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This page illustrates a few specific figures: Develope, Leg Crawl, and Leg Over.

Develope

Develope

The develope is usually done by the woman, and it is essentially a raising of the knee and then a controlled kick.

These four photos show the first half of the develope. She draws her free foot upward, along the supporting leg, up to the supporting knee.

These next four photos show the second half of the develope. She slowly extends the free foot forward in a controlled kick. Of course, the height of the develope and the amount of body extension can vary.

Leg Crawl

The leg crawl is a tango figure, but it is used in a variety of other choreography. The man steps back on his lead and leaves his trail leg extended, to give her something to crawl upon. The woman steps forward and slowly lifts her trail leg up along the man's outer thigh, her toes pointing down. She might lower and lift again in a stroking fashion, if she has the time and is feeling flirtatious. Other styling is certainly possible.

Leg Over

Where the leg crawl occurs in closed position and progresses very little--she crawls and returns to closed position-- the leg over is a real step for the woman, and she moves in relation to her man. She steps over his extended leg and moves from in front to behind him or from behind to in front. The Ocho is a figure that incorporates the leg over. It comes from Argentine Tango and means "eight." The man has no steps but leads the woman to step R, sweep L 1/2, step L, and sweep R 1/2, tracing the figure 8 on the floor. A little fancier, and she steps over his extended right leg, as he sweeps it back and forth to block her progress and force the step over.

© A. Curths; A. Miller; E.Allen; F. Lepretre; P. Sosabowski; from Dancesport UK photo gallery.

Photo Album --Table of Contents

Some Steps, Positions, & Figures


Vernon and Irene Castle:


Fred Astaire — Making Love On the Dance Floor


"I love the nightlife. I've got to boogie.

I want to go where the people dance.
I want some action."

- Alicia Bridges in the song, I Love the Nightlife


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