Tango - Let's have a Milonga

I had the opportunity this weekend to learn the Argentine Tango with the amazing Alla Lakov and Peter Simoneau.  I feel as human beings, it's important to continue to learn new things in order to grow.  So often, specifically in dance, we get really comfortable doing the same choreography over and over again.  We owe it to ourselves and our students to mix it up style-wise.

The tango is an incredibly romantic and technically challenging partner dance.  It is not considered ballroom, though most ballroom studios will offer lessons and practicas.  While modern tango will have a male and female dancer, the dance first originated in bordellos, and only men danced the tango, no ladies.  Even today at milongas, you will actually see ladies dancing with ladies, and gentlemen dancing with gentlemen.  Unlike most partner dances, which one person is always the leader, and the other always a follower, in Tango people quite often switch it up.  That is pretty amazing!

The embrace is extremely close, as you can see.

What is different about the frame/posture is that unlike other styles of ballroom, where we are pulled back, with tango you are connected by the chest.  The leader will cue through the direction of his (or her!) chest.  This takes a lot of getting used to, as the balance is completely different.

The culture of tango is also pretty interesting.  At tango dances, or milongas, the dance continues around the room counter-clockwise in a circle.  There are many different rules and etiquette, which you will learn more of if you take class with us.

Send an email if you are interested in hearing more about the Argentine Tango.