Tango FAQs

What is Tango?

Far from the highly stylized, ballroomish, rose-in-the-teeth Hollywood depiction, the tango is the ultimate social dance.

Why is Tango the ultimate social dance?

Because you go to a milonga (an event where tango is danced) with the expectation that you may dance both with people you know and (if you are lucky) with a person you have never seen before from another country perhaps. You may observe these people before you dance with them, to see how they treat their partners and how they express themselves in the elegance of tango. Either type of partner on any given night may inspire you to the point where a smile appears on your face that is completely beyond your control.

What's so special about Tango as a dance?

Any tango dancer will bend your ear for hours on this one. Tango is a dancer's dance. For instance, ballet dancers never die.. they just move to the tango. The freedom of expression is virtually limitless.

And yet, in its essence, the tango is as simple as a walk -- together. The dance only defines some basic principles about how two people can move relative to each other in space. After the "lead / response" sensibility is understood, the rest is a journey of exploration into your ability to express yourself with a partner to music you both hear.

The tango requires a connection between partners that is in addition to anything they may be experiencing physically. In other words, other forms of dance rely on frame and tension to maintain a physical connection between partners. At it's best, the tango turns every beat of the music into an interaction that requires movement of each dancer independently in response to the suggestion of their partner. For more on this, register here.

Tango is worldwide. If you know the principles of tango, you can go to any major city on this earth (someone is working on a Lunar milonga I'm sure) and many small cities and dance closely with someone, with the mutual understanding that the affair is just for 10 minutes. It is not at all necessary to know the verbal language of your partner to tango… and tango well.

I am a man... sounds like fun

You bet. Two people can join with music, most often in an embrace that is closer than in any other activity we can do in public in our current culture. Register for class here.

I am a woman... sounds dangerous

Somewhere around 1920, the tango became popular and migrated from its seedy roots in Argentina to the upper class both there and in Europe. Over the subsequent 30 years the culture of tango evolved to include a set of behavioral rules of civility that made the dance acceptable to many if not most moms. These customs are unique to the tango, are sometimes downright hilarious, and persist to this day. Women have control in tango. They decide whether to accept an invitation to dance or not. At any point during the dance or between songs, a woman may simply leave the floor… no questions asked (this happens very rarely). Additionally there are a few reasons why men will act with complete decorum in the dance. First, they are most often gentlemen and cherish the privilege of dancing in a close embrace with a woman. Second, any impropriety on the part of a man will risk his reputation in the community. Given the investment in learning the tango, the risk of becoming ostracized for this reason is simply too great. Lastly, though alcohol is a part of the usual environment of the tango, it is virtually never abused there. The reason is that tangueros and tangueras love to dance so much that they are unwilling to sacrifice any physical control at the expense of their tango. Tangueras will spot the exceptions a mile away.

If you are from, say, Maryland and you are not a mom but you have a mom, you can pretty much be assured that your mom will look at this activity with a cocked eye and a healthy, mom-sized dose of suspicion. If you are a Maryland mom and you have a daughter, you can pretty much be assured that your daughter will have exactly the same thoughts about your tango as the tango would, on first sight, appear to be scandalous. In either case, you can assure your mom or daughter that there is a more "prudent" form of the tango called "open embrace" that is becoming all the rage and that they should not worry and go find their own sandbox.

If you are still concerned, the fundamentals class is taught exclusively in an "open embrace" so that students can "see" what is going on. Subsequent classes will transition to the posture and possibilities of a "close" embrace that is the hallmark and standard of the tango.

In reality, the "fear" of the embrace goes away all too quickly and you are left with the marvelous feeling of closeness that is unique to the tango. Soon, hugging someone becomes very natural and you become sad for people who do not allow themselves the freedom to do it.

Who does the Tango?

Everybody. Well.. not quite. Let's just say there are certainly no demographic boundaries for the tango. Every age, color, nationality and sensibility is represented. That said, there are a few characteristics that you can spot in tangueros (men who dance tango) and tangueras (women who dance tango).

(Going far on a limb) Men who dance tango, whether they know it or not when they start, like to dance. Men who have meeting women as their only goal will usually not climb the investment hill to learn - they will find a quicker (.com?) path with less effort to accomplish that mission. Men who stick with it will always have a combination of traits that include healthy doses of persistence, curiosity, self-confidence and humility.

Women who dance tango have a need to express themselves with grace and recognize that tango is a rare opportunity for this in our culture.

To find out more about who does the tango, register here.

