• Paddling – A dance term for one foot to “paddle”, or make small pushing steps, to help rotate, probably originating from the concept of paddling in a circle in a row boat.

• Paicas - A lunfardo word for girl. See Tanguero, Lunfardo, Milonguera, Milonguita, Bailarín, Aficionado, Compadre, Vareador, Compadrito, Grelas, Guapo, Portranca, Mina, Pebeta, and Planchadoras.

• Palancas (Lever) - Key Pattern 5 in Gold Vals. Describes the subtle assisting of the woman by the man during jumps or lifts in Tango Fantasia (stage tango).

• Palizada (Palisade) - A variation of Pasadas in Gold Tango.

• Paradas y Despedidas (Stops And Fallaways) - From parar - to stop; a stop. Key Pattern 6 in Bronze Tango.The man stops the woman, usually as she steps crossing back in back Ochos or Molinete, with pressure inward at the woman’s back and at her balance hand and with a slight downward thrust, preventing further movement. When properly led the woman stops with her feet extended apart, front and back, and her weight centered. The man may extend his foot to touch her forward foot as an additional cue and element of style or he may pivot and step back to mirror her position (Fallaway). This figure includes the Counter Fallaway also.

• Paradita (Short Stop) - A variation of Media Vuelta in Gold Pecho.

• Parallel System - The natural condition when a couple dance in an embrace facing each other, the man stepping on his left, the woman on her right foot, and then the man stepping on his right, the woman on her left foot, regardless of direction. Compare this to the Cross System. See Caminada, Caminar, Contra Body Movement, Contra Body Movement Position, Corridata, Cross System, Elevadas,Entregarme, Giro, Junta, Lento, Liso, Marcar, Mira, Otra Vez, Paso, Pisar, Puente, Seguirv and Suave.

• Parejas (Couple) - The two partners in a tango. See Milonga, Confitería Bailable, Bailongo, Bailar, Ronda, Práctica, Orquesta, Piso, Pista, Bandoneón, Abrazo, Pinta, Postura, Bien Parado, Códigos, Cortina, Bailamos, Tanda, and Cabeceó.

• Pasadas (Passes, Pasada: Passing Over) - Key Pattern 4 in Gold Tango. Occurs when the man has stopped the woman with foot contact and leads her to step forward over his extended foot. Used frequently at the end of Molinete or after a Mordida. The woman may, at her discretion, step over the man’s foot or trace her toe on the floor around its front. Pasada provides the most common opportunity for the woman to add Adornos or Firuletes of her own and a considerate man will give the woman time to perform if she wishes.

• Pasadita (Little Pass) - A variation of Paradas y Despedidas in Bronze Tango done with Resoluciion Derecha.

• Pase de Pecho (Chest Pass) - A variation of Cambio de Frente de Sentido in Gold Milonga.

• Paseo (Promenade) - A variation in Construccion Básica in Bronze Tango and Bronze Milonga and Bronze Vals and a variation of Cadena in Bronze Milonga.

• Paso (A Step) See Caminada, Caminar, Contra Body Movement, Contra Body Movement Position, Corridata, Cross System, Elevadas,Entregarme, Giro, Junta, Lento, Liso, Marcar, Mira, Otra Vez, Parallel System, Pisar, Puente, Seguirv and Suave.

• Paso de Polo (Chicken Step) - A variation of Entrecortado in Gold Vals. Performed on a back right turning step similar to a Ocho Cortado, but perform a double corte.

• Paso Felino (Feline Step) - A variation of Giro Marchando in Silver Tango.

• Paso Madre (Mother Step) - A variation of Rebotes in Gold Pecho.

• Patada (A Kick) - A kick. See Adorno, Amague, Caricias, Carpa, Castigada, Chiche, Conclusion, Contrapaso, Cuartas, Cuatro, Cucharita, Dibujo, Elevacion, Entrada, Fanfarron, Firulete, Frappé, Friccion, Gancho, Golpes, Latigo, Patada, Pausa, Picados, Punteo, Resolution, Ronde, Sacada, Salida, Saltito, Sandwiche, Sanguchito, Stork, Toque and Truco.

