Those who dance Argentine tango know that there's more to this passionate dance than just its movements. One signature element that makes tango distinct from other dances is its music.
Often, music used for tango dancing is in Spanish, which non-native speakers do not understand. However, much like the dance itself, tango music transcends the barriers of language.
Those who have been frequenting practicas and milongas often possess intrinsic understanding that subtle cues, certain steps, each movement of the hand or positioning of the foot articulate a specific message that both leader and follower wish to convey.
But for those who are just beginning to explore the dance, learning tango may be akin to learning another language. To the beginner, one might wonder:
Cachafaz — those who may have heard of it may immediately associate the term with a kind of dessert. After all, Cachafaz is a brand that produces its own version of the Argentenian “alfajor,” a maceina cookie filled with dulce de leche.
Of course, those who are knowledgeable about tango history would know Cachafaz as the name of one of the most famous tango dancers.
To dismiss beginners as beneath one's level is to deprive both oneself and that beginner the opportunity to grow and become better tango dancers. If one is already an advanced tango dancer, take that step and guide another potential expert to success.
Read MoreAs with anything one wishes to learn, understanding the related terminologies are important — and Argentine tango is no exception. Being familiar with what tango's elements are called brings one closer to the proper execution of its steps.
This then begs the question: Is there really a difference between the giro and the molinete?
Read MoreThe Argentine Tango has long been associated with luxury, glitz, and glamour. Most people imagine it as elegant couples with the men donning dapper suits and the women wearing stunning outfits with sophisticated make-up and a stylish hairstyle, dancing passionately around to inspiring music in a fancy hotel venue. The way tango is portrayed in movies and on television can seem intimidating to someone with little to no dance experience.
Today, most tango circles no longer refer to one partner as either the man or the woman. Rather, the terms “leader” and “follower” have more commonly been used to define the roles in tango. While this is a more inclusive and less gendered way of referring to either partner, it has the potential to encourage passivity among those called followers and put undue pressure on those called leaders.
Thus, many tangueros and tangueras have begun to consider alternative terms to define tango roles.
Read MoreDance is often characterized by sequences and patterns, with many partner dances hinged upon a set of memorized steps or figures that are followed during the performance.
However, this doesn’t entirely mean that tango has no established figures or steps. In fact, it has various steps that build upon and enhance its foundational elements, which consist of walks, turns, embellishments, sandwiches, and structural connections.
Employee turnover is a costly and time-consuming occurrence, especially with small businesses.
One can reduce employee turnover rates by exercising the principles of Argentine tango when it comes to improving communications, adapting and improvising, clearly defining roles and structure, and exercising mutual respect in the office.
With these in place, a harmonious and creative working environment can be achieved, making it a win for both management and employees.
Read MoreThus, for someone to instruct students of tango about the dance’s musicality is certainly a welcome endeavor.
Read MoreJoaquin Amenabar, author of the book “Tango – Let’s Dance to the Music!” is one such personality in the world of tango who has continuously taught many dancers about the musicality of tango and its many other aspects.
To fully understand what commonalities or differences a lead in swing has with a lead in tango, it would be advantageous to first explore swing dancing side by side with the Argentine tang from their origins, musicality, connection to improvisation.
Tango, for one, is far from the monotony of the treadmill, making it a more sustainable form of exercise and ideal for weight management across generations. It provides a total body workout – enhancing cardiovascular conditioning, increasing flexibility, and building muscle strength and tone, not to mention stronger bones and reduced risk of osteoporosis.
Read MoreThis simplistic view, done by way of a straightforward mathematical formula, implies that for a relationship to work, the connection between two individual parties must inevitably result in "oneness," a merging of the physical, mental, emotional, and, in some cases, even the spiritual.
However, as far as relationships go, such a viewpoint often lacks the complexity and sophistication inherent in how human connections function at even the very basic level.
Take tango, for example: in performing this dance, most people often assume that a “one plus one equals one” mindset will work because onlookers only tend to see the dance as a collective movement.
Read MoreThe steps that make up Argentine tango reflect the interchangeable nature of the roles themselves, as both leaders and followers may execute counter-positions or steps that are performed by one role but have an equivalent for the other. This is best exemplified by the arrastre and the barrida.
All things considered, the barrida and arrastre, whatever differences or similarities they may have, are an exercise in reciprocity and cooperation. In many ways, they reflect the interchangeability of the roles that leaders and followers have, as both steps cannot be done successfully without the relationship and dynamics shared by both partners.
Read MoreThe communicative power held by these shifts in position are based on trust — trust that a leader can follow, and that a follower can lead.
Tango is indeed a graceful and playful dance between two people. However, tango and medicine also work together.
Tango can cure symptoms of disorders like dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
When it comes to tango and preventing aging, we can experience a wide range of benefits from the dance. These include increased motor skills, enhanced quality of life, and even stronger relationships with our partners. Visit our page to learn more interesting facts about tango and how you can add it to your lifestyle.
Read MoreIt is often the case that many people want to try out tango dancing or dancing in general but are afraid that their body might not be able to balance itself properly. Others take the first step and start dancing but often complain about having no balance on the dance floor.
Read MoreThis begs the question: Do you need good balance in tango?
“But, with Chicho, around this time, with only six months of study, he was amazing as a tango dancer. After that, I think he left acting, music, and everything else. He became so obsessed with the tango — I will always remember one day, in my studio, he looked at me very seriously and said, ‘Gustavo, what are we going to do with this!? This is such an amazing way of making art, we must do something really great with this, something HUGE!!!’ And he got very excited, very crazy in telling me this, and, well, in that moment our story really began.
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