Tangos are one of the world’s most beloved social dances. Though not as difficult to learn as some other partner dances, the tango can still prove challenging!
Before beginning to learn how to dance the tango, there are a few essential tips you should know. These suggestions can help you master the fundamentals of this thrilling dance.
The Basics
Tango, a Latin American dance, is one of the world’s most beloved styles of dancing. It’s fast-paced and dramatic while being highly romantic. Though not as easy to learn as other styles of dance, with practice and patience you can master this one too!
Tango’s fundamental movements are straightforward, and once you understand them, more complex steps become intuitive as you gain experience. This makes tango an accessible dance for people of all ages, shapes, sizes and abilities – making it a fun activity everyone can enjoy together!
If you want to learn how to dance the tango, consider taking classes at a nearby tango club. Instructors usually provide instruction on basic steps and help you progress with more complex movements. Alternatively, practicing on your own can build muscle memory and enhance your dancing abilities.
Tango requires proper posture to achieve proper flow. This aspect of the dance will give off a confident aura and help boost your self-belief in your ability to dance. Furthermore, it’s essential that you move slowly and carefully so as not to injure yourself during each move.
One way to develop the correct posture is by standing next to someone else and mimicking their movements. Not only will this improve your technique, but it will also make dancing with others more comfortable for you.
Another way to practice your tango is by visiting a local club or milonga and dancing with others who are also learning. This is an invaluable opportunity to receive feedback on your dancing abilities as well as make friends who share an interest in learning to dance!
No partner is necessary to start learning the tango, but having someone assist with more challenging movements can be helpful. Furthermore, practicing with a teacher will give you invaluable advice on how to move more gracefully.
When searching for a tango instructor in your area, opt for someone who specializes in this dance style and has extensive teaching experience. This will guarantee that you receive top-notch instruction and gain maximum benefit from your lessons.
The Lead
The lead part of a tango is essential to master. It’s an essential skill for any dancer, particularly when competing in ballroom dancing competitions.
Social dancing requires control of the floor, along with being able to read your partner’s movements and energy. It can be challenging at first to achieve this balance, but once you get it down pat it will become second nature.
As a leader, it is important to practice and execute the steps of the tango consistently. Doing this will enable you to comprehend your role and what needs to be done when executing certain steps or transitions.
Master the fundamental tango step patterns and techniques involved in stepping out of a closed dance position into an open fan. This is an invaluable skill to have as it can be applied in many different ways, helping build your confidence as a tango dancer.
If you’re new to tango, it’s beneficial to practice the open fan step several times before moving into a closed dance position. It also gives an excellent sense of the posture and frame of the dance.
Once you’ve mastered the open fan step, you can progress onto other tasks:
Closed Box
This common tango position involves the lead’s right hand on the follow’s left shoulder blade and their left hands grasping onto the lead’s right arm midway down. No actual weight should be placed on this arm, but it gives off the illusion of one being there.
It is essential for both leads and followers to keep their bodies upright and stable, with their spines straight and a slight tilt back towards one another’s heads (sometimes with a smirk). Doing this makes it easier for them to execute many of the tango dance steps correctly.
After changing weights, they can collect their feet underneath the new axis to release all that energy they’ve just built up as they extend and push off. This element of tango gives it a certain elegance as well.
The Follow
The follow is an essential skill in learning how to dance the tango. It helps you foster a deep connection with your partner and establishes the basis for successful dancing in the tango.
In tango, the lead and follow typically mirror each other’s steps. This gives each part of the pair a specific role to play while also enabling you to communicate your movements clearly to your partner.
Sometimes the follower may lag slightly behind the leader to maintain harmony. By doing so, you can create a more defined shape and foster an intimate connection with your significant other.
Establishing a rapport with your partner allows for practice of moves without fear of looking silly. Furthermore, it builds trust that they’re going in the right direction as you can observe their direction and balance between actions.
Another thing to keep an eye out for is speed. In tango, it’s essential to consider your partner’s rhythm so that you can match theirs.
Tango dance steps tend to be fast or rapid, so practice them so you can keep up with other dancers in your group or milonga. If you have time, dedicate a day solely to one style of tango and its steps.
If you don’t have time to learn the dance yourself, consider getting some private lessons. They are an effective way to master the steps and can be spread out over several days so your brain has enough time to adjust to the new movements.
When dancing the tango, there are various ways to move depending on your style and the music being played. Some examples include walks, swivels, kicks and flicks as well as line moves. Furthermore, these various movements can be combined together in unique combinations for even greater variety.
Music
Tango music is an original genre from the suburbs of Buenos Aires that has been heavily influenced by various ethnic groups due to the large influx of immigrants from all over Europe and Africa who settled there during the 19th century.
Tango music comes in many varieties, each with its own distinct flavor. Classical tangos tend to be slow and melodic, while polka tangos offer strong rhythms and pulsing beats.
Another popular form of tango music is milonga style tango. At a milonga, musicians typically perform sets of three to four songs (called tandas) that last around an hour.
Typically, the music begins with a series of A sections (sometimes referred to as “salsa”) and concludes with a B section. Depending on the dancer’s preference, she might also opt for dancing along with the C section of the song – usually an instrumental solo.
Tango dancing requires musicality, or understanding the music and using it to guide your movements. Moving with the rhythm will feel natural and effortless if done correctly.
Enhance your musicality by taking lessons, reading books or watching videos. However, I highly recommend getting hands-on experience with a partner to get the most out of your learning process.
To perfect your tango moves, the best way to practice is by attending local classes or private lessons with an experienced teacher. If you don’t live near a city with many tango schools, there are plenty of excellent instructional videos online for your convenience.
In addition to studying, you may want to attend tango dances or join a tango club to network and dance with others. With good company as your partner, these experiences can be highly instructive for both of you.
Tango dancing can be made even more exciting and enjoyable with music that’s played at an appropriate quality level. A successful playlist should feature a blend of traditional and modern, eclectic and electronic sounds, chosen for their powerful beats and sensual rhythms.