How to Tango

Born in the brothels of Argentina, the tango is synonymous with passion. Although the dance is relatively free-form, you can do a lot with two basic moves: the walking step and the rock step.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Best Of Ballroom Tango CDs
• one long-stemmed, red roses
• Dancing Shoes
• Tango Passion Videos

1. Face your partner and stand closer together than you would in most other ballroom dances - close enough that your torsos are touching.

2. If you're the leader, place your right hand on the middle of your partner's lower back. Extend your left hand out to your side with your arm bent and grasp your partner's right hand in a loose grip. Your partner should place her left hand on your right shoulder and place her right hand lightly in your palm with her right elbow bent.

3. On the first beat, walk forward slowly with your left foot, placing down your heel first and then your toes. Your partner will mirror each of your movements on every beat throughout the dance - in this case, moving her right foot backward, landing her toes and then her heel.

4. On the second beat, step forward slowly with your right foot so that it moves past your left. You should feel like you are slinking forward.

5. On the third beat, step forward quickly with your left foot, then immediately slide your right foot quickly to the right side and shift your weight to that foot.

6. On the fourth beat, bring your left foot slowly to your right, leaving your left leg slightly bent as your feet come together. Your weight should still be on your right foot.

7. Now, shift your weight to your left foot and do a right forward rock step: While making a half-turn clockwise, step forward quickly on your right foot, and then quickly shift your weight back to your left foot. With your right foot, slowly step forward to complete the half turn.

8. Bring your feet together, bring your left foot up next to your right and repeat steps 3 through 7.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep in mind that your feet barely leave the floor as you dance.
• This isn't a subtle way to meet people.

[palomaguy]

on 8/30/2007 This must be a cheat slip for US morons - just waiting for the next article "HOW TO WRITE AND SPEAK CHINESE IN EIGHT EASY STEPS"

PalomaGuy, Luxembourg

[pkhwang]

on 8/28/2007 Tango or any dance is much more than a sequence of footsteps. Find a teacher and a class, as others suggest. It is a social dance, so it's more natural and fun to learn it in social contexts, not from articles. Tango is also a language, you 'speak' and 'listen' to your partner, so approach learning it in the same way. Step patterns may provide you some useful phrases ('how do you do', 'good evening', etc.) but later impede you from expressing yourself in a deeper conversation, so treat them appropriately. Enjoy!

[RosemaryShapiro]

on 12/24/2006 The tango as taught here in How To is the ballroom tango. It is found in ballroom competitions and is often danced as show tango. To clarify, the tango that is danced in the salons and milongas of this world, born in Buenos Aires, is an improvised dance where the emphasis is the connection between two people. Danced in "close embrace" or "open style" is is a dance that is quite difficult to master. Some people call it Argentine tango or Argentinean tango. Google tango salons in your city, and go and watch. Ask around for good studios to teach it.

on 12/15/2005 Avoid anyone who claims to be able to teach it. Tango can no more be taught than can riding a bike, but it is just as simple to learn for those with the right attitude. To get started, just dance with someone who can already do it - if not for free, then in a private one-to-one lesson. And when you see group classes attempting to teach steps, figures or routines, remember: those are good for people who will only be able to fake it.

on 11/22/2005 Don't try and execute moves. It's about seduction and grace. Close your eyes and feel the music instead.