Walk

The traditional pedagogy of tango places significant emphasis on walking. In the past, tango masters dedicated extended periods to teaching walking before progressing to any figures, and for good reason. First, tango is fundamentally a walking dance—no other dance form incorporates walking to the extent that tango does. Second, there is a strong correlation between walking and dancing: challenges dancers face in walking often manifest in their dancing. Those who walk well generally dance well, while those who struggle with walking often encounter issues in other movements. Third, walking is the simplest of all tango steps, yet it serves as the foundation for more complex movements. If dancers cannot execute a basic walk correctly, it is unlikely that they will perform advanced steps effectively, as many problems can often be traced back to a weak walk.

Lastly, because walking is such a straightforward movement, it provides an excellent opportunity to develop other foundational skills, such as embrace, posture, connection, communication, balance, dissociation, and musicality. Beginners cannot effectively focus on all these elements while learning complex movements; they must first master the basics before advancing to intricate steps and figures. To achieve this, exercises need to remain simple, and practicing walking serves as the perfect means to this end.

The subpar quality of our tango can be attributed, in many ways, to inadequate training in walking. American culture holds that learning should be fun and effortless. Our schools are designed to provide the most entertaining environments with minimal homework. Teachers often avoid boring students with repetitive drills, while students are eager to try advanced moves before mastering the basics - believing they already know how to walk.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. You may look normal—until someone sees you learning to walk in tango. In fact, everyone appears clumsy and amusing during their first tango walk. This is because walking chest-to-chest with a partner in close embrace is an uncommon experience. You feel awkward and uncomfortable being in such close proximity to a stranger, leaning into them while stepping backward. Your body feels heavy, stiff, and unbalanced. You may struggle to keep time with the music, extend your leg far enough backward, or avoid being stepped on by your partner.

Your posture may also be misaligned, with your butt sticking out, knees bending excessively, or bouncing and wobbling. Many also find it difficult to dissociate their upper and lower body while walking alongside their partner, resulting in an unsteady embrace and unintentionally pulling their partner off balance. (See Women's Walk in Tango.)

Until you find comfort in the embrace, you are not ready to move on to the next steps. This is why walking is so crucial. It is simple, it keeps you grounded, and it helps you focus on the essentials. In fact, it’s not just about walking—it’s about everything foundational: embrace, posture, connection, musicality, balance, stability, flexibility, lightness, dissociation, communication, elegance, and harmony. Walking forms the bedrock of your tango.