Tango Is a Fellowship

I was recently asked to compare Argentine tango and American tango. While such a broad topic cannot be fully explored in a short essay, I’d like to offer some thoughts from a particular perspective.

Some people approach tango purely as a skill, assuming that technical mastery alone equates to mastering the dance. This mindset often overlooks the cultural depth of tango—disregarding milonga codes, neglecting the emotional experience of others, treating fellow dancers as rivals, and focusing more on personal display than shared experience. This attitude is especially common in the United States, where the values of liberalism and individualism often clash with the collaborative nature of tango.

Liberalism, with its emphasis on individuality, independence, and personal freedom, often undervalues relationships and cooperation. In contrast, tango is built on partnership, teamwork, and interaction between dancers. Its essence lies not in showcasing personal skills but in shared connection, unity, agreement, and harmony. Tango, above all else, is a fellowship. To fully enjoy the dance, one must engage in that shared connection and fellowship. Without which, even the most advanced technical skills are hollow.

For this reason, those who only perform exhibition tango with a fixed partner cannot be considered true tango dancers. Unfortunately, professional performers are often idolized by tango students, and their influence can shift the perception of tango from a communal experience to a spectacle. But vanity cannot nourish the soul. While technical mastery may offer temporary satisfaction, most dancers long for something deeper, eventually moving beyond exhibitionism toward the essence of tango (see The Four Stages of the Tango Journey).

Since its revival in 1983, tango has grown significantly in the United States. Many American dancers now rival their Argentine counterparts in terms of technique. Yet in Argentina, tango remains a deeply rooted community practice—more than just a performance. The sense of fellowship continues to be central. For tango to truly flourish in the U.S., dancers must move beyond individualism and prioritize camaraderie, connection, and community-building. This transformation calls for a collective commitment from dancers, teachers, and organizers alike. Every aspect of our behavior—how we support our communities, how we interact at milongas, how we invite and respond to invitations, and how we treat one another—reflects our understanding of tango and shapes the culture around us.

As tango dancers, we carry the responsibility of nurturing these bonds and strengthening our dance communities. Only through this shared effort can American tango truly align with the spirit of Argentine tango (see 惜缘 – Cherishing the Bonds of Fate).