Tango is a dance in which a walking style of step is a basic part. Argentine Tango dance steps may look easy to learn for beginners, but as you proceed you will realize that there are complicated movements involved in this walking style too.

Switch on the music and with your eyes closed listen to the song imbibing the rhythm and beat. Concentrate on the major beat and start practicing to step on every major beat till your body gets a feel of the music and you are able to walk with eyes open stepping only on major beats. Try to master this Argentine Tango Dance step steadily.

Individuality of Tango Style
The feet stepping style in the Argentine Tango dance step is quite similar to the walk dance steps of various other dances such as the foxtrot, fast step, Texas Twin step and others. However these dances can be easily differentiated when you watch the movement of the dancers along with their partners and the way they interact while dancing the Tango.

One way of mastering this dance is by practicing to walk-dance without music. Each step you take should be with the balls of your foot rather than heels. Balancing on the balls of a foot is characteristic of jungle animals when they prepare to pounce on their prey like the lion or tiger. Imagining this posture will help you to assume the same powerful yet graceful style when you do your Argentine Tango dance step.

Tango Dance in block-like Pattern:
Have you been to Tango dance theme parties? By the way these parties are called “milongas”.Have you enrolled for any Argentine Tango dance step course? If you have then you will realize that the tango dance includes a huge variety of step patterns which at first sight seems very complicated and confusing. But in reality they are just a combination of simple steps mixed in varying ways to form a unique style.

La Caminata also known as “the Walk” forms the basis of Tango dancing. This foundation step will help you learn the mixed patterns and exclusive styles easily. The “Twin-Step walk” is a kind of Argentine Tango dance step which is performed in a block-like pattern. There are several variations of this step. Among the variations “The Stroll” is a hot favorite.

“The Stroll” (el paseo):
1. Partners face each other and keep their feet together like a normal standing posture. Keep weight on one foot.

2. Male partner takes a step forward with left foot following up with a step forward with right foot alongside the left foot.

3. Female partner takes a step back with right foot following up with a step back with left foot alongside the right foot.  Retain weight on left foot to allow right foot to start the next round. Remember that your feet should never be apart at still positions. This is a basic Twin step walk which can be modified to vary dancing patterns in Argentine Tango dance steps.

Tango dance is very popular in social circles and at parties and Tango dance moves are energetic, expressive of emotion, seductive and joyful. Tango is danced with partners and they perform the dance with precise yet passionate energy. Tango like various other dances also has a lot of offshoots which are equally popular. Some of the popular styles are Tango Argentino which lays emphasis on complex footwork and thence earning a name “war of legs”. The Canyengue is another Tango offshoot but fairly similar to the original dance. Then there is the Finnish style of Tango, the Ballroom Tango which was evolved due to European influence and a quite a few more styles. The basic Tango dance moves will be similar in all these styles and the additional variations, twirls and sways as well as the music used differentiates the styles.

Some of things to keep in mind while learning the Tango dance steps are the expression, the posture of your body,  the basic moves and the promenade moves and the arm holding technique.

The Expression: Your emotions of happiness, intimacy, seduction, passion should be expressed through the way the body moves in tune with the musical rhythm and the foot movement.

The Posture: Both partners should hold their body with a slight rigidity which will give a resistance that will maintain balance and help the lead to direct and the follower to respond. The hip movements should be well defined to accentuate the passionate energy and in comparison to the hips the upper part of the body will be fairly still.

The Basic Tango Dance Moves: The male lead takes three steps forward left, right, left for the first three beats, then follows up with a sideways move to the right with right foot on the fourth beat and on the fifth beat brings left foot to rest by the side of the right foot. In the complimentary Tango dance moves, the female follower takes three steps backward, right, left, right, follows up with a sideways move to the left with left foot and on the fifth beat brings the right foot to rest by the side of the left foot.

The Promenade Tango Dance Moves: This move is performed with the couple standing beside each other. They take 2 slow steps forward and then turn to face each other. The female follower does this by pivoting on her feet and turning 90 degrees. They finish by bringing both the feet close together. This move is performed for movement across the dance floor.

Hand holding: Female followers right hand resting on male lead’s left hand. The male lead’s right hand on female’s left shoulder and female’s left hand on male lead’s upper arm. Minimal eye contact is maintained and direction and response are only through fingers. You can learn the Tango dance moves by enrolling in a dance course for perfection.

The origin of Tango dance like the other Latin dances is very hazy. Suffice to say that this dance also had contributions from various other dance styles and became popular in early 1920s perhaps. Originating from Argentina the locals consisting of a lot of immigrant Africans and Europeans contributed their mite in evolving this dance further to suit their taste and the varied culture.

