6/3/2017 TheDarkSideSalidaTangoTopics

Tango Topics | Social Dancing Tools

The 'Dark Side' Salida

The Salida. The Spanish word Salida translates in English to Exit or Left
as in the past tense of the verb to Leave. However when we apply this
to Argentine Tango it means something else entirely dierent. It is a
process that includes Cabeceo/Mirada, and the Entrada in the line of
dance, as well as the Exit (Salida) from the dance, and walking your
partner back to where you found them. In BsAs, or more formal
Milongas in the world (including Encuentros), this means walking them
back to their table. This is the process known as Salida. However with
regards to the dance we typically only equate the word Salida with
Entrada phase of the dance, and this is known as a Salida Step. An entry
(or exit) into (or from) the line and/or lane of dance. There is typically
only one that gets talked about and or shown, and thats the very typical
couple side step into the lane of dance. There are, as you might imagine,
loads of others. Todays Tango Topic talks about a very specic and
special one referred as the Dark Side Salida.
http://tangotopics.com/membercontent/darksidesalida/ 1/14
6/3/2017 TheDarkSideSalidaTangoTopics

What is a Dark Side Salida ? It is a Salida step that is entered into from
the Closed side of the embrace. Typically any piece of vocabulary that is
referred to as such is a Dark Side X, where X is the vocabulary is the
mirror copy of the Open side of the embrace. This has nothing to do
with walking systems, or embrace formats. It only refers to the bi-lateral
bisection of the body or in this case the couples embrace.

A Dark Side Salida on the other hand is a whole dierent ball of wax. Its
not your typical side step into the lane of dance, because because
doing so would step you out of the lane of dance and o the oor.
That would be bad. No. A Dark Side Salida step uses very simple, or
basic, tango vocabulary put together to form gure in order to
accentuate the Closed side of the embrace AS the opening step of the
dance! To be fair, while you can use this piece of vocabulary at nearly
any point in the dance, employing as the Salida step has certain benets,
one of which is that it has incredible musical properties (not shown in
the video).

That said, lets take a look at one particular variant of a Dark Side Salida,
and some issues that surround it.

FREEMIUM 30%OFF
ACCESS Subscribefor$1.99 DIAMOND
get access for free, just register enter code: "TANGO7-199" enter code: "DIAMOND-30"

GetGOLD+VIDEO
Membership
get video feedback of your dance!

From A Following Perspective for you this is employing three of your

seven foundational elements. Foundational elements ? Forward, Side,
Back, Embrace/Posture, Disassociation (including Ochos), Turns, and
Crosses. The three youll be using ? Back, Forward, and walking to the

http://tangotopics.com/membercontent/darksidesalida/ 2/14
6/3/2017 TheDarkSideSalidaTangoTopics

Cross. However, for you, there is a tiny little trick that we want to be
aware of. But before we get there we have to talk about the dreaded
Armpit Dancer. Eeeeek! In this instance, you as the Follower are going
to be specically placed in the leads armpit. And you actually want to be
there, strange as that may sound. This is one of the few times (there are
only 4), where this is completely desirable, because youve been led to
do so. Every other time (aside from the 4) you want to be buttons-to-
buttons, or in front of the lead. In this instance you dont. There is an
instance of transition where for just an instant (as you can see in the
splash shot above), where the Follower ends up in the leads armpit and
this is desirable. But, and heres the kicker, it only happens for an
instant.

Now to the little caveat of this piece of vocabulary for you. In nearly
every piece of Tango vocabulary there is an aspect of going around the
lead (the action, not the person - hence the lowercase l). The Dark Side
Salida Step reinforces this idea, specically on the Followers forward
step (not shown in the video above unless youre a subscriber). It is
absolutely necessary for you to take a long forward step around the
lead. Far too often the Follower takes a smaller forward step (known as
the Non-Forward Step) where they end up in front of the lead OR they
step away from their lead in linear fashion. Neither of these two states
are desirable. Instead we, was Followers want to step towards and
around the lead! To be fair, stepping too close to the lead will create an
instability, stepping too far away creates another kind of instability, but
its an instability none the less. Ideally there is a sweet spot for how far
or close you can step towards or away from someone. This is slightly
dierent for each person based on height and girth as mitigating factors.