• Pausa (Pause; Wait) - Hold a position or pose for two or more beats of music. Also called suspension. See Adorno, Amague, Caricias, Carpa, Castigada, Chiche, Conclusion, Contrapaso, Cuartas, Cuatro, Cucharita, Dibujo, Elevacion, Entrada, Fanfarron, Firulete, Frappé, Friccion, Gancho, Golpes, Latigo, Patada, Pausa, Picados, Punteo, Resolution, Ronde, Sacada, Salida, Saltito, Sandwiche, Sanguchito, Stork, Toque and Truco.

• Pebeta - A Lunfardo word for young woman or girl. See Tanguero, Lunfardo, Milonguera, Milonguita, Bailarín, Aficionado, Compadre, Vareador, Compadrito, Grelas, Guapo, Portranca, Mina, Paicas, and Planchadoras.

• Pecho (Chest) - See Brazos, Cintura, Cuerpo, Dedo, Espalda, Pie, Pierna, and Rodillas.

• Péndulo (Pendulum) - Key Pattern 3 in Bronze Milonga.

• Phrase - Music and Dance Term. Music phrases are the "Sentences" of music. In music theory, a phrase is the smallest musical unit that conveys a more or less complete musical thought. If you listen to the music, you can hear a completion at the end of the phrase. Often, the lyrics will follow the phrasing. In the majority of music, there are generally 8 or 16 measures in a phrase - both 4/4 and 3/4. For example, count any piece of music on the beats, starting from either at the beginning of the music, or at what you might perceive as the start of a phrase: (1)2345678, (2)2345678, (3)2345678, (4)2345678, (5)2345678, (6)2345678, (7)2345678, (8)2345678. Notice the song and lyrics tend to complete and then start anew. Dances should be choreographed around these phrases, and this is the most substantial challenge to the lead to develop the real-time chorography with musicality. A dance instructor normally develops routines that are the length of a phrase. See Beat, Compás, Improvisational, Lead, Legato, Musicality, Ostinato, Phrase, Ritmo, Rubato, Staccato and Syncopation.

• Picados - A flicking upward of the heel when turning or stepping forward. Usually done as an advanced embellishment to ochos or when walking forward. See Adorno, Amague, Caricias, Carpa, Castigada, Chiche, Conclusion, Contrapaso, Cuartas, Cuatro, Cucharita, Dibujo, Elevacion, Entrada, Fanfarron, Firulete, Frappé, Friccion, Gancho, Golpes, Latigo, Patada, Pausa, Picados, Punteo, Resolution, Ronde, Sacada, Salida, Saltito, Sandwiche, Sanguchito, Stork, Toque and Truco.

• Picoteo (Pecking) - A variation of Vuelta in Gold Pecho.

• Pie (Foot) - See Brazos, Cintura, Cuerpo, Dedo, Espalda, Pecho, Pierna, and Rodillas.

• Pierna (Leg) - See Brazos, Cintura, Cuerpo, Dedo, Espalda, Pecho, Pie, and Rodillas.

• Piernazos (High Wraps) - Key Pattern 8 in Gold Tango.

• Pinta (Appearance; Presentation) - Includes clothes, grooming, posture, expression, and manner of speaking and relating to the world. See Bien Parado. See Milonga, Confitería Bailable, Bailongo, Bailar, Ronda, Práctica, Orquesta, Bandoneón, Parejas, Abrazo, Códigos, Cortina, Bailamos, Tanda, and Cabeceó.

• Pisada - see Empujadita/Pisada.

