Dancing the tango can seem impossible for beginners if you don’t understand Argentine tango musicality. It’s true; dancing the Argentine tango isn’t just about the music, but the two will always be inseparable because music is integral to dance.
More often than not, when someone is just beginning to learn about tango, steps and figures tend to take center stage in lessons. However, the study of proper floor craft and etiquette on the dance floor is equally important. Tango Mentor makes a strong case for this with a simple explanation:
“Without learning floorcraft, any other skills you learn are useless. You can learn the most complicated and the most attractive moves, but if you can’t use them because you don’t have enough space, your efforts are in vain.”
Thus, to form the foundations of good tango dancing, one must make an effort to also perfect floor craft, which, in some tango communities, seem to be a forgotten skill altogether.
What exactly is floor craft, and how does one improve their skills?
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The tango dance is famous all over the globe because of its passionate charm and playful dynamics. Nevertheless, the rise of this iconic partner dance would not be possible without matching tango music. This form of music is typically played with gusto by a tango orchestra.
People need to understand tango music to comprehend how the dance has made a major impact in cultural and artistic ways throughout its rich history that spans different countries.
Read on to learn what tango music is and what its history is. Find out what a tango orchestra is and which musical instruments are typically played by this ensemble. Get to know some of the most popular modern orchestras in the tango world that you need to hear.
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The world knows many tango music classics. “Por una Cabeza,” “El Choclo,” and “La Cumparsita” are all tunes, along with other tango songs that are regularly played in tango shows and at milongas around the world. They are popular for a reason: they give dancers a great tango experience.
Then there is “Poema.”
If there’s a list of tango songs that you shall not dance to, you’ll most likely find this title.
“Poema” teaches us that while we consider all tango songs as works of art, there are some that just make us question why they were created in the first place.
Don’t get it wrong; “Poema” is a beautiful song. It’s just tricky, and you might want to know the story behind it!
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Watching a tango couple on the floor allows you to see many magical details. There’s an almost ethereal quality to how they move, as if they are one entity instead of two.
What’s even more fascinating is that this level of non-verbal communication isn’t just reserved for the pros. In fact, it’s in tango itself.
Tango, to some, is just one of the many dances out there. But to others, it’s a way of connecting, growing, and communicating with a partner.
Believe it or not, tango is one of the most influential and artistic communication methods.
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One of the first things you learn about tango is that there’s a leader and a follower.
And if you’re a male dancer, you might instantly feel the pressure every tango leader in history has experienced. Male dancers are generally considered the leaders in tango.
And while both the leader and follower have individual responsibilities, many tango dancers say that the leader has more.
Some say there’s an additional element of responsibility for them, making tango more complex and generally more demanding for men.
The big question is… Is that true?
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…a tango DJ played “Plegaria” during a tango festival, and an old woman came up to him. With tears in her eyes, the old woman asked the DJ to never play this song again, explaining that she was a survivor of the Nazi concentration camps and that “Plegaria” was one of the songs that Nazi officers forced Jewish musicians to play. Being made aware of this, the tango DJ never played this song again.
In many tango circles, “Plegaria” has become known as the “tango you shall not dance.”
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Tango is a dance that does not force you to smile.
It allows you to be just you. It takes you in - in whatever mood you arrive. Tango does not care about whatever you are showing on the outside.
Tango does not care about whatever you are showing on the outside. Tango focuses internally - the outward expression such as your smile and joy can remain unexposed.
You can be happy without forcing yourself to show it to others.
Tango is improvised and thus requires focus.
Tango, unlike any other dances, requires focus and presence of mind. It is a dance that relies on improvisation and adaptability.
It’s like navigating through the final stages of business negotiations. You know what to expect, yet anything can happen.
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At first, dance will control the dancers. Eventually, the dancers will know tango deeply until the dance becomes a part of them, and the dance will no longer hold them.
The same is true for Web3. With Web 1.0 and Web 2.0, we were controlled by centralized entities. After generations of learning, progressing, and building, we have now reached a point where we can create Web3.
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One dancer who has written about tango is Hugo Mastrolorenzo, a tango dancer, teacher, and choreographer whose contributions to the genre extend beyond the dance floor.