What shoes should I wear to tango?

Wear shoes with leather bottoms. Here's why. Pivoting is common in the tango. You need a slight amount of traction to help you push off the floor when you dance. However, if you have too much traction it is more difficult to pivot. The torque it takes to make you pivot gets communicated to your joints (especially your knees). Tangueros wear a variety of different types of shoes.. but they all have leather bottoms of some sort.

Dance shoes for tango, almost always have a chroma suede sole. If they do not, any shoe store can put apply a chroma suede layer to the existing sole. The sole is applied to the front of the sole, not the heel. The nap of chroma suede will naturally "lay down" to become slick on the bottom resulting in a shoe that has some traction but remains slick enough to pivot. However, if you encounter a slick or "fast" floor, you can use a shoe brush to raise the nap of the suede and provide more traction. It is, therefore, an adjustable traction sole. Most experienced dancers have chroma suede soles on their shoes.. whatever the style of upper.

Both men and women can get by with a standard hard leather sole. Women pivot more than men in general, so a fast sole is often most comfortable for them. Women sometimes carry more than one pair however, because if the floor is fast (slippery) the hard leather sole does not provide enough traction. The second pair is usually chroma suede.

Tango shoes for either men or women most often have a heel that is slightly higher than a normal shoe. Why? Because when the embrace closes in tango, each partner will have a slight forward aspect to their posture. The angle of this posture is created at the ankle. A raised heel will decrease the amount of calf stretch required to allow your heel touch the ground. In short, it is more comfortable to dance in close embrace with a raised heel.

Women have other considerations for heel height that include style, comfort, and the fact that a raised heel can offer an increase in height of several inches. Height matching in tango is not essential, but may make dancing close embrace more comfortable and connected.

 

About Tango Festivals

I wish someone had given me A CLUE before my first few tango festivals. I'm hope this FAQ will help folks to participate… or at the very least… understand what's going on a little better!

Bear with the description of the Frustration. There is light at the end!

I once got a note from an excellent dancer in DC saying she wasn't coming to a local DC festival because she found that "she just stands around trying to catch someone" and that "nobody will dance with a local".

Such a shame, eh? What's wrong with this picture?

People who attend big festivals can experience Frustration when they see so many dancers having so much fun, yet are themselves relegated to the sidelines. Guys may get refusal after refusal for seemingly no good reason. Women may simply not be asked to dance. The real Frustration occurs when even the usual Tango Jungle parameters don't apply! At a big festival it may not seem to matter how well you can dance or how young, good-looking, well-dressed or even how well shod you are! /} The whole environment may seem "cliquey" beyond belief… to the point where, as a local, you feel like your space has been invaded and there's a party you're attending that you really didn't get a sincere invitation to. You may find even your local partners will not dance with you… the ultimate blow!

What the heck! An impossible Game you say?

Consider this:

Experienced dancers who attend festivals come from a distance with only one or two feet and X amount of energy. Given their investment in time and money, their goal is to optimize their experience by dancing as much as possible with as many people as possible. They are junkies and therefore as predictable as the night. They simply want to string together as many of those effortless, Golden Tango Experiences as they can.

Everyone has had a dance where the experience was not effortless. You know, a dance that caused you to doubt your own skills the whole night… or even longer… because it was so, well, unfulfilling.

The Secret to the Mystery. Experienced festival dancers are VERY reluctant to risk their limited energy X... and, as important, their Karma … even more important their Reputation as a good dancer....and of prime importance... their Safety... on dancing with someone new. Their refusals are likely not personal... they simply do not know how you dance. They just aren't willing to take a risk while they have a Field of Knowns.

Ok that's it.. the Game is now officially impossible you say!

Here are some suggestions. I hope they are helpful:

1) Treat a festival just like networking event.

Those in business or sales know how this goes. You take some initiative to make a conversation with a person who is not dancing to get to know someone new. Sometimes this happens best when there is clearly no presumption for a dance. Often, all it takes is a few words to make you less anonymous. Then, somehow, things are more friendly and an offer (or a possibility) to dance presents itself
naturally. This does not come easily to some dancers who are shy. Know that it will not work 100% of the time and do not be discouraged. Try again with someone else.

2) Make a networking opportunity of the dances you get.

Sometimes you know when your partner is having fun dancing with you. If you're confident this is the case:

"Where are you from" (almost a given for chit chat, eh?)

