Walk

The traditional tango pedagogy places significant emphasis on walking. In the past, tango masters would spend extended periods teaching the walk before moving on to any figures, and there were sound reasons for this approach. First, tango is fundamentally a walking dance, no other dance form incorporates walking to the extent that tango does. Second, there’s a strong correlation between walking and dancing. The challenges dancers have in the walk often surface in their dancing; those who walk well generally dance well, while those who struggle with the walk often experience issues in other movements. Third, the walk is the simplest of all tango steps, yet it is the foundation on which more complex steps are built. If dancers cannot execute a basic walk correctly, it is unlikely that they will perform advanced steps well, and their problems can often be traced back to a weak walk. Lastly, because the walk is such a straightforward movement, it can be used to develop other basic skills such as embrace, posture, connection, communication, balance control, dissociation, and musicality. Beginners cannot effectively focus on all these elements when learning complex movements. They need to first master the basics before moving on to intricate steps and figures. To achieve this the exercises need to be kept simple, and practicing walking is a perfect way to that end.

The subpar quality of our tango is due in many ways to inadequate training in walking. American culture holds that learning must be fun and effortless. Our schools have the most entertaining environment and least homework. Our teachers do not want to bore students with repetitive drills, and our students are eager to try advanced moves before mastering the basics - believing they already know how to walk.

Nothing is farther from true. You look normal only till people see you learning to walk in tango. In fact, everyone looks clumsy and funny in their first tango walk. This is because walking chest-to-chest with a partner in close embrace is not something you commonly do. You feel awkward and uncomfortable in such close proximity with a stranger, leaning into him while stepping backward. Your body is heavy, stiff, and unbalanced. You struggle to keep up with the beat, extend your leg far enough back, or avoid being stepped on by your partner. Your posture is misaligned, with your hips sticking out, knees bending excessively, or a tendency to bounce or wobble. Many also find it challenging to dissociate their upper and lower body when walking alongside their partner, leading to an unsteady embrace and inadvertently pulling their partner off balance (see Women's Walk in Tango).

Until you find comfort in the embrace, you are not ready for the next steps. This is why walking is so important. 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.