Notes on Musicality

Tango challenges our multi-tasking ability. Among all tasks in tango dancing, listening to music must take precedence. We dance music, not steps. Don't pay attention only to the movements and neglect the music. Instead, try to express the music and let the music lead you to dance.

Be calm and unhurried. If you miss a beat, wait for the next. Take time to finish the step and don't rush to chase the beat. Don't be hesitant to hold, pause and dance in slow motion when music tells you to do so.

Tango music is quadruple time. It has four beats in each measure, counted as 1, 2, 3, 4. The first and third beats are downbeats, and the second and fourth beats are upbeats. We normally step on the downbeat, but there are many possibilities. For example, you can step on both downbeat and upbeat, or pause to skip a few beats, or take two steps on one beat, etc.

A common rhythmic pattern is slow-quick-quick, stepping on 1 -, 3, 4. Another is quick-quick-slow, stepping on 1, 2, 3 -. A less common but still often used pattern is quick-slow-quick, stepping on 1, 2 -, 4. Tango music is often played as 1-and, 2-and, 3-and, 4-and rather than 1, 2, 3, 4, giving you the option to step on the subdivision "and" as well, i.e., making two steps in the duration of one beat.

A small step takes less time, a big step takes more time; a fast step takes less time, a slow step takes more time; a simple step takes less time, a complex step takes more time; a half turn takes less time, a full turn takes more time. You can use different steps to play with music.

Musicians syncopate or spice up music by shifting the accent (1, 2, 3, 4), extending a note (1 - - -), starting a note on an unaccented beat and continuing it through the next accented beat (1, 2 -, 4), splitting a note into subdivisions (1-and, 2-and, 3-and, 4-and), accenting the subdivision (1-and, 2-and, 3-and, 4-and), adding an accent (1, 2, 3, 4), or omitting a beat and replacing it with a rest, etc. Syncopation modifies the rhythm and makes the music interesting but more challenging to dance to (see Tango Music and Its Danceability).

Tango steps can be divided into two groups: that of featured steps, such as the forward step in front ocho, the rock step in ocho cortado, and that of ancillary steps, such as pivot, hip rotation, weight change, collection, unwinding and embellishment, etc. Beginners tend to focus only on the featured steps and overlook ancillary actions. They may be able to step on the beat, but their pivot, hip rotation, cross, weight change and embellishments are often made too slow or too hasty. Experienced dancers are able to handle music in an exquisite way that every detail of the sequence meets the rhythm, melody, tempo and mood of music perfectly. Only in such a way dancing tango becomes a real treat.

Dancing to music involves not only timing steps but timing the motions of the body as well. The foot must land on the beat, but the motion of the body continues until the other foot lands on the next beat. This motion of the body between two steps is called cadencia, which can be enhanced by increasing the motion of the body. It feels like riding back and forth on a swing. Cadencia increases the sensual pleasure of the dance. The ability to do cadencia is one of the things that mark a good dancer.

Tango music has a rhythm that is masculine - robust, forceful, rigid, steady and predictable, and a melody that is feminine - soft, fluid, sentimental, beautiful and moody, reflecting the two sexes in the dance. Dancing tango, you need to imagine that you are playing the music with your body. The man and the woman are different instruments. Each with its unique sound, expresses a different mood. Both are indispensable and irreplaceable, and they must complement each other and collaborate harmoniously in order to create a beautiful tango (see The Characteristics of Classic Tango).

Steping on the beat is fundamental in musicality, but it is not the most sophisticated. Beats are rhythmic stresses that regulate the speed of music. They are interrupted and unemotional. Stepping on beats is like jumping, the focus is on the accent, and the movement is short, broken and try. The most important thing in dancing is to express the emotions of the music, which lie not in beats but in melody. Melody is the linear, sweet and emotional tone that adds sentiment, emotion, beauty and fluidity to music. Dancing to melody is like ice skating, the focus is on the linear tone, and the movement is continuous, fluid and smooth (see Dancing to Melody - Poema). You can choose to follow rhythm or melody, or switch between the two, depending on your interpretation of the music and how you want to express the feelings at the moment. Some dancers are more rhythmic, others are more melodic. They develop different dance styles according to their musicality.

A piece of music is made up of many phrases and movements. Some of which are shorter or longer, others are slower or faster, and they express different emotions - nostalgic, sorrowful, romantic, affectionate, joyous, etc. Dancing to music implies dancing to the changing mood of the music. A qualified dancer steps on the beat. An excellent dancer dances to the mood of the music.

Too many students pay too much attention to steps rather than musicality, but what is invisible is more important than what is visible. Steps are tools you use to express music. It is your musicality that decides the quality of your dance. Musicality is an art only few have mastered. Unless you master it you can’t achieve excellence.