"Are there other folks here from River City?"

and here's the kicker... toward the end of the tanda... the referral

"I've really enjoyed our dance. You folks in River City really know how to do it! Do you think someone else from River City might like to dance?"

The answer to this question is obviously Yes cuz Everyone is there to dance. The question of whether they want to dance with *you* is implied… and if you were right about your dance experience with your new partner from River City he or she will be glad to make another connection for you. Because: First, as cliquey as the environment may seem, people really want to see everyone have fun. Secondly, folks need someone to talk about on their trip back home to River City. The best part is that your new partner is not likely to steer you wrong. They don't want to get a bad rep for connecting you to a bad dancer!

3) Consider coming late and staying late.

Many new dancers experience the Frustration and leave early. What may not know, however, is that there comes a special period of time between when experienced festival dancers decide that they have had a sufficient string of Golden Tango Experiences to satisfy their habit... and when they are so exhausted they cannot dance one more song... when they might be willing to take a risk on someone new. Adding to the possibility is that, later in the evening, the floor clears to reduce the chance that poor navigation will lead to an accident -- and the experienced dancer does not have to worry so much about Safety with an unknown partner. Exactly when this happens is specific to each dancer and each evening. The more popular the dancer, the later the window of opportunity occurs. For some it is -- quite unfortunately -- 4 AM.
If you yourself have limited energy, you may want to be relatively fresh when the opportunity arises… so consider avoiding the throng earlier in the evening.

4) Become a completely comfortable dancer.

In my opinion this is essential... a sine qua non. Isn't it really the first and most important goal for any tango dancer?

The definition of "being comfortable" is a bit different on a crowded festival floor.

As we all know, in the Big Huge Line of Dance in Tango Heaven everyone
has an upright and forward posture – there is no tension, no mousy lead, no neck hanging, no stepping backward in the line of dance, no extension of the leg farther than what is lead or in any other direction than what is lead. At a big festival, for leads, being comfortable means being competent to navigate -- respectful of the line of dance and the dancers around them to keep a partner Safe on a crowded floor. For responders, it means being responsible for posture and movement as interpreted from the lead so that he can feel confident in navigating you Safely as a couple.

If you are comfortable, there is no downside to dancing with you. It is a pleasure for your partner wherever they are from. If you are comfortable there will be a tendency to dance with you next time. The memory of experienced dancer for the fundamental qualities of a partner that might lead to a Golden Tango Experience at some festival, somewhere, at some time in the future is often amazingly good.

When we're home, we have a world of time to get to know one another. At a festival, I think, it pays to go outside of one's envelope at bit in order to get to know the larger tango population… that comprising the US and for some festivals -- the world. It will take a bit of time to get to know the world, eh? It might be comfortable to dance with your local friends in a sea of people from the rest of the world but, in the end, it will feel a bit isolated. So maybe whenever you dance with someone local at a festival, consider using that as a marker to yourself to make use of the opportunity get to know someone from out-of-town. Remember, there are people there with your tango experience and ability, hoping to have a good time as well. They are looking for you. Find them!

Festivals can be a opportunity to bring new life to your dance experience and make connections that will last the whole of your life.

MBL 2007

 

What to Wear for Tango

Comfort for both you and your partner should be a consideration when selecting your dance attire. Keeping the connection with your partner in tango is a crucial step in becoming a comfortable dancer (which is what will get you dances anyway!). The right clothes can help you maintain the connection without distraction.

For ladies:

Women who dance tango are said to be some of the most creatively and sexily dressed women on the planet. So start with that and make it fit your style! With all the twisting and disassociating that we do with our rib cages and hips it is important to factor-in the stretch of the fabric when making your tango wardrobe selections. The freedom to move in the dance is best achieved from both a supple body and the fabric on top of it. Lycra blend is a staple in most tanguera's closets and it seems to be in everything these days. Try yoga type clothes and other clothes with a Lycra blended fabric for optimal liberty in your molinetes.

Dress and skirt hemlines should not be past the calf or a heel can catch on the fabric. With the aforementioned fabric a snap move could result in a stretch that would put Gumby to shame -- treacherous indeed! Often women will refrain from wearing a dress and instead will opt for a tunic like top or short dress to pair with pants. A lovely and danceable alternative.

A tango friend of mine told me that he was dancing with a woman whose pants fell down in the middle of the tanda and before you could blink an eye she had already pulled them back up. He was more surprised than concerned by this until she said that these pants always did that when she danced! Lest you wish to be mistaken for Janet Jackson, leave wardrobe malfunctions for rock and roll royalty.

