Cadencia and the Flow of Tango

When we dance tango, our bodies naturally oscillate as our weight shifts from one foot to the other. This oscillation can be intensified by accelerating the body's movement, creating a pulsating rhythm reminiscent of surging waves. Each surge propels the body into a swing, which then reverses in the opposite direction. This technique, known as cadencia, feels like riding a swing back and forth, producing a soothing, rocking sensation for both dancers—especially for the woman, as she is the one snuggled in his arms and being swayed.

The man swings the woman to one side and the other alternately. Flowing each swing she swivels her hips and pivots her lower body to allow him to reverse the swing in the opposite direction (see Dissociation and Gear Effect). This, in fact, is how ocho is danced. When teaching ocho, tango teachers usually emphasize dissociation—the rotation of the hips, but many overlook cadencia—the swing of the body. Yet, when combined, these two elements not only enhance the elegance of the movement but also create a rhythmic rocking sensation that makes the dance even more enjoyable.

Executing cadencia requires both space and momentum; without them, the body cannot swing freely. This is why experienced dancers prefer to dance in the flow. When the floor is filled with experienced dancers, you can observe a counterclockwise flow of people akin to waves surging forward in sync with the rhythm of the music, and the speed of the flow is quite fast. But if there are too many novices on the dance floor, then the speed of flow slows down. At times it even becomes like a pool of stagnant water.

Beginners who lack an awareness of this flow often remain in place practicing steps, without considering the dancers behind them who are waiting to move forward. On an empty floor, this may not be an issue, but in a crowded room, it disrupts the natural traffic of the dance. Mark Word refers to such dancers as "rocks in the stream." You drive to work in the morning and suddenly there is a slow-moving car in front of you, that is the same kind of feeling. Dancers on a crowded floor must avoid becoming these "rocks in the stream." This doesn’t mean you can never slow down or pause—experienced dancers do this all the time—but they do so only when the music dictates a slowdown or when there is enough space to accommodate the pause. If dancers behind you are approaching, you must keep moving to prevent a traffic jam. This is the code, which all tango dancers must follow.