“Tango” is not a style. Tango is a culture, a music genre, a dance. When an Argentine tango teacher says he teaches “Tango”, dear, that can be quite confusing. Distinct styles in tango manifest in different artistic interpretations. For my tango education, it is important to know the differences between Traditional Tango or Nuevo Tango, Tango Escenario, Salon or Milonguero.
It is true that most teachers today dance a fusion of styles. Evolution also happens in dance. But to keep all interpretations of tango under the same title “TANGO” leads to confusion.
Students shall have the opportunity to know what to expect from a teacher.
I will watch first and evaluate teachers according to the way they dance. The skills they have, which I would want to learn for myself.
A beginner for example maybe prefers the open embrace class with less strict traditional interpretation and might not yet like a super close embrace tango. Let him/ her have a choice.
Others will want to experience the total close embrace. It is necessary to know where to find a teacher qualified in teaching the milonguero style.
Saloneros , who prefer the elegant dancing, shall be able to look for teachers specialized in this style.
What it right though for my tango?
Today I have the impression, that many people mix everything up and use wrong techniques for certain movements and dynamics. They do not understand what they are doing.
Students end up leaning forward when they should not. Putting all weight in their heels, when they are in a close embrace, and so on.
While they have listened to many things from many teachers, they are not able to process the information well. It is not them to blame if they dance badly. They simply got confused by incompatible information.
How to describe the main differences?
mainly Tango differ in 3 aspect:
mainly Tango differs in 3 aspects:
the way to embrace
the dynamic in movements
the musical interpretation
While in traditional Milonguero the embrace is always closed, the other forms of tango vary a lot between open to close.
While the movements in Milonguero are small and compressed, other styles offer quite big and high dynamic combinations.
Musical interpretation in the Milonguero and Salon follow a tradition in the musical structure using mostly time and double time, as well as pauses, a lot. Nuevo dancers experience often with new possibilities in the music and implementing the syncopation a lot.
and dynamics ask for specific techniques. This is the point where students get overwhelmed.
A good reason to find a way out of the “Tango Jungle”.
Categories and styles in tango.
We have 2 categories (A, B) but 4 different styles
1. Tango Milonguero
This is the base, the original form of tango. The focus lies on connection to the partner and the music. Simple step-combinations in a close embrace and floating movements are typical. Everything is improvised. The “tango Apilado” style is an extremes version but belongs to the Milonguero.
For a beginner, it might feel unpleasant first, but once you have overcome the fear of closeness, you will enjoy the Microcosmos of Tango Milonguero. It is not a fancy dance from the outside, the beauty of this style is hidden.
2. Tango Salon
This style is building upon Tango Milonguero.
Salon offers more complex figures, which are danced in open embrace. Dancers have more possibilities to express emotions. It is still based on improvisation.
If it is danced with clear techniques, it is very decorative and a pleasure to watch.
The foundation for salon still built the ultimate milonguero style. To become a complete salon dancer, it is advisable to learn the milonguero first.
Starting straight with the salon is possible, but dancers will miss out the natural part of connection building in the embrace. I have danced with many salon dancers, who look like perfect dancers from the outside, but their embrace was stiff and I felt like being set on a distance all the time.
From the esthetic point of view, tango salon will teach you
proper body and feet movements.
3. Tango Escenario
Tango escenario (B) is a combination of all 3 styles with additional influences from other dances and acrobatic movements. It is based on choreography.
While it is a fantastic performance for the stage, it is not suitable for a social milonga.
I admire escenario dancers for their great choreographies and musical interpretations as well for their general dance abilities they definitely should bring into the dance.
To become a perfect escenario dancer it is not enough to be a professional ballroom or classical dancer to pick up some tango steps in a few weeks. It will show on stage but also when you are dancing socially in the milonga when you are missing the traditional and cultural embedded structures of tango.
In my opinion, perfect escenario dancers manage all 3 styles of Tango plus have a professional dance background as a classical, latin, folklore or modern dancer.
4. Tango Nuevo
Tango Nuevo reaches from beginners to stage dancers. It covers a wide field.
It does not teach the traditional posture and walk, it is free in interpretation, therefore, social dancers, who have not absorbed the traditional, will look less elegant and floppy.
In class and milongas, they play often non-Tango music, that new students, or young people, can relate better to.
It is a good choice for beginners, especially outside of Argentina. It has fewer strings to Argentine culture and therefore easier to “digest ” by dancers of other cultural backgrounds.
Intellectual or traditional teaching approach for my tango?
In Tango Nuevo, the approach in teaching is intelligent and very structured. People with non – dancing background have a chance to “understand” movements first and then to copy, while traditional learning method is based on “copy-paste” modus.
The teaching method in tango nuevo suits very well western countries with a culture of “want to ask and want to know “.
To learn Argentine Tango also demands a traditional approach. It is advisable from time to time to just listen to the teacher and try to copy him/her.
My recommendation is to start with Nuevo and open embrace for better understanding structure. After you have absorbed the basic techniques of an open embrace, start with Tango Milonguero, the close embrace.
As a result, you might keep on with Nuevo all the time until you are an expert in all fancy figures and special dynamics, but do not miss out your education in the traditional.
What style suits you best ?
- Shall you just want to have fun in the Milonga and you have not much energy in taking classes and all, definitely go with the tango milonguero. Take a course and practice a lot the few sequences, which are necessary and you are ready for the milonga. It gives most pleasure to you, your partner and the others on the dance floor too.
- Did you get impressed by beautiful Salon dancing? Make sure you are ready to invest time and money for classes. It needs some effort to reach a nice level. And don’t forget to pick up the basic traditional first.
- You can’t stand the tango music and don’t want to go into close embrace dancing? You may stick with nuevo moves. There are many milongas, where people having fun with non-tango music or alternative tango music while avoiding any kind of rules on the dance floor. Shall you go to traditional milongas, be aware that big figures and high voleos are not accepted because people move and interact with traditional etiquette.
Stick with one style for a while.
Irrelevant which style you choose, I really suggest sticking with one for a while, until you have really absorbed it before you switch to another style. Different techniques will only confuse a beginner or an intermediate student.
Do styles in tango blend together?
In these days dancers blend different styles together, to create their specific interpretation of their art. Sometimes it is not possible to pull a clear line. Not only escenario dancers mix up styles, but also social dancers do.
This is totally fine, as long both partners are comfortable with it and the couple does not disturb others on the dance floor.
Round up your general picture of tango and absorb when and why to apply specific techniques.
It is a good idea to learn all styles in tango because all are beautiful. It will round up your general understanding of the embrace, movements, and dynamics in tango.
Later you will find out which style matches your personality, mobility, flexibility, and spirit.
And you will know exactly what is best for your tango.
A responsible dancer with whatever style will always adapt to the rules of social dancing in a milonga.
Experienced dancers of Escenario and Nuevo stage will know how to adapt on a social dance floor because, in the end, we will all want to interact with respect and fairness.