Pants have become a preferred tango wardrobe staple for their versatility. Wear them shorter and tighter for fun (but remember the stretch factor). Or enhance the line of the body with flowing cuts of pants such as palazzo or gaucho style. The fabric surrounds the leg in a way that adds a graceful quality when walking or executing a snaky leg wrap.

The bodice of a dress or top can be displaced during and after a particularly intense close embrace tanda. To avoid an embarrassing moment or the need for frequent adjustments; choose a style that will stay put. A halter-top can shift to reveal more than you bargained for when executing overturned back ochos and a strapless top could need a chaperon to behave if a high boleo is led.
By all means express your personality with your attire. Funky or elegant rule the fashion front in tango.

Practicas and class can best be accommodated with a relaxed outfit that can keep you both cool and comfy during that 35th attempt at the perfect colgada. Afternoon milongas are danced with a thought to casual elegance in attire while the highly anticipated (by most!) alternative milongas add that ever so cool twist of funk. Evening milongas have a classy and elegant vibe. As long as an outfit is functional for dance, it is almost impossible to be too dressed-up for a weekend milonga, especially a grand milonga at a festival. Late, late night dancing calls for comfort… even pajamas so you can dance your way to sleep…..

Tango Tip: Get a mirror to see the back of your chosen attire. Your back gets as much attention as your feet when you are in tango rapture and the rest of the room is watching you. There are some very unusual and attention getting backs on dresses and tops on the market now to peruse. From spider web-like macramé to costume jewelry designs, a top is just asking to be noticed when you are coming or going.

Jewelry can enhance what you are wearing. Be mindful of chunky necklaces, spiky bracelets worn on the left wrist, jangly wind chime and feather earrings. Each has the power to give your leader an undesired reaction!
It is all about the feminine in us that enhances our movement and flow on the dance floor. Accentuate your own feminine positives with your clothing choices but keep it functional and simple.

For gentlemen:

The only reason dressing for tango is slightly easier for men than women is that they have fewer shoes to start with!

For men, there are possibly four types of milongas:

Formal
Weekend evening or special weekday evening
Regular weekday evening and
Other

Very rarely a milonga is specified as "formal." This means black tie with a suit (not a sports coat) as the only, second best, alternative.

A weekend evening or special milonga such as a "grand milonga", one held at an embassy, or any normal milonga held on Saturday night calls for attire that is more "dressy". Slacks, usually dark, and long-sleeved shirts are customary. Dark "dress" cargo pants are fine, but jeans are not appropriate for a Saturday milonga unless you are a young visiting rock star without room in the rucksack for a better choice!

Whether you are twenty or eighty, unless the event is specifically formal, it is always good form for a gentleman to wear a seasonal sports coat to a milonga. However, consider removing your jacket before you dance…. many women find the extra "distance" created by the coat too great. If it's chilly though, you can always ask your partner which they would prefer. Sometimes it's nice to dance all dressed up!

Each weekday evening milonga has it's own character so they may be more or less casual. If you don't know the nature of a weekday night milonga, consider erring on the conservative side with more dressy attire. If it's a milonga attended mostly by young people, casual (like jeans) is cool.

Other milongas include afternoon and outdoor events. Attire spans the gamut at these functions. Comfort is a factor.

Part of being comfortable is being clean and dry.

Tolerance for "stinky" is a somewhat variable from a worldwide perspective, but survey says if you are in the states both you and your clothes need to be clean when you dance tango.

Perspiration in the summer is a given and is not generally a problem. However, if you sweat profusely at any time of the year, dry out before asking another partner to dance. Pure cotton, especially when it is not tightly woven is one of the coolest fabrics for summer. Under Armour shirts that wick wetness are also good options. Any material that doesn't "breath" well will be a problem.
A handkerchief is a good accessory to wipe your face with.
Tango Tip: Savvy gentlemen who sweat will bring two or three shirts to milongas in the summer time. A change of shirt feels good and is much appreciated by partners.

Short-sleeved shirts are common at outdoor milongas in the summer.
Finally, check the front of you. If you can, put your keys or anything else that you would carry in your front pockets in your shoe bag so your partner is not subjected to them when legs get close when walking. Big belt buckles belong on gauchos, not tangueros!

 

Dance with the heart and embrace each partner with the intention of being present and connected. Let what you wear be the icing on that cake!
Tango represents an all too rare opportunity to "dress to the nines" and express yourself with your clothing as well as dance!

More FAQs later....