The Boleo (or Whip)

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A man and a woman dancing argentinian tango on gray studio background

The boleo is an embellishment caused by a ‘whip’ action initiated by the leader, executed when an ocho is quickly reversed in the middle of the ocho move. The leader’s whip action causes the follower’s free foot to be thrown to the side and wrap around her leg at the knee. It is considered an embellishment because the follower allows the pelvis to disassociate from the upper half of the body during the rotation, allowing the free leg to be thrown up and around in an eye catching flourish. The whipping action of the leg during a boleo is called the latigazo (lash).

There are multiple variations of the boleo. The first type of variation is a Back Boleo compared to a Forward Boleo:

Boleo Para Atras (Back Boleo)

The change in rotation results in the backward, swinging action of the free leg.

Boleo de Frente (Forward Boleo)

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The change in rotation results in the free leg wrapping around the front of the supporting leg.

There are 5 types of boleos (Forward Circular Boleo, Back Circular Boleo, Forward Linear Boleo, Back Linear Boleo, and Side Linear Boleo). Circular Boleos involve sending the follower’s free leg to wrap around her supporting leg. Linear boleos involve sending the follower’s free leg in a linear direction either straight back, straight forward, or straight to the side.

How to Do a Boleo