuse to follow his volcada lead.

• Don't try to keep your back stiff as you do a volcada, or you may injure it. Focus on your core muscles as a whole instead.

• If you lean forward into your leader, you will feel very heavy-even if you weigh just 100 pounds. Leaning forward can push your tango partner off axis and send both of you out of balance.