One of his books, Tango Dance: In Search of the Method That Has Never Existed, has gained critical acclaim for diving into the fundamentals, technicalities, and contradictions surrounding the present method of teaching tango choreography. His other book, Tango Dance: The Origin of the Species, participated in the 64th International Book Fair of Frankfurt, Germany in 2012. He also wrote Tango Has Died on Stage, which reviewed traditional tango as opposed to the more modern, showy, and commercial style
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Daily challenges can cause a gradual buildup of frustration and other negative emotions in both partners.
This energy will eventually be released one way or another, which is why it is better to vent them in a positive way instead of a negative one.
Destructive channeling includes picking fights or spreading gossip about other people. In contrast, constructive energy channeling involves activities that can educate or entertain both partners.
Read MoreLearning tango is one of the positive ways that a couple can release their pent-up energy.
In making sound decisions, one can then say that intuition is equally important as applying logic to find the best approach to a situation.
The problem is that not all people have developed their intuitive skills, or they might not be confident enough in their gut feeling to follow it.
Although there are various ways to develop one’s intuitive skills, one unconventional yet effective method is by learning the Argentine tango.
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While Carlos Gardel is celebrated for his music, why is it that one will rarely hear his songs being played and danced to in milongas?
Some will likely try to avoid the yeta of “Adios Muchachos,” but all other songs by Gardel are best enjoyed while one is sitting down so as to ride through the wave of its emotions that have stood the test of time. Even those who may not be familiar with the language can understand the profundity in Gardel’s songs, which can transport them back to an era when heartbreak, exile, homesickness, romance, and other such themes comprised the meaning of life for most porteños.
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Often, when the topic of milongas arises, the discussion might typically revolve around one’s partner or the codigos that govern proper etiquette.
However, there is one aspect of the milonga that might not always be talked about but remains a crucial factor of what actually makes this event enjoyable: the music and the DJ.
The choice of songs can either save or ruin the night. Though often overlooked, a Tango DJ actually plays a crucial role in encouraging dancers to return to the dance floor despite having danced for hours already.
But how do they do it? What are the tricks up a tango DJ’s sleeve that they can make everyone dance all night long without them feeling tired?
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Because of its striking combination of enthralling dance steps, thrilling music, and dazzling visuals, it’s not surprising that the tango is famous all over the globe. Each lively dance motion performed by the dancers naturally captures the attention of the audience.
Tanghost Leader Damian Esell discusses memorization, energy, and motion in Argentine tango.
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Let's say a tanguero and a tanguera are on a packed dance floor, executing the steps so flawlessly that they look so stellar and breathtaking.
However, as they move around the floor, they hit other couples as they maintain their connection and keep time with the music. Would they still be considered good dancers?
The answer is no.
In tango, floor craft — the ability to navigate around the floor without bumping into other couples — is just as important as the dance steps.
Remember: tango is not just about the steps — it's about the connection, the music, and the floor.
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Before the red color became so popular that it was hailed the “unofficial color” of tango, a quick look back on history reveals that there was, in fact, a tango color that was a huge craze over a hundred years ago, and it was NOT the color red, but ORANGE!
As per popular brief history the color didn’t have any connection with meanings and sentimentality. It was a mere marketing strategy utilized by a very well-known fashion designer to sell his unsold stock of orange-colored fabrics.
By naming it Tango Orange, since the Tango was becoming more and more popular, he managed to catch everyone’s attention, and his unsold stock became sold out in an instant.
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Soft, fluid, and tender — the Tango Vals is one of the three principal forms of Argentine Tango.
When we dance to it, it’s impossible to deny that it is incredibly rich and deliciously filled with subtleties that make us immediately sway to the beat. People often mistake Vals Tango as Viennese Waltz because of their similar rhythm. Yes, the Tango Vals is an evolution of the Viennese Waltz, but it uses the tertiary rhythm differently.
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Argentine tango is often compared to a conversation — and for good reason.
While tango doesn’t necessarily use any verbal language, many of its aspects and features point to a constant state of interaction.
The dance becomes the medium of exchange, and the steps represent a dialogue not only between two dancers but also between individuals and their environment.
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If you've ever listened to Argentine tango, then you have Astor Piazzolla to thank.
He was a legendary tango composer and musician who changed the course of tango music for life.
His unique style — Tango Nuevo — introduced new elements into the genre, such as jazz and classical music. His compositions are some of the most well-known in the world and continue to be popular to this day.
Read MoreAstor Piazzolla is one of the most famous tango composers of all time, but many people still don't know who he is or why his music is so special.