How to Dance Tango

Tango Description:the head from one position to the other and twists
Tango can be described as an "earthy" andwith big movements.
"dramatic" ball room dance, with the walkingBesides these geographical Tango styles, we have a
movements being dominated. It is sometimes "slow,"variety of other Tango dance styles as:
and other times a bit "fast" and "sharp" dance.Salon-style Tango:
Beginning of Tango:In this Tango style, the couple dances with an upright
Tango is one of the different types of ball roomposture, can be either a close or an open embrace.
dance, which is considered to be the third coupleMilonguero-style Tango:
dance in the dance history. It began to evolveThis is typically danced with a leaning position in which
somewhere at the beginning of twentieth century.the dancer's shoulders are normally joined. Most of
Tango is believed to be danced in Paris, London andthe times, it is danced in a close embrace. The couple
New York in 1907-1914, but the real origin came fromusually maintains a constant upper body contact.
Buenos Aires. Many people believe, that in the lateOrillero-style Tango:
19th century, Buenos Aires was filled with immigrantsThis is a Tango dance style, in which the dancers
from Europe and Africa, who slowly developedmaintain a distance among each other to allow both
friendship among themselves. They found a way todance partners to make steps outside the embrace.
reduce their sorrows by giving rise to a new style ofIt can be danced in both, open and closed embrace.
music and dance, which was named "Tango." TheClub-style Tango:
Historians also have an argument, that this name hasIt is the fusion of both the salon and milonguero
come from the African drum beat tan---go, or fromstyles. It is usually danced in a closed embrace, but
Latin word meaning" to touch."the female partner is allowed to make movements
Tango Dance Styles:freely.
Tango can be danced in a variety of styles, withTango Nuevo (New Tango):
different types of music. The main Tango style willIt is a new style of Tango which emphasizes on the
always have an "open embrace" and a "closednew moves and steps in Tango dance style. It is
embrace." In a close embrace, the couple is veryusually danced in an open and loose embrace, with an
close to each other, usually touching their shouldersupright posture.
and heads. While in an open embrace, the coupleFantasia (Show Tango):
stands further apart to allow a wide range ofIt is a style of Tango usually danced in stage shows,
movements. Tango styles geographically may rangewith combination of different Tango dance styles.
from Argentina style--American style---InternationalCanyengue:
style.It is a historical tango, danced in a close embrace,
Argentine style:with bent knees.
The core of Argentinean style Tango is bandoneon,Tango music and steps:
often accompanied by a band including guitar, piano,Tango is one of the ball room dances, which allows
one or two violins, but never has a drum beat. Inthe dancers to simply translate the music into their
Buneon Aires a Tango dance style was popular forphysical motion.
crowded dance floors in the early 1950s. It was calledBasic rhythmic patterns:
as a "Brownian motion" dance, being random andThe Argentina Tango is danced with a standard
changed in many directions. Argentine Tango canmeter of 2/4, creating "quick-quick" steps called the
vary from very open, leader and follower connecting"corrida" or running steps. For learning Tango dance,
at arm length, to very closed, in which thethere is 8-count basic pattern to be learned. This
connection is chest-to- chest.8-count pattern is divided into four parts.
American style:1. the Salida, (the exit) on beat 1, is the point of
American Tango has adopted the features of bothdeparture,
Argentine and the International styles.Tango Mannita2. the parte caminada, on beats 2,3, and 4, (the
is a classic American Tango, built on fourwalking part),
variations;(slow, quick, quick, slow).It is considered to3. the trabada, on beat 5, which suggests joining
be a medium tempo dance, with a beat of 2/4 or 4together, or cross-step,
4. American Tango uses more slow steps with quick4. the natural resolucion, on beats 6,7 and 8, bringing
contrasts.the couple together to the entire set of steps.
International Style:By repetition of these basic 8-count steps, you can
International Tango dance involves sharp snaps oflearn Tango easily.