Facts about origin of Tango Dance:

Buenos Aires was made the capital of Argentina and in cities like Montevideo and Buenos Aires, there was a little more freedom enjoyed by the black slaves. Dancing and singing was their major pass time and also an outward expression of their emotions such as frustration, anger or love and happiness. The Tango dance parties was called Milonga and had its evolution from culture of Africa. Dancing terms such as Canyengue and Candombe was also used while referring to Tango dance. In African culture this dance had a spiritual connotation and was performed during rituals. But in Argentina the the dance took on political and social connotation too.

Subsequently the origin of Tango dance as we know it today underwent further change with the influx of Spanish Gaucho migrants who came to Argentina. They also used this dance form to express their feelings of resentment and desperation. With contributions from the Spanish culture the Tango took on a different hue. However it still remained an ancient and crude form of dancing. Later on migrants from South America and Europe came along to settle down in Argentina and they brought with them a touch of class and style which was lent to the crude Tango dance to turn it  into a more stylish and refined form of dancing.

With this refinement and acceptance of the origin of  Tango dance by higher society people the Tango became popular and started spreading its wings. Soon there were musical shows with Tango dance, theater performance, tango dance in competitions, tango music included in orchestra and in almost all festivities. It was this popularity which was appreciated by Americans and the dance moved to the US and became a fascination for the Americans. The dance was performed by the poor and rich and at all times of happiness and times of war. Such was the fame that it had received that when it went a full round and returned to Argentina it was considered a very refined art form.

Though like many art forms Tango dance too went through a trough in the seventies it came back to its popularity with a bounce because of support from influential foreign people and famous artists. After that there was no stopping the Tango dance and now it is popular throughout the world. Thus the origin of Tango dance though hazy was so strong that the dance survived a lot of battering to come out  with winning colors.

In the deepest recesses of Buenos Aires in the 1800s, there came to be an amalgamation of African, Spanish and Uruguayan music and dance which shaped up to become one of the sexiest dances in the world, the Tango!

The tango, one of the most vividly dramatic and sensual dances ever to have graced the earth, put Argentina on the map for its dance culture! This spectacular dance is founded on dramatic moves and formed by intimate communications between the partners, who are so in tune with each other that they can read the moves the other is going to make and react accordingly! However, when the tango first appeared, it was not a form of intimacy and was often performed only be men!

Argentina had a lot of immigrants from most parts of Europe who picked up on the tango in the late nineteenth century, and so, it became popular as a dance for the common man. Danced in festivals and fetes in jam-packed halls, the tango became an intimate and close social dance. However, the music of the tango was always most popular within Argentina, where more that one third of sheet music and records sold until the year 1920 had the tango essence!

Also, the dance itself started getting linked with Mi Noche Triste, a tragic love song by Carlos Gardel. Then, classical musicians took up the tango and gave it a new look of elegance by lowering the tempo. This led to the fall of the tango up to the 40s, until it was restored to its former glory by the patriotic zeal of Argentina’s Perón years! After this, it fell in popularity once more as the concept of rock n roll began, and Argentina’s economy steadily diminished.

The tango’s final revival occurred in the 80s, after which the music of the tango was amalgamated with some pieces of popular music such as jazz, which gave the tango a somewhat old-new sound and feel. The music combinations of the tango by artists such as Tom Waits, Portishead and Gotan Project has led to the Tango Nuevo enjoying a new generation of spectacular dancers!

“Libertango” dancer: Pablo Alonso

Tango dance by Pablo Alonso and partner from Argentina in Salon Canning. Actually he directs PabloTango School in London … tango argentino pablotango pablo alonso libertango argentina

Ballroom Tango dance always been used in some of the movies especially the Italian or European films. It’s create the feeling of romantic and mystery.

Tango Dance- Larroca

Wonderful dance sequence from the 1998 film ‘Tango’ directed by Carlos Saura and featuring music by Lalo Schiffrin. www.ModernJiveGermany.com

The tango dance moves are hot and sensual and this sultry dance features proud strutting men and elegantly flowing women. Although it has the characteristics of other dances, the dance has its own moves which make it unique. The fast turns and jerky leg and arm movements are familiar to many people. When doing the tango dance moves, it is important to maintain a strong, dignified expression and posture which is the hallmark of an accomplished dancer. When Argentina’s capital was established as Buenos Aires, many immigrants flocked there to partake in its prosperity. There was a mix of Indian African, Spanish as well as Eastern European Cultures that all blended to come up with this emotional dance. The name tango is said to have come from a drum-beat ‘tan-go that was distinctly African.

