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. In the United States, the values of liberalism and individualism often clash with the collaborative nature of tango.

Liberalism, with its emphasis on individuality, independence, and personal liberty, often undervalues relationships and cooperation. Tango, by contrast, is rooted in partnership, teamwork, and collective interaction. Its essence lies not in showcasing personal skills but in shared connection, unity, agreement, and harmony—not just with a single partner, but with the broader community. More than anything, tango is a fellowship. To truly enjoy the dance, one must be fully immersed in the community; without which, even the most advanced technical skills are hollow.

For this reason, those who exclusively perform exhibition tango with a fixed partner cannot truly be considered tango dancers. Unfortunately, professional performers are often idolized by tango students, shifting the perception of tango from a communal experience to a spectacle. Yet vanity cannot nourish the soul. While technical mastery may bring momentary 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 flourished in the United States, with many American dancers now matching their Argentine counterparts in technical skill. Yet in Argentina, tango remains deeply rooted in community—more than just a performance, it is a shared tradition. The spirit of fellowship remains at its core. For tango to truly thrive in the U.S., dancers must move beyond individualism, embracing camaraderie, connection, and the collective experience. This transformation requires commitment from dancers, teachers, and organizers alike. Every aspect of our engagement—how we support our communities, interact at milongas, extend and respond to invitations, and treat one another—reflects our understanding of tango and shapes the culture around us.

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