http://tangotopics.com/membercontent/darksidesalida/ 3/14
6/3/2017 TheDarkSideSalidaTangoTopics

Theres one more thing about this particular Dark Side Salida Step, its
going to throw you a bit, itll feel awkward in the moment. The reason is
that youre so used to doing the typical Salida step that itll be a bit of a
surprise as in, WTH is this guy doing ?. Youre going to have that
moment of fear that the lead is going to pull out some crazy, wild,
strange piece of vocabulary that they just learned 10 minutes earlier and
havent really practiced all that much except in their heads. And
rightfully you should worry or concern yourself with this, be ever
vigilant. However, thats no reason not to ground yourself in your
foundational elements (forward, side, back, etc). Doing so will help you
to survive those moments of WTH!!.

FREEMIUM 30%OFF
ACCESS Subscribefor$1.99 DIAMOND
get access for free, just register enter code: "TANGO7-199" enter code: "DIAMOND-30"

GetGOLD+VIDEO
Membership
get video feedback of your dance!

From a Leading Perspective this is a pattern. No doubt about it. So lets

dive right into it. Like all patterns, it has some areas where it works,
some areas where it doesnt, where you should use it, where you
shouldnt and so on. The upside to a Dark Side Salida Step is that theyre
insanely easy to do and create lots of space for variation instead of the
same ol same ol. Even the variation has variations on top of variations.
Still one more, is that it does create a bit of a surprise for the Follower
(as indicated above) from the standard side step - lets dance thing that
happens. The down side is that it can get old very quickly, and rather
repetitive. It is for this reason that we want to study Enganches (Wraps),
Ganchos, Cross variations, and Walking Systems! That last one is
insanely important especially in a Dark Side Salida Steps!

http://tangotopics.com/membercontent/darksidesalida/ 4/14
6/3/2017 TheDarkSideSalidaTangoTopics

This particular Dark Side Salida Step has three components to it that
does require some thought and some practice. What are they ? 1.) The
opening weight change. 2.) Leading the Forward Step around. 3.) The
Capture!

1.) The Opening Weight Change. Far too often we, as leads, force a
weight change onto the Follower by either pushing (or pulling) them into
weight shift, typically its done by Compression (read that as squeezing
the living daylights out of your Followerstsk, tsk, tsk). The more you
compress, the more the Follower has to go with. Its not desirable and
yet its done all the time. This weight change has to be done a
completely dierent way, and thats why we reinforce learning 2
dierent kinds of weight changes. a.) the WITH Weight Change. and b.)
the WITHOUT Weight Change. The With weight change is exactly what it
sounds like, you change weight WITH the Follower. Pretty simple, no ?
However, the WITHOUT weight change is where all the fun is at. This
where you change which foot the Follower is on, WITHOUT changing you
at all. And heres the kicker, you can not use force or compression to do
it. It doesnt work. It is for this reason that its insanely important to learn
the secret of executing a WITHOUT weight transfer (clearly
demonstrated and explained in this video on this site) without the use of
force because it doesnt work in all situations under all conditions. This is
also another reason to learn to dance with intention and not
resistance. An intention based dancer has far more options and
opportunities than a resistance based dancer does. And the only way
that youll know that is by studying with an Intention Based Teacher
(Hint, hint, hint).

http://tangotopics.com/membercontent/darksidesalida/ 5/14
6/3/2017 TheDarkSideSalidaTangoTopics

2.) Leading The Forward Step Around. This is another place where most
leads fail. Why ? Because they forget that they actually have to rotate
their upper torso (along with their arms!) and not just push and pull with
their arms. Most male Leads dont necessarily understand or
comprehend their own physiological pressure that they place on their
Followers bodies with their arms and hands via physiological
compression, force, tension, hand pressure, forearm pressures, and the
like. Its not exactly desirable or a pleasurable experience, and yet this is
exactly what happens for most male Leads. The only way that theyll feel
this and really understand whats going on is rst by dancing with a
Resistance Based Lead that uses pressure and compression to move
them. And then immediately afterwards, to see the sharp comparison,
dancing with an Intention Based Lead. How does this relate to the
Forward step around themselves ? Because most male leads dont
realize intention based leading exists, and almost never realize it, and
end up pushing and pulling their Followers, not around themselves, but
actually away from themselves in linear fashion (on a line away). When
instead what they want to do is rotate their Torso (specically employing
T7, T8, T9 of their upper spinal column) around their spine by use of
intention. Slowly going with the Follower not pushing them. Indicating
but not pushing. The problem here is that most leads forget this stu
and rush through X, Y, and Z and just expect that they Follower will
haphazardly just follow the lead. When in fact the lead itself is unclear
and doesnt allow for the Follower to just follow but instead rushes
them through it.