The tango dance moves illustrate a story of physically charged emotions that are expressed between a woman and man. Although it has similarities to different ballroom dances, the specific movements are unique. There are a few flowing movements as the two dancers move in tow. However, there are some fast erratic head changes that go from one side to another in a way that makes the dancers seem like they are slapping each other using their upright bodies. The movements of the upper body are refined and structured with stiff heads and pointing hands. In most cases, the upper body remains still as the legs do a frenzied routine by themselves. The upper part of the body then becomes flexible and the two dancers clasp as the lead and follow engage in an intimate conversation. The tango dance moves that people practice today is much more sanitized than the original. Plenty of the original emotion and passion which was characteristic of the dance has been lost. Lust- filled stares as well as provocatively draped women are no longer seen during the dance.

Many enthusiasts like pulsating rhythm and the pace variation when engaging in tango dance moves. Male and female partners move around the dancing area in a counterclockwise direction. Initially, the man happens to be demanding and dominant while the lady is cajoling and persuasive. The feet are then kicked to the sides while the two dancers seem to have a dispute. The two make up, and then argue again. This symbolizes the argumentative portion of the tango dance moves as the dancers frequently have disputes and thereafter make up. The moves on the dance floor are counterclockwise just as other similar dances. The back and forth footwork is similar. The costumes worn today are much similar to other ballroom clothing with lots of sequins on the cuffs and the down sides. The dresses have cut away sections with the short skirts being able to be cut away. The dresses are close-fitting and are made in shadowy colors such as greens or reds. They have a provocative look and may be used to accentuate the leg turns and kicks. Learning the tango dance moves may be an emotional and intense experience.

Argentine tango dance lessons are part of a musical genre and social dance with origins in Argentina, from where it spread to Uruguay and later on worldwide.  In the United States, people confuse ballroom tango, which was derived much later, with argentine tango. There are various styles that make up the Argentine tango dance. These styles originated from different eras and regions and were even in response to the changing clothing fashion and crowding of dance venues. Although the current forms have their origins in Uruguay and Argentina, these dances were also influenced by styles reimported from North America and Europe.

Argentine tango dance lessons are performed in an embrace, which ranges from ‘closed’, where the lead and follower are connected chest to chest, to ‘open’, in which the follower and leader come together at arms length or it can be somewhere in between. Traditional styles are often associated with close embrace, whereas the open embrace is flexible and accommodates the many figures and embellishments related to tango nuevo. Essentially, Argentine tango dance lessons are all about walking with the music and the partner. Musicality, which is dancing aptly to the speed and emotion of tango, is a very important aspect of dancing Argentine tango.

Social Dance vs. Competitive Dance
Ballroom tango dancing steps, which were regulated by dance studios, have remained unchanged styles for many years. On the other hand, Argentine tango musical form and dance has been dynamic, with frequent changes taking place daily in Argentina’s social dance floors as well as in main tango centers in other places worldwide.

Argentine tango continues to rely on improvisation. While there is wide range of sequences or patterns of steps which are used by Argentine tango dance lessons instructors, even in a sequence, each dance movement is directed not only by quality and speed but also in direction (dance steps can be sharp, pulsing, smooth and so on…).  Even though Argentine tango has evolved mainly on dance floors, there is an annual Argentine tango competition in Buenos Aires hosted by Argentina’s government which attracts competitors from all parts of the world.

Embrace (abrazo)
One prominent difference between ballroom tango and Argentine tango dance lessons is seen in the feel and shape of the abrazo or embrace. In ballroom tango, both partners’ upper bodies are arched away from one another, even as hip contact is maintained, in a balanced frame.

This is exactly the opposite in the Argentine tango. In this dance, the chests of both partners are closer compared to their hips and in most cases, the contact is at the chests’ level (with the point of contact differing, being determined by the leader’s height and how close the embrace is). For the close embrace, there is complete contact between the follower and the leader’s chests and when dancing, their heads touch or are close to each other. Though in the open embrace the space between the partners can be as much as desired, for optimum communication, there ought to be full contact alongside the embracing arms. Because Argentine tango dance lessons are mostly improvised, partners need to communicate clearly to make the dance a success.

Other than being precise, Tango dance steps are passionate and hot. They are equally among the most fashionable social dances presently, but despite its repute, the fundamental Tango dancing steps can easily be broken down.

Prior to Dancing, the Frame
The frame is amongst the major aspects of this Tango dance steps and styles, or equally, the manner by which dancer’s bodies are held together. The dancing position ceases with the right hand of the lead on the left shoulder-blade of the follow, while the left hand extends sideways, grasping the latter’s right hand, even as his left hand is placed halfway down the right arm of the lead. Although this seemingly makes it appear like the arm is resting, by no chance should any actual weight be exerted on the arm of the lead. That’s the beauty of the Tango dance steps.

