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Argentine Tango is a very difficult dance to master, specifically because of the subtlety of the steps as well as the complexity of the lead/follow relationship. Since the dance of Argentine Tango is a metaphor for relationship of power, sex, love, and control throughout "Naked Tango", it is revealing to look at the character interactions as a series of shifts in the both the dance partnership and gender dynamic.

In the tango, although the leader is directing the movement and speed of the dance according to the tempo of the music, he is not just the "race-car driver," as the Judge believes. (The scene with Cholo and the Judge is a pure test of male dominance as Cholo demands him to "Drive me!" and then, when Cholo attempts to lead, the Judge refuses to subjugate himself to the follower's role and says, "I will not be the woman.") Because the Judge believes that only a man can lead in the dance (and in life), he instructs Stephanie that she "doesn't know what Tango is" and that she should never do it without a man. As is shown much later, she does indeed learn what both Argentine tango is as a dance (compared to the more international tango taught on the cruise ship) and learns to "lead" to ensure her survival.

The follower in tango, as any partner dance, is no lifeless mannequin, as she must support her own frame and propel her own body at all times. The follower gives permission to the leader to guide her movement, and she allows herself to be fully supported in his arms, in a complete release so that two bodies move as one. As a unit, the pair is in a constant state of communication, give and take, control and release. When that release is fully attained, it is a delicious moment for both leader and follower, and the confidence and attitude of the leader is developed. Under certain circumstances, with a finely tuned partnership, the follower can ad-lib with various types of embellishments according to the tempo of the music, and can even take the lead away briefly. The attitude, however, is what is central to creating the seductive feel of the dance and driving its sensuality, and that is the focus of this movie.

When Cholo returns to the Judge's house and admits his love to Alba, he reminds her that "You had the power all along. You just didn't know it." I would argue that in many ways, Alba did have both covert, and overt power over her situation at almost all times. Conversely, although Cholo is the leader in all of the tango dance scenes, metaphorically there are times where he loses control and submits to the covert power of Alba. His loss of control is progressive throughout the film as he admits his love for Alba and how he "doesn't know who [he is] anymore," signaling that he no longer knows what role to play in their relationship. It's important to note that at no time is Zico a leader in this movie; he is either being controlled by Cholo, Alba, or his own mother, and that makes him a perfect foil to the other characters.

From beginning to end, this movie is one continuous tango with the partners alternating lead and follow roles both literally and figuratively:

Stephanie	LEAD	Tries to lead tango on the cruise ship during the dance party and gets rebuked by the Judge.
Stephanie	LEAD	Changes her identity to Alba and begins the plot dance.

Alba	LEAD	Kills the Jeweler and by doing so earns Cholo's respect.
Alba	FOLLOW/ COVERT	Begs for her life and submits to being tied up by Cholo.

Cholo

LEAD

Asserts to Zico that Alba belongs to him (Cholo), and that unlike Zico, he could kill Alba if he wanted to, although he does not want to. Later in the film, this dynamic reverses and Cholo finds himself enamored with Alba to the point of being unable to kill her or turn her over to either the Mafia or the Police.

Alba	LEAD	Attempts to run away from the bordello.
Alba	FOLLOW/ COVERT	Swears to Cholo that she will be "good," and dances her first real tango.
Alba	LEAD	Orders Cholo not to leave her with Zico and pulls him back, begging him to tell Zico to stop raping her.
Cholo	FOLLOW	Cannot handle the sight of Alba being raped and runs off.

Alba	LEAD	Stabs Zico with a feather quill.
Alba	FOLLOW/ COVERT	The naked tango scene.
Alba	LEAD	Asks Cholo to order Zico out of the bedroom.
Cholo	FOLLOW	Obeys and tells Zico and the musicians to leave. Explains to Alba about the nature of beauty.

Cholo	LEAD	Becomes violent in the tango scene at the slaughterhouse.
Alba	LEAD	Fights off Cholo in a tango at the slaughterhouse and they dance a symbolic duel with daggers at each other's throats (foreshadowed by the men's stylized knife fight on the street the night before her wedding). This is a pivotal scene where Alba completely earns Cholo's respect and there is no longer any doubt that he will not be able to kill her.

Alba	LEAD	Orders Cholo to run over the Mafia hit man.
Cholo	FOLLOW	Runs down the hit man.
Alba	LEAD	Initiates foreplay with Cholo as they drive away from the crime scene.
Cholo	LEAD, then FOLLOW	Initiates and then submits himself to sexual relations with her in the car. (You can see the sexual dynamic shift at the moment when she calls his name.) Another strong visual cue to this shift is the camera cutting to her hand gripping the steering wheel as she is covertly "driving" him.

Cholo	LEAD	Wants to kill Zico for selling them out to the Mafia.
Alba	LEAD	Tells Cholo not to kill Zico.
Cholo	FOLLOW	Releases Zico and the pair go upstairs to make love.

Cholo	FOLLOW	Asks Alba to help him climb into the window and escape the police.
Alba	LEAD	Kicks Cholo off the ledge from the hotel window and saves herself while sacrificing him.

Alba	LEAD	At the Judge's home, Alba refuses the notion that she is a slave and she pushes Cholo away.
Cholo	FOLLOW	Admits that Alba always had the power in their relationship.
Cholo	LEAD	Rips off Alba's wig and says, "The REAL you belongs to me."
Alba	LEAD	Responds that "I belong to no one but ME."
Cholo	FOLLOW	Admits, at the point of tears, that he loves her.
Alba	LEAD	Orders Cholo to tell her that she does not love him.
Cholo	FOLLOW	He answers her, but will not say that he does not love her.

(The next scene contains the ritual struggle between Cholo and the Judge, described above.)

Alba	LEAD	Allows Cholo to be ejected from the Judge's home instead of being jailed or killed.
Alba	FOLLOW	Admits that she has lost her identity by falling in love with Cholo. This is a direct mirror of Cholo's identity loss as leader in their relationship.

Alba	LEAD	At the bordello, Alba fights off Zico and the Judge and runs to find Cholo downstairs.
Alba	LEAD	Chooses Cholo over the Judge, thus sealing her fate and Cholo's, and effectively ending the plot dance.

By the ending scene, Cholo is reduced to leading the corpse of Alba in one final dance with his ill-fated love. Upon her demise, he becomes the follower in a certain dance with death.

Domenica Flor has been a fan of Vincent D'Onofrio's acting work since the inception of "Law and Order: Criminal Intent". Her educational background is in Linguistics and Spanish Literature. She has been active in Ballroom, Latin, Swing, and Argentine Tango dancing for eight years, and has competed in amateur level Equality (same-gender) Ballroom Dance competitions. When not working, dancing, or writing, Domenica can be found drinking coffee, gardening, or perusing the stacks of libraries and independent bookstores. You can reach Domenica Flor by email at domenicaflor@yahoo.com.

This work is copyright © 2002, Domenica Flor. This material is not written for any material profit and it may not be stored, reproduced, distributed, or packaged in any way for monetary gain. This material may not be adapted, mutated, or altered for your own purposes. No part of this material may be reproduced in any medium without the express written consent of Domenica Flor.