3.) Capturing The Follower. This one is probably the trickiest of the
bunch caveats above. Because your want is to stop the Followers motion
and redirect it. And that means using your arms. However in this case,
http://tangotopics.com/membercontent/darksidesalida/ 6/14
6/3/2017 TheDarkSideSalidaTangoTopics

you do not want to use your arms. You actually want to use your motion,
or in this case your not-motion! This is referred as a Null-lead or a No-
lead where the arms (specically the Leads right) acts as a structural
element and nothing more than that. Far too often when learning this
particular Dark Side Salida Step most Leads compress the hell out of
their Followers with their right arm around their Followers, and this is a
major no-no. The Capture in this case is very gentle and entirely non-
compressive!We want fabric to skin contact and nothing more than that.

This particular Dark Side Salida Step employs a weight change, a cross
system walk, then a capture (!!!), then leading a circular forward step,
and then nally walking them to the cross! It can be used anywhere
inside the dance not just as a Salida step, its great in place of an
Alteration step, where you want to change the direction of the Follower.
Its also great musically because it has so many possibilities attached to
it. Its also a lot of fun to execute and has lots of variance to it. Lots and
lots actually! With a small modication it could be turned into a Gooey
Gancho, an Enganche (for either role), a force back cross on the Step
around, or even a Soltada! Just to name a few. There are so many
options here that its mind boggling. You could literally use this Dark Side
Salida Step as the gateway to opening your dance to do a whole variety
of things, not just the step itself.

http://tangotopics.com/membercontent/darksidesalida/ 7/14
6/3/2017 TheDarkSideSalidaTangoTopics

try these articles

From a Dancing Perspective its cool. Theres no doubt about it. However,
98% will not dance it, mostly because they dont know it exists. That and
there is always the tried and true Simple Open Side Salida Step as their
entrada. This is what youll see 98% of the time dancing. However, pay
attention when you see a dierent Salida step, it means that that
particular lead is thinking outside the box. It means that someone want
to do something dierent not because it looks cool, but because theyve
been thinking about how to surprise their dance partners and make the
dance that much more inviting and exciting than the run of the mill
Salida step that permeates every single tanda. Side step, begin dancing,
side step, end dancing. Over and over again. With a Dark Side Salida
Step its anything but that! And the world is your oyster.

The Free Tip. This particular Salida step will force the Follower to cross
their body meridian! As Followers we dont want to do this, ever. So this

http://tangotopics.com/membercontent/darksidesalida/ 8/14
6/3/2017 TheDarkSideSalidaTangoTopics

is a matter of technique to stop or to train ourselves not to do this.

Because you're not a payingsubscriber, yet - hint, hint, hint, you can
alwaysbuy this video for the kingly sum of $15.99 for 13:19 of HD video.

Watching It On Youtube. Why should you pay for this video, or subscribe
to this website when stu like this is available on Youtube ? Because
what you'll nd on Youtube doesn't explain, with real world examples, of
how this stu works! Thats why! Youre missing the how and why
things work. So, please, go right ahead, go watch all the presentation
videos you want. Spend your time, trying to infer, and gure out from
the single camera angle how things might work in that situation. That
may help you, but you're missing something! The explanation from an
experienced teacher! Which is precisely why those videos exist on
Youtube. The goal of those videos is to entice you to actually go study
with those teachers in person. Eventually, one way or another youre
going to pay for this lesson, either here and now, or with them. The
dierence between that lesson and this ? Is that you get to play this
lesson over and over and over again. Further still, there are supporting
materials (other videos) that help to explain the language and the under
lining technique. Which in an hour long class, with the blind leading the
blind through rotation of partners (uuuggggh!), you may glean a piece of
the information you need and not get the whole thing, and youll miss
important pieces that youll end up having to take a private lesson for to
get the ner points. This way, you can watch over and over again, and
get all the supplementary materials, and if you want you can still go take
the class, only youll be better armed to do so!

