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The sanguchito
In this class, we introduce the most international figure of Tango. Widely known, this figure is born from a right performance of a backward ocho. When the follower goes to the leader's right, it stays on the left and puts the right foot's internal side next to the follower's left foot's external side. They end up facing each other, each one taking the weight and resting most of the weight on their back leg. The open side of the posture is facing the dancing line.
The leader closes up with the left foot enclosing the left foot’s internal side to the follower's left foot’s internal side and pulls out the right foot continually, pulling it backwards and taking the weight on the new support point. It is like a chess game (the leader moves and the follower moves). The follower is invited to pass by the front, making a complete ocho within the frame of the leader's two support points and finishing it in front of the leader's left foot. The leader closes up with the right foot to the left one. And here ends the step, but they are against the dancing line.
Then we have two options:
1- When follower rests on two feets, it is a start from scratch. The most logical move would be that the leader exits backwards because it does not interrupt the dancing line. But with common sense, most of the time follower do not rest their support points well and, when finishing a forward ocho, they leave their right foot free, and this can lead to a mistake if the leader invites the follower to make an exit where it goes forwards. Consequently...
2- We teach them a front stop. When making the first step forwards, they stop and change the direction of the step to immediately look for the dancing line, turning to the left, outward and finishing with a cruzada.