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tango dance lessons Tempe

Looking for a Challenge in 2016? Explore Argentine Tango Dancing.

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tango dance lessons near TempeDo you like a challenge? Many people do! There’s a definite sense of fulfillment and accomplishment in working towards something that’s really cool and unique, like learning to social dance. And the rewards of knowing how to dance the Argentine tango in particular are no exception.

From the stage to the screen to the barrios of Buenos Aires, the sensuality of the Argentine tango permeates the fabric of the social dance world as the crown jewel of dances that emphasize lead and follow and music interpretation. In relation to competitive ballroom dancing, many underestimate the difficulty of knowing how to dance tango.

Argentine tango is social dancing at its finest. With split-second decisions to make on a crowded, small and often dark dance floor, tango dancing optimizes creativity and a challenge. You see, unlike other social dances, like the Country Two Step for example, the tango is filled with intricate moves that are ever-changing. While there are a set of common core moves that have become widely known, the possibilities are endless for what you can create once you know the rules of the dance. It is for this reason that the tango is my absolute favorite social dance. There really is nothing that you can’t do, as long as you’re using proper technique, and staying with the music, of course.

“Knowing” what to expect is out the window in the Argentine tango, making this dance intimidating, to say the least. Add to that music interpretation and you have yourself a puzzle filled with thousands of tiny little pieces with which to play.

Lead and follow. This is what social dancing is all about! In the Argentine tango, it is of primary importance that a couple is connected through a solid lead and follow so that he can create and she can embellish and/or be shown off. The outcome? A couple who is on the same page and moving as one. It’s a truly amazing experience! And, once you know how to dance the tango, you can virtually be guaranteed that every other social ballroom dance will be a breeze to learn from there.

In 2016, challenge yourself by exploring the Argentine tango. Discover a dance that is passionate, romantic, dramatic and beautiful. To learn to tango is to go on a journey. So what will 2016 bring you? If you’re driven to succeed in a hobby that you will use for a lifetime, visit us at Dance FX Studios in Phoenix, Arizona and begin the new year with a bang with Argentine tango lessons.

The Sensual Styles of Argentine Tango

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Alluring, sensual and intimate are just a few of the words you may use when talking about the Argentine tango. A dance of romance and passion, it is one of the most well-known dances all over the world and is currently enjoying a considerable revival throughout much of Europe, the United States and South America. Many people just love the appeal and closeness that arises from this dance, which is why so many couples are excited to learn this spicy dance. Wouldn’t you like to reignite those flames of desire with your partner?


 

Dance FX Studios in Mesa, AZ, is the perfect place to learn a variety of social ballroom dances with private dance lessons ranging from the Argentine tango to Country dancing.  Learning to dance is an ideal way to learn a new skill or hobby that you will utilize throughout your life, no matter the occasion. It can be difficult to find time to spend with your significant other, so learning to dance together allows you to make the time each week doing something enjoyable and beneficial for both of you. What a welcome change that would be! Also, the Argentine tango is a great way to really connect with that special partner on a very intimate level.


 

Now, let’s talk about some of the styles of Argentine tango. There are various influences on the many styles of this dance, ranging from the tempo and type of music that accompanies the dance, to the space available on the dance floor in any particular venue. Nearly all the styles are danced in either the open embrace position where couples have space between their bodies or in the close embrace where they connect chest-to-chest. Let’s see which style best suits your personality!


 

We will start with Salon style tango which was the most popular style of tango danced up through the Golden Era of the 1950’s when milongas (tango parties) were held in large dance venues with tango orchestras performing. It regained popularity again in the early 1980’s and is still prevalent today. Salon tango is typified by slow, deliberate, and smoothly implemented moves. The emphasis is on precision, evenness, and musicality. Couples embrace closely but the embrace is flexible, opening slightly to make room for various figures and closing again for support and poise. The walk is the most important element, with dancers usually walking about half to three-quarters of the time during a song. So if you can walk, this dance should be a breeze for you to learn.

 

The Milonguero style of tango is characteristically danced with a slight leaning posture that usually connects at the shoulders of the dancers. In most cases it is danced in a close embrace with the woman’s head and body very close to her partner and her left hand placed far behind her partner’s neck. Sounds quite cozy, doesn’t it? The couple maintains a constant upper body contact and often does not loosen their embrace to accommodate turns.

Next is the Orillero style tango,  a style of dance that developed away from the cities, in the outskirts and suburbs where there was more freedom to move since there was usually more available space on the dance floor. This style allows both dancers to take additional steps outside the embrace. It is danced in an upright position and uses various accompaniments, such as swift foot moves and kicksand can be danced in both open and close embraces. Can you see you and your partner kicking up your heels to this dance?

And last, but certainly not least is Tango Nuevo, which is a dancing and teaching style. As a teaching style it emphasizes a fundamental exploration of the dance.This variation is mostly a methodical approach that looks at the structure of the dance to find new combinations of steps and moves. It is danced in an open and loose embrace in an upright posture with much of the emphasis being placed on each dancer to maintain their own alignment. From this teaching style, developed a new and unique style of dancing we now call, you guessed it- Tango Nuevo.

 

As you can see there are many variations to the Argentine tango and today, we covered a few of these styles. Learning this dance can be a lot of fun and easy to learn at Dance FX Studios. Why not give it a try? You and your partner will be glad you did!