The Back Ocho (or Backward Ocho)

3 minutes read

The Back Ocho is one of the fundamental tango steps and is one of the first steps taught to beginners. The Back Ocho could be thought of as the opposite of the Front Ocho.

The leader must lead every Back Ocho. The follower should only follow what is led. The follower must always wait for the lead. If the follower feels like nothing is led, the follower should wait and do nothing. However, once a follower gets into the rhythm of the back ocho it is tempting to just keep going. This urge should be resisted by the follower.

The leader typically starts the Back Ocho with a step to the left with their left foot with their right foot immediately following to rejoin the left foot. This step to the left is initiated by the leader’s chest which causes the follower to take a step to the right with their right foot again immediately followed by their left foot also rejoining the right foot. At the completion of this first step the leader’s weight should stay on their left foot and the follower’s weight should stay on their right foot. Both the leader’s and follower’s feet should be together. At this point the leader will gently transfer their weight from their left foot from their right foot making sure not to transfer the follower’s weight. The leader should the turn their chest to the left causing the follower to also turn their chest to the left which in turn causes the follower to pivot 90 degrees on their right foot. At this point, the Back Ocho begins with the leader taking another step to the left. This results in the follower taking a back cross step with their left foot and the follower’s weight transfers from their right foot to the left. The follower’s step is perpendicular to the line between the partners.

As the follower completes their step and transfers their weight from right foot to left foot, the leader (who has completed their step to the left) turns their chest to the right causing the follower to do a 180 degree half turn pivot. At this point the leader steps back to the right returning to their original position. This step to the right causes the follower to take a back cross step with their right foot also ending up back where they started.

The leader can then repeat this same sequence beginning with moving their chest to the left causing the follower to do a 180 degree half turn pivot to again face backwards.

There are a number of ways to exit the Back Ocho. As a beginner, the easiest exit for the leader is to stop one of the pivots with a quarter turn rather than a full 180 degree turn so the follower is facing the leader and the leader and follower can fully reconnect their embrace.

If the exit is on the leader’s left (or open) side the follower’s right foot will be free. The leader should shift to their right foot so they can then step forward on their left in order to go to a typical tango resolution (step 6 in the Basic Eight). If the pivot on the closed or right side was stopped, the follower’s left foot will be free. The leader should shift their weight onto their left so that they may step back with their right (step 1 of the Basic Eight).

There are some important points of technique to remember:

The follower should stay on the balls of the feet. If the heels touch the floor the pivots will be extremely difficult to execute. The pivot should be performed with legs together. Followers must keep their feet and legs together as they pivot. After stepping with the working leg (which will pivot), the free foot must immediately be brought next to the working leg. Finally, the followers should dissociate to keep their chest facing the leader as much as possible.

The leader should lead by moving the chest, not the arms. The leader should think about leading primarily by turning the chest and the arms will follow. The leader should dissociate to keep their chest facing the follower. The leader must dissociate slightly to keep their chest facing the follower.

Here are some great videos that demonstrate the Back Ocho:

How to Do the Back Ocho by Diego Blanco & Ana Padrón.