Like most people, my first impression of Argentine Tango was from televised dancing competitions like Dancing with the Stars. But it wasn’t until I started taking lessons at an exclusive tango school was I truly introduced to this beautiful form of dance and discovered the Houston tango community. (Jump to the end for a closer look at Houston Argentine Tango School.)
What is it about Argentine Tango that’s so special? For me, it is the intimacy, the tension, and the elegance… There is something magical about it. Once I took my first gliding step, I was hooked. I had no idea that just like salsa, tango is a common social dance all around the world. People of all ages and skill levels gather in social dances called milongas to have a few drinks and dance the night away.
5 Things I Learned About Tango in 1 Year
Now that I’ve been taking lessons for a little over a year, here are a few things I have learned:
1. It’s more accessible and less dramatic than I thought.
The social style tango isn’t quite as dramatic as you see on TV for practical reasons. For one, you are sharing the floor with numerous other couples, and you can do some serious damage if your leg extends too far past the embrace of your partner. Another reason is this is a dance for the everyday people too, who probably don’t have the incredible flexibility of a trained dancer.
2. There are many styles of instructors and you learn something different from every one of them.
For example, one might stress more on the proper form and techniques, while another focuses more on the connection with the partner and interpretation of each other’s intentions. The school I go to has three instructors who offer classes of different levels on three separate nights of the week. Not only can I choose to learn on a night that works best for me, I have benefited from each of their teachings.
Shout out to my instructors Indre, Rodrigo, Isadora, and Juan! Y’all are all amazing!
Beautiful Indre teaches Friday classes and hosts the milonga.
3. It’s like learning a new language, you can’t be shy about trying it out!
A lot of people might be intimidated when they first visit the milongas because it seems everyone on the floor is an expert. I felt exactly the same way at the beginning. But the more experienced leads were so patient and encouraging, they taught me something new in every dance. I would encourage the less experienced leads to not be afraid to ask the experienced followers to dance too.
4. Ladies get to do the fancy steps, but gentlemen do more work.
After I finally learned to be led, I realized that men (or women leads) really have the harder job in tango. Not only do they have to remember their own steps, they have to position their bodies just so that the followers know what steps to take next, all the while being aware of the surroundings so as not to run into anyone. I’ve tried leading a couple of times and I have to give kudos to the men!
On a side note, every leader/follower also has his/her own style (think of it as accents in languages). Dancing with different people helped me to be more attentive in interpreting my partner’s intentions.
5. Meeting people in the tango community is half the fun.
If it weren’t for tango, my normal social circle involved mostly engineers and… well… more engineers. But through tango, I’ve met people from numerous other professions such as photographers, musicians, realtors, and lawyers. It’s been fascinating to learn about their lives and views of the world. For example, Indre is also a yoga instructor and Juan is an amazing musician.
As an added benefit, for each new place I travel to, I will already have friends in the local community of fellow tangueros!
Meet the Houston Argentine Tango School!
I’m currently taking the Thursday and Friday classes, which take place at the historic Dow School in the Houston 6th Ward (Monday classes are offsite at the Continental Club). The school is better known today as MECA, which stands for Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts. The building is surrounded by original sculptures and murals.
On class nights, you will see this little sign at the door to welcome you to the world of tango.
Once inside the building, follow the left set of stairs to the second floor and you will arrive at the studio, named Cielito Lindo:
The studio is lovingly decorated and features a gorgeous view of downtown Houston.
Tango has offered Sam and I a joint hobby, new friendships, and a romantic way to spend Friday nights. With patience, practice and a good partner, we will continue on our tango journey!
Let’s dance!
C.