You can use the double-hand hold position or the closed position. For the double-hand hold followers place their hands inside the cupped hands of the leader, remembering to connect through the fingers, not the palms. For the closed position, the leader's left and follower's right hands are positioned as with the double-hand hold. The leader's right hand is placed on the follower's back under the shoulder blade. The follower's left hand rests on the “V” of the leader's right arm just below the shoulder.

Swing is a very free-flowing dance. It is full of improvised moves, or so it seems. In order to keep your swing moves smooth, the leader and follower must have good effective communication. That communication comes through your physical connection. So while it is true that you can relax some and let the music take you, there are a few things to keep in mind.

1. Keep the rock-steps small. The rock-step is a great “together” step. It helps let both partners feel the rhythm together.
2. Keep the knees slightly bent. Balancing your weight on the balls of your feet helps to be able to move your feet quickly.
3. Keep the fingers loose. The connection is in the fingers, not the palm of the hand. When doing turns, let the fingers slide! If you keep a death grip on your partner, your poor fingers get all twisted.
4. Keep the arms around waist height. Too much flailing of the arms severly limits being able to go from move to move quickly. Followers especially should keep their arms ready at waist height even when the hands aren't connected, this way the leader knows right where to go to re-connect.

The basic swing step is the most important step. All other steps and swing moves are dependent on a natural feeling of the basic step. The best way to think of the beats of the basic step is "slow, slow, quick, quick". The "quick, quick" is the rock-step, and it is twice as fast as the slow. The rock-step is a quick shifting of the weight from one foot to the other by placing one foot behind the other. Keep the rock-step small!

Start with the feet at a comfortable shoulder width apart. On beat one step on your left. On beat two step on your right. On beat three rock-step back with the left.

Start with the feet at a comfortable shoulder width apart. On beat one step on your right. On beat two step on your left. On beat three rock-step back with the right.

Lift left hand up and to the left on the rock-step. Continue doing the basic while the follower turns. When follower is back to facing the leader, the leader brings the hand back down. Remember to keep the fingers loose! A good method is keep the leader's hand on top of the followers, face down. The followers hand is face up, allowing an easy turn where fingers do not get twisted.

Feel right hand lifted up and to the right on the rock-step. On beat one, step to the right with the right foot. On beat two step with the left and circle around to right. Finish with the rockstep on right. Remember to take your time, there is no need to spin around in one beat, take the whole two beats.

Lift hand up and to the right (across your body) on the rock-step. Continue doing the basic while the follower turns. When follower is back to facing the leader, leader brings the hand back down.

Feel right hand rise up to the left. On beat one, step to the left with the right foot. On beat two step with the left and circle around to the left. Finish withthe rockstep on right.

The Outside Turn sends the follower out on a turn and brings them back in the same way the went out with an Inside Turn.

Lead an Outside Turn as normal. Leave the left hand up and give a slight tug during the rock-step of the Outside Turn to indicate the follower should do an Inside Turn back. Continue to do the basic while the follower does the turns.

Do an Outside Turn as normal. When you feel your right arm staying up, you know you're doing an Inside Turn right after the Outside Turn. Right after the rock-step of the Outiside Turn, start the Inside Turn. So you will have rock-step on right, then (while turning) right, left, rock-step.

The Dual Turn is an Outside / Inside turn where the leader also turns on the second half. The "dual turn" lets the leader and follower switch places.

Lead an Outside Turn as normal. After the Outside Turn both leader and follower turn at the same time. At the rock-step of the Outside Turn continue to lead the follower in her Inside Turn, but you must now do an Outside Turn. The steps of the turn are: rock-step, step out toward the left with left foot, keep turning and step with right, then end with rock-step. During the second turn both leader and follower pass under the joined hands. You are switching places with the follower so after the turn aim to end up where the follower was. The leader should let the follower pass through first. This prevents any unwanted collisions. A good way to let the follower pass first is to take the first step of the turn without turning the shoulders, and then as you take the second step of the turn, rotate the shoulders through.

Do an Outside / Inside Turn as normal. Be aware that on the Inside Turn part, the leader will also be turning. You are switching places with the follower so aim the Inside Turn so you end up where the leader was.

For the Wasit Brush the leader does an Outside Turn as the follower brushes their hand along the leader's waist and back.

This is a "lead by doing" move. After a rock-step, begin an Outside Turn on beat one by stepping to the left on your left foot. As you take that step, place the follower's right hand (held with your left) onto your waist. Make sure your own right arm is waist high so it can pass over the follower's right arm. Continue the Outside Turn with the right foot, then as you rock-step simply place the hands back into basic position with your partner.

When the leader begins an Outside Turn, they place your right hand on their waist. Continue the basic as the leader turns, allowing your right hand to brush along the leaders back. When the leader is facing you again you will join hands back to basic position.