http://tangotopics.com/membercontent/darksidesalida/ 9/14
6/3/2017 TheDarkSideSalidaTangoTopics

The Last Word.Tango Topics is little reminders and snippets of

information that your teachers would have told you about but didnt
have time to or didnt care to remind you for the umpteenth millionth
time. Do you need videos like these ? Yes. Why ? Simpleyou need as
many reminders as possible in as many forms as you can get. In todays
Tango world it does take a village to raise a dancer. And that means
having as many voices, reminders, ideas, concepts, perspectives as
possible. This video and the rest of the ones that are sitting behind the
Tango Topics paywall are that. While what youre seeing above is only
the smallest hint of whats contained in the actual video. It should be
enough for you to make a reasoned and intelligent choice that perhaps
theres something of value in this site and the videos that are here.
Considering becoming a Gold, Gold Plus, or Diamond level subscriber
today.The Soup. A few things with regards to this particular toy, and it is
a toy.

1.) Leading: You dont want to overuse this. This is one of those pieces of
vocabulary, that while being insanely versatile, it can be over used way
too much! So ideally youll want to open with it once, and let it go after
that. This is all about creating versatility in your Salidas, variances. We
like variation because its not too dierent and at the same time is
playful and fun.

2.) Following: One caveat to keep in mind, thats not mentioned above
but is in a few other places on the site, specically in the Open Embrace
Molinete videos. As you take your forward step around your lead, and
youre going around them, remember not to tilt your torso into your
lead. Bad idea. It creates 2 things we dont want. a.) An undesirable

http://tangotopics.com/membercontent/darksidesalida/ 10/14
6/3/2017 TheDarkSideSalidaTangoTopics

visual line of the coupletsk, tsk, tsk. b.) An instability, mostly in the Lead
that youre hanging on! Againtsk, tsk, tsk.

3.) Leading: Remember to create space for the Follower to go around

you and not to push or pull them, to quite literally start your rotation
from your spinal column. It is for this reason that I reinforce
Disassociation study. Please go look at the video. That Disassociation
is what leads the Follower to want to take a Forward step! Get this right,
constantly and your Followers will be pleasantly surprised, screw it up,
and youre going to get talked about, and not in a good way.

4.) Following: This is nitpicking, but something to keep in the back of

your head. A good number of dancers, not necessarily Followers, watch
their partners feet. In this instance when taking the Forward step, youre
going to have a desire to watch your own feet. Dont. It breaks the visual
line of the couple! Keep your head up!

5.) Leading: To execute or to understand the Opening Weight Change, go

look at the video on Weight-Change Step. If youre confused about how
to initiate the opening step, that video will clear up the issue entirely.
Pay close attention to the second part of the video at 01:21 which talks
about this very specic and important element.

6.) Following: Watch out for The Default Gancho error! You want to take
a straight step backwards, and train yourself to do exactly that. Watch
the video on Back Step Corrections!

7.) Leading: Youre going to need a reminder on Captures, fortunately

you have one. Look at the video the Soltada, This contains most of what

http://tangotopics.com/membercontent/darksidesalida/ 11/14
6/3/2017 TheDarkSideSalidaTangoTopics

you need to know about how to hold your Follower in the capture itself.

8.) Following: More nitpicking - Keep an eye out for Pretty Knees! This is
a major no-no. We do not want to break the line of the couple and this
particular Follower error does that in spades. [/mepr-active]

FREEMIUM 30%OFF
ACCESS Subscribefor$1.99 DIAMOND
get access for free, just register enter code: "TANGO7-199" enter code: "DIAMOND-30"

GetGOLD+VIDEO
Membership
get video feedback of your dance!

Share this:

The Argentine Dip

LogOut
Account
Videos
Cart
Orders
Download
s

Subscriptio
n
BuyVideos
subscription
FREE
LEVEL
DailyTango

http://tangotopics.com/membercontent/darksidesalida/ 12/14
6/3/2017 TheDarkSideSalidaTangoTopics

TangoCities
SEARCH!
Search

Copyright 2017 Tango Topics

http://tangotopics.com/membercontent/darksidesalida/ 13/14
6/3/2017 TheDarkSideSalidaTangoTopics

http://tangotopics.com/membercontent/darksidesalida/ 14/14