• Pisar (To Step) - See Caminada, Caminar, Contra Body Movement, Contra Body Movement Position, Corridata, Cross System, Elevadas,Entregarme, Giro, Junta, Lento, Liso, Marcar, Mira, Otra Vez, Parallel System, Paso, Puente, Seguir and Suave.

• Piso (Floor) - See Milonga, Confitería Bailable, Bailongo, Bailar, Ronda, Práctica, Orquesta, Pista, Bandoneón, Parejas, Abrazo, Pinta, Postura, Bien Parado, Códigos, Cortina, Bailamos, Tanda, and Cabeceó.

• Pista (Dance Floor) - See Milonga, Confitería Bailable, Bailongo, Bailar, Ronda, Práctica, Orquesta, Piso, Bandoneón, Parejas, Abrazo, Pinta, Postura, Bien Parado, Códigos, Cortina, Bailamos, Tanda, and Cabeceó.

• Pivote Doble (Double Pivot) - A variation of Rebotes in Gold Pecho.

• Planchadoras - The women who sit all night at the milongas without being asked to dance. The main reason for that is because they don't know how to dance well enough. Yes, it may seem cruel but one of the many tango lyrics actually says something like, "let them learn as a consequence of sitting all night." See Tanguero, Lunfardo, Milonguera, Milonguita, Bailarín, Aficionado, Compadre, Vareador, Compadrito, Grelas, Guapo, Portranca, Mina, Paicas, and Pebeta.

• Planeo (Glide) - A variation of Contra Planeo in Gold Vals. Occurs when the man steps forward onto a foot, usually his left, and pivots with the other leg trailing (gliding behind) as the woman dances an additional step or two around him. May also occur when the man stops the woman in mid stride with a slight downward lead and dances around her while pivoting her on the supporting leg as her extended leg either trails or leads. Can be done by either the man or the woman.

• Planeo Inverso (Reverse Glide) - A variation of Contra Planeo in Gold Vals.

• Portraits

• Postura (Posture) - Correct posture for tango is erect and elegant with the shoulders always over the hips and relaxed, and with the center carried forward toward the dance partner over the toes and balls of the feet. See Milonga, Confitería Bailable, Bailongo, Bailar, Ronda, Práctica, Orquesta, Piso, Pista, Bandoneón, Parejas, Abrazo, Pinta, Bien Parado, Códigos, Cortina, Bailamos, Tanda and Cabeceó.

• Potranca (Young Female Racehorse) - Sometimes used to refer to a beautiful long-legged Argentine woman. See Tanguero, Lunfardo, Milonguera, Milonguita, Bailarín, Aficionado, Compadre, Vareador, Compadrito, Grelas, Guapo, Mina, Paicas, Pebeta, and Planchadoras.

• Práctica - An informal practice session for tango dancers. See Milonga, Confitería Bailable, Bailongo, Bailar, Ronda, Orquesta, Piso, Pista, Bandoneón, Parejas, Abrazo, Pinta, Postura, Bien Parado, Códigos, Cortina, Bailamos, Tanda, and Cabeceó.

• Puente (Bridge) - See Caminada, Caminar, Contra Body Movement, Contra Body Movement Position, Corridata, Cross System, Elevadas, Entregarme, Giro, Junta, Lento, Liso, Marcar, Mira, Otra Vez, Parallel System, Paso, Pisar, Seguirv and Suave.

• Punteo (Point; With the Point; Peck) - Rhythmic toe taps to the floor done with the toe, or point, of the shoe while the foot is moving over the floor in a sweeping movement as in Boleo or Planeo. See Adorno, Amague, Caricias, Carpa, Castigada, Chiche, Conclusion, Contrapaso, Cuartas, Cuatro, Cucharita, Dibujo, Elevacion, Entrada, Fanfarron, Firulete, Frappé, Friccion, Gancho, Golpes, Latigo, Patada, Pausa, Picados, Punteo, Resolution, Ronde, Sacada, Salida, Saltito, Sandwiche, Sanguchito, Stork, Toque and Truco.