Lead a Waist Brush as normal. After doing your turn and coming around again to face the follower, grab the follower's right hand with your own right hand right before the rock-step. Do not join left hands. Now you are in a shaking-hands position. Continue the Basic Step with your feet and lift your right hand up on the rock-step to lead an Inside Turn. This brings the follower across infront of you. On beat two, when the follower passes you, you must switch the hand you're using from the right to the left. Now as you both face each other and rock-step, grab her left hand with your right, and you are back to basic position.

Follow the waist brush as normal. When the leader comes around out of the turn, they will grab your right hand. Feel your right hand being lifted to an Inside Turn on the rock-step. On beat one step to the leader's left on your right foot. Continue turning to your left and bring your left foot through on beat two. When you pass the leader, they will switch the hands they are holding your right hand with, then you rock-step together, the leader will grab your left hand with their right, and you're be back to the basic position.

The Waist Brush Behind the Back Turn begins with a Waist Brush & Turn, except the leader passes hands behind their back at the end.

Lead a Waist Brush & Turn as normal. After you are in the shaking-hands position. The follower does the same Inside Turn as before, but you also do a turn to your left. On beat one after you have the shaking-hands position, you will step forward on your left foot as you raise your right hand to lead the Inside Turn. Let the follower pass under your right arm. After they are through, turn to the left as you bring your right foot around and at the same time let your right hand go behind your back, pass off the follower's hand from your right hand to your left hand behind your back. Finish your turn, rock-step and join hands back to the basic position.

Follow the Waist Brush & Turn as normal. When you get to the Inside Turn, be aware that the leader is doing a turn right after you pass through the turn. Keep your right arm loose so the leader can pass it behind their back. Your Inside Turn will be a quick one (more like one beat) due to the leader's simultaneous turn.

Dance form is very important to the Tango. Begin with the follower offset to the leader's right. Each foot should have its own "track" (1-4) which allows steps to be taken directly toward your partner. The leader places their right hand on the follower's back, just below the shoulder blade. Keep the fingers together and angle them so they point slightly downward. The follower places their left hand on the leader's right arm. Feel for the "V" just below the shoulder. Find a comfortable spot (this varies with height differences). The leader's left hand and the follower's right are joined by the follower placing their hand in the leader's, with the forearms angled up. The elbows should be at approximately the same height. The follower should not rest all the weight of their left arm on the leader, and the joined hands should not be held too tightly.

The key to control and communication through this form is the connection on the follower's right side and leader's left side. The follower must push off of the leader's shoulder to create pressure that is felt by both partners. This can be felt through the leader's shoulder and follower's hand, as well as the leader's hand and follower's back. Once this connection is made firm, leading and following moves will feel 100% more natural.

Some points to remember:

1. Step toward your partner. Don't be afraid of steping on toes. Keep the 4 tracks in mind and be confident with your steps.
2. No bouncing allowed. To keep your steps smooth, keep your knees slightly bent, just enough to absorb the bounce. Leaders take heel-to-toe steps, and followers take toe-to-heel steps. Good practice is to watch your head in a mirror; as you take the steps your head should not change height.
3. Enjoy. After all, this is the dance of love. One of the best ways to improve your dancing is to give your partner a smile. Stay relaxed and enjoy the dance, that's when you dance your best.

The Tango's basic step is one of the most beautiful and most recognizable dance steps. Remember to take all steps in the direction you are traveling (no fair steping out to the side to avoid foot collisions). The count to the basic is "slow, slow, quick - side, drag". The "quick" and "side" are each twice as fast as the "slow" and "drag". There is no need to rush the "drag". One stylistic choice is to let the "drag" carry all the way into the next "slow" so there is always a smooth continuous motion.

Take heel-to-toe steps. On beat one step forward with your left (slow). On beat two step forward with your right (slow). On the first half of beat three step forward with your left (quick). On the second half of beat three step slightly forward and to the right side with your right (side). Now on beat four drag your left foot up to the side of your right (drag).

Take toe-to-heel steps. On beat one step back with your right (slow). On beat two step back with your left (slow). On the first half of beat three step back with your right (quick). On the second half of beat three step slightly back and to the left side with your left (side). Now on beat four drag your right foot up to the side of your left (drag).

The Hesitation is a sort of in-place basic step. It can be used to avoid other couples on the dance floor, fill in during transitions, and adjust for corners.

On the first half of beat one step forward with your left. As you take that step, give a small pull on the follower's back with your right hand. This is the indication that you are leading the Hesitation instead of the Basic. On the second half of beat one bring your right foot up beside your left. Do not transfer weight to the left foot, just lightly touch it to the floor. On the first half of beat two step back with your right. Your right hand should be guiding the follower toward you. On the second half of beat two bring your left foot beside your right. Again just lightly touch it to the floor and do not shift your weight to it. Now you'll be heading foward again so give a slight lean with your shoulder into the follower's left hand so they sense the change in direction. On the first half of beat three step forward with your left. On the second half of beat three step slightly forward and to the right side with your right. Now on beat for drag your left foot up to the side of your right.