As I understand it, there are no set moves in Tango dancing?

Question

Although there are many different styles (Tango de Salon, Milonguero etc.). If there are no set moves though, and tango is improvised - the leader 'marks' his moves, and the partner follows, depending on the flow and energy of the couple - then is it true that someone could invent any combination of moves and call it 'Tango'? I appreciate the origins of the dance, and believe it to be the most truly incredible, expressive art form, but in terms of trying to learn it successfully (so that my partner & I can practise it at home before embarrassing ourselves in front of others :) can anyone point me in the direction of simple descriptions of basic moves that we can understand and develop for our own enjoyment? Thank you :)

Answer 1

When you learn to dance Argentine Tango you are actually learning skills and not moves. This requires lots of time and unfortunately most of the people who teach prefer to get you quickly on the dance floor, and to speed up by teaching you moves.

The first thing you need to learn is to walk on your own (following some rules about posture and weight shifting) both forwards and backwards without losing balance.

Then you'll put toghether things with your dancing partner and, according to the role, you'll learn to lead and to follow without speaking. Each step you take has to be lead and followed.

You will later add pivots and weight shiftings to spice up the dance.

The basic rules are: never break the embrace (unless you want to dance a more modern style dedicated to stage shows), never lose the tango posture and listen to the music.

As soon as you can, find a milonga (a place where Argentine Tango is danced) or a practica (a place where people meet to practice) and go seeing other people dance: this will inspire you during your dance.

You can find on-line introduction to tango dancing here:

http://home.att.net/~larrydla/basics_0.h...

I think it is one of the first guides ever published on the web and it is still one of the best online resources to tango.

Some good video resources are available here:

http://www.youtube.com/user/emilianodela...

http://www.youtube.com/user/oscaracasas

Answer 2

Free tango lessons at Youtube - also click right for more of same.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCvlLRzcZ...

Answer 3

Of course there are basic, standard figures and conventions. They're just structured somewhat differently from either the English or the American methods of standardizing ballroom dance. And all the dances have their own character, but evolve with time.

It took ganchos a long time to be accepted in polite society as a proper part of tango, and foxtrot split into slow foxtrot and quickstep. It's important to stay within the character of the dance, but variations are always making them evolve.

I take it you've learned some of the basics already and are impatient to look good on the floor. I'd recommend more patience, and continued basic figures, adding to them slowly. Simple things done well look better than fancy things done less well.

Answer 4

not quite true, i had a lesson at a charity do and there are definitely set moves.  But like salsa you have to link them and this is where the man can improvise and his partner must keep up.

Answer 5

Well, in the movie rent there is a tango scene to the song the tango maureen