The follow and lead should look sideways, towards the right and left, respectively, with very straight spines and a relatively minor backward tilt to the head of the follow. Certain Tango dance steps occasionally necessitate the lead and follow snapping their heads while looking at one another (n often comprising a smoldering gaze) although their heads are required to return to the frame’s rest

Through most of these steps, that frame is continually held, with the bodies’ tilt being the only change (for instance, inside the corte). Although this may seemingly appear like it causes the dance to become inflexible for some, the truth is that the dance frame stability causes the remaining Tango dance steps to be more elegant.

The Primary Tango Dance Steps
The easiest means of remembering the primary Tango dance steps is thinking of the T-A-N-G-O acronym since the basic involves five parts. The steps similarly have a duration and rhythm that flows as follows: “Slowly…slowly…quick-quickly-slowly…”

Similar to most ballroom dances, both the follow and the lead mirror one another’s steps during the basic, while most of the complex tango dance steps are given to each party to have their individual roles of playing. It is also common for the lead to use their left foot for beginning, whereas the follow uses the right. The steps of the lead are heel leads meaning that the foot’s heel touches down fast rather than the toe.

1. Slow (T): The lead uses his left foot to step forward, and this is mirrored by the follow who steps back using the right.

2. Slow (A): The lead once again steps forward using his right foot, while being mirrored by the right foot of the follower.

3. Quick (N): The lead again steps forward using the left foot, though this step is slightly smaller, in preparation of stepping sideways using the right.

4. Quick (G): The lead uses his right foot to step to his right through a technique referred to as “collecting the foot”. This implies that the lead’s right foot is brought up along the left prior to taking a step to his right, while not moving diagonally.

5. Slow (o): In all the fundamentals, the sultriest step is probably the slow almost drag-like movement of the lead’s left foot to the right in readiness to commence the fundamentals again. In regard to the follow, it is the slow and deliberate motion of joining the right into the left that is the sultriest amongst the Tango dance steps.

Argentina is popularly known for Tango dance and music. But where did the tango originate from? Tango history is very complex in Argentina and its origin is unclear. One certain thing however, about Tango’s origin in Argentina, is the fact that it was influenced strongly by African culture during the 18th century. The first time African slaves were featured in Argentina was in the 17th century and they came in to serve as domestic servants or provide hard labor in the haciendas. After the abolishing of slavery 30% of Buenos Aires residents were African.

As a result and in a bid to find an answer to the question, where did the tango originate? The Argentine Tango was used to refer to the meeting places where working and freed slaves came together to dance. The Tango evolved to make a reflection on music and dance beautiful diversity from Argentina’s immigrants influx between late 18th and early 19th centuries. Initially The Tango was for the poor immigrants eager to change their families’ fortunes.

The Tango depicted the passion, sexual innuendo and desperate longing the immigrants experienced because of being separated from their female partners and wives for the whole time they were in Argentina. It was initially accompanied by a mixture of the rhythms of African drumming and Italian and Spanish melodies. However, as the evolution in musical accompaniment took place, an instrument called bandoneon was introduced. The bandoneon was a small type of accordion and to date still remains a key Tango sound element.

To answer where did the Tango originate? It is recorded that Tango venues were attended by Argentina’s indigenous, poor and young men as well .These men in turn took the Tango to the Buenos Aires slaughter house district where it got introduced to brothels, dance venues and bars. The Tango dance evolved to also include the Argentine Milonga music that had a faster pace that Polka and this explains the dance’s quick steps.

It is not surprising that the Argentine high society looked down upon the Tango and its dancers.  The dance was perceived as distasteful and vulgar. This was a consequent of its association with prostitutes and brothels. Regardless of this some of their sons ultimately engaged in tango. At the start of the 20th century, tango was able to transverse class and then spread throughout Argentina until it reached Paris because of the geographically mobile and wealthy families. By the beginning of the twentieth century, the Tango was considered to be an international success. People from all over London, New York and Paris were enthralled by the new and exciting innovation. The year 1913 was considered to be the year of the Tango because it made its way back to Argentina and became a global hit that was also quite refined.

The Argentine elites came to accept the fact that the Tango emerged from Argentina and were able to view it with a lot of national pride and love. Argentina will no doubt remain popular for Tango and therefore it would be a great opportunity for one to visit Argentina personally and get to see the Tango performed in its country of origin. This will also be a good way to answer the question many have asked for long, where did the Tango originate?