“To be a great lead, do not love the woman you dance with; rather, listen to the music and love it! Beautiful tango is a process of transference – your love for the music will be transferred to the follower, and she will be enchanted.” – John Vaina

So I have got to say I am an absolute fanatic of Argentine Tango! Please allow me to unleash my enthusiasm for this exquisitely beautiful dance and why you should learn how to Tango dance this year, if you haven’t already started. Here are just the social and practical reasons for journeying into Tango dancing. In my next blog, we’ll explore the physical benefits of this amazing dance.

Social and Practical Reasons for Learning to Tango Dance:

Tango Is Great For Meeting People. Every month, new people decide to try the sexy Argentine tango for the first time. And every month, a few become lifelong Tangueros or Tangueras (male or female tango dancers). So not only do you have the opportunity to see new faces at every class series, workshop or dance, you can take the time to get to know the “regulars”. Some of these staples will become friends for life and some might become Ms. or Mr. Right…you never know.

You Can Start To Tango At Any Age. Some people are fortunate enough to discover Argentine tango in their teens, 20’s, or 30’s. Others don’t discover it until they’re in their 40’s, 50’s or 60’s. Better late than never!   If you haven’t explored the Argentine tango, push it to the top of your bucket list, no matter what age you are.

The Argentine Tango Is Sexy And Elegant. There are many stylistic variations of Argentine tango, ranging from the quietest of close embraces to the high drama of show tango. The sensuality can be expressed as barely contained eroticism to playfulness to true quiet intimacy. In steamy Latin dances, the hips move side to side and front to back; in Argentine tango the hips only swivel. This imparts an elegance that adds grace and dignity to a dance that always has one foot in the bedroom door.

Economically Sound. Okay, not counting shoes (which can become a serious budget consideration for some, dancers or not), knowing how to tango is cheap entertainment. Tango classes and events (workshops, weekly or monthly dances, festivals) provide an excellent social environment because you come into contact, literally, with new people every month and at every tango gathering and you can actually get to know these people at these venues rather than going on exploratory (and expensive) dates. For group tango classes and workshops (at least in the Arizona area), the average cost per hour is around $15. Dance cover charges run $10 or less, and there are dances held in restaurants that have no cover but buying a drink or nibbles is in order. There aren’t many ways these days to socialize (and burn calories) for hours and drive home with change from a twenty in your pocket. Also, since it’s counterproductive to drink and dance, you’ll be surrounded for hours by clever and talented people who are not slurring their words and stumbling on the way to the restroom; it’s a nice change from the bar scene in the wee hours.

Tango Is Truly A Dance For Decades. Some tango aficionados keep dancing on a regular basis, others take breaks – for a few weeks, even a few years – and that’s okay. Tangoing is like riding a bicycle, only way, way better. You can keep on doing it, and always come back to it. Tango ages beautifully, and keeps you from ageing prematurely. In fact, Argentine tango has been tried and tested therapeutically for seniors and Parkinson’s patients, noticeably improving posture and balance more than other ballroom dances or no dancing at all. As long as you can walk unaided (even if it’s slowly, and even if you have to stop a lot), you can tango – and look good doing it.

Do you have enough reasons to learn to tango yet? If not, which may be hard to believe 🙂 , keep your eyes out for part 2 of my love for tango dancing, the physical benefits to knowing how to dance the tango. Arizona residents can begin their exciting adventure in tango dancing with us at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, AZ. Tango has been one of our signature dances for over a decade and we’d love to share it with you! Check out our New Student Offer for the perfect way to begin dancing today!