ARGENTINE TANGO (TANGO, MILONGA, TANGO VALS AND TANGO FANTASIA)

1. Music: Organizer's music in all rounds EXCEPT the final round of Tango Fantasia, where dancers may use their own choice of music.

2. Length of Exhibition: Two (2) minutes long, to conform to the end of the musical phrase, in all rounds EXCEPT the final round of Tango Fantasia. Music chosen for Tango Fantasia final round performances must not exceed three (3) minutes.

3. Tempo: Tango 30 - 32 bars per minute (120 - 128 beats per minute). Milonga (27-32) Tango Vals (48-55)

4. Characteristics and Movement: Argentine Tango is a social dance that falls into a smooth category of dance. It follows the line of dance (LOD), going around the dance floor in a counter-clockwise direction. This dance form expresses love and passion, which is evident by the closeness of the dancers, the man's control and the woman's seductiveness. The dancers execute the figures mainly from the waist down while trying to achieve an interesting interplay between them. This interplay between the partners is dictated by the music, and the dancers should be dancing to something IN the music. One should be able to see the melody expressed through their movement. The epitome of Argentine Tango is to see the couple dancing with good posture, good extension through the legs, their feet almost always caressing the floor, and pausing with the music with a sense of rhythm that is clear to those watching.

5. Typical Movements: Walks, turns, ochos to front and back, sandwiches, twists and curls, leg-wraps, drags and saccades to front and back, Boleos that leave the floor and other decorations that allow the legs to swing. Molinetes, paradas, barridas, and pauses with the music are also typical of this dance. Brushing and follow-through technique is essential in all movements. Knees must remain together when executing boleos and ganchos, although certain movements do allow the legs to swing open without the knees being closed. (AGM 2008)

6. Preliminary Rounds:. Dancers should avoid using obvious choreography, only improvisation, which is the true heart of the Tango. Couples will be qualified to the quarter-final by dancing three (3) different kinds of tango: The TANGO, the MILONGA and the TANGO VALS. The CROSS MARKING SYSTEM will be used to determine which couples qualify for the quarter-final round. No lifts, separations are allowed. Only normal dance hold is allowed. A 1-minute presentation dance will take place in each dance before the couples are divided into separate heats where not more than six (6) couples will dance together in each heat. All couples must dance the first dance before the next dance will be performed

7. Quarterfinal Rounds: As for #6 above, couples will be qualified to the semi-final by dancing three (3) different kinds of tango: The TANGO, the MILONGA and the TANGO VALS. The CROSS MARKING SYSTEM will be used to determine which couples qualify for the semi-final round.

8. Semi-final Round: As for #7 above, but TANGO will be dropped and TANGO FANTASIA will be added. Only normal dance hold is allowed in MILONGA and TANGO VALS.

9. Lifts, separations : Permitted in TANGO FANTASIA only, and no acrobatic figures / movements are allowed where the main part of the body is above the partner's shoulders.

10. Final Round: Couples will dance MILONGA, TANGO VALS and TANGO FANTASIA. All couples will dance together in Milonga and Tango Vals, and may only use normal dance hold in these two dances. In the Tango Fantasia, each couple will perform alone. Tango Fantasia in the final round of a competition must consist of mainly Argentine tango. Some bars of Milonga or Tangowaltz are permitted. Reason: As in the semi final and the final the tango is not judged anymore and the tango Fantasia is taking his place, couples could get placed without having to dance Argentine tango anymore. The SKATING SYSTEM will be used to determine the order of merit over all three (3) dances.

Rules for "Rising Star" Argentine Tango championships.
1. The same rules will apply as in the above standing rules for Argentine Tango Three Dance Championships.
2. Only the Argentine tango will be danced (one dance championship).
3. It is only allowed to dance in "Abrazzo" all the time. Only "Open and closed hold" are allowed. Couples must stay all the time in dance hold. No jumps , lifts or acrobatics are allowed.

Couples eligible to dance in the "Rising Star" championship.
4. Only couples that did not dance before in the Three Dance Argentine Tango championships are allowed to participate.
5. The winner of the "Rising Star" championship has to dance the next season in the Three Dance championship.
6. If there are more then.8 participants in the Rising Star championship, first three have to dance the next season in the Three Dance championship