Two Tangos, Different Charms

We describe Latin dances such as rumba, cha-cha, and samba as passionate, hot, and sexy, but we no longer use these terms to describe tango. Instead, we describe tango with words like elegant, graceful, and soulful—a dance that once belonged to the Latin dance family. In its development, tango has been gradually refined and gentrified, evolving from the dance of brothels to Tango de Salon.

Yet, once upon a time, tango was indeed a hot, sexy, passionate Latin dance.

Comparing the two kinds of tango, we can observe the following differences:

1. Tango de Salon is danced at a slower pace, while earlier tango was danced at a faster pace.

2. In Tango de Salon, the steps are larger; in earlier tango, the steps were much smaller.

3. In Tango de Salon, the woman’s hip movement is moderate, remaining relatively parallel to the man’s hips. In earlier tango, the woman’s hip movement was more pronounced, often was perpendicular to the man’s hips.

4. Tango de Salon emphasizes elegance and harmony, whereas earlier tango emphasized bold gender identity and expression.

5. Tango de Salon focuses on subtle, inward feelings, while earlier tango focused on exaggerated visual impressions.

Both styles of tango have their merits—one showcases maturity and elegance, the other showcases vigor and passion.

The fact that earlier tango has largely disappeared is, to me, something of a shame, as I believe it still holds aesthetic value. Its technique, as the couple in the video below tries to replicate, is worth studying.

The evolution of human aesthetics, however, follows its own logic, transcending any individual preference. Perhaps, as a general trend, that "Elegance is the only beauty that never fades" - said Audrey Hepburn, is the underlying logic of human aesthetics and tango. Vigor may diminish over time, but elegance endures. (See Embracing Elegance.)

Steps, Musicality and Choreography

Novice dancers often focus their attention on steps, neglecting the importance of musicality and choreography. However, the quality of a dance hinges more on these two elements than on steps alone. To illustrate this, let’s first examine how the milongueros dance tango.

What stands out most about the dance of the milongueros is not their steps but their musicality and choreography, which possess the following characteristics:

(1) They dance at a slower pace, allowing the woman to follow in a restful and elegant manner. (2) Each step is thoughtfully conceived and clearly led, focusing on expressing the music and feelings, not on impression. (3) They pause after each phrase or sequence, much like punctuation marks divide sentences. (4) The pause is not completely still but involves subtle motion, offering the woman an opportunity to add embellishments. (5) Their steps are pulsating—resembling surging waves rather than a continuous flow of water—facilitating cadencia in the dance. (6) Transitions between steps are soft, often involving slight turns to prepare for the next surge in a different direction. (7) Surging step, pause, soft transition, and another surging step constitute the basic rhythm of their dance. This arrangement can better reflect the music, sentiment and feelings that feature social tango.

The milongueros' dance is a stark contrast to our tango, which tends to be hasty, busy and beat-chasing, prioritizing movements rather than musicality and choreography. If their tango is art, then ours is more like gymnastics. We tend to step on every beat and dance at a hurried, monotonic speed, leaving little room for the woman to express herself. There is a lack of pause, slow motion, subtlety, depth and emotional expression in our tango. The following is an example.

These are not novices but fairly experienced dancers. In fact, their dancing skills surpass the average found online. I selected this example to highlight that dance techniques, musicality, and choreography are distinct skills. What most dancers lack is not technique but rather musicality and choreography.

Of course, as with any skill, mastering tango requires time and effort. The dancers in the next clip have made noticeable progress.

Many of them are adopting the style of the milongueros. A standout example is the man in the hat who appears between 3:10 and 3:50. By incorporating more pauses and slow motions into his dance, he has achieved a style that feels deeper, more flavorful, and less gymnastic. Pauses and slow motion in tango are like punctuation in writing—they make the dance more musical, meaningful, expressive, and captivating (see Floorcraft, Choreography and Hastiness). The following is another such example.

Tango in Small Cities

In Chengdu, China, teahouses line the streets and alleys, each bustling with activity. These teahouses are more than just places to drink tea—they are social hubs where people gather to chat, read, play chess, listen to local operas, and more. This leisurely pastime has become an integral part of daily life in Chengdu.

Similarly, in Buenos Aires, the milonga holds a special place in the hearts of its people. Just as teahouses are to Chengdu, milongas are to Buenos Aires. Scattered throughout the city, these venues are where Porteños spend their time, meeting friends, enjoying coffee, listening to music, and dancing tango. Over time, many have become skilled dancers, and tango has become a fundamental part of their daily lives. For countless Porteños, a day without tango feels as incomplete as a day without food.

However, tango dancers in smaller cities aren’t as fortunate. With too few dancers to sustain regular, high-quality milongas, they face unique challenges. I know this struggle firsthand—I used to drive to nearby cities for milongas. A three-hour dance often involved a five-hour round trip. The sleepless nights, fatigue, and mounting costs eventually took their toll, forcing me to adjust to the reality of dancing locally.

Dancing locally may not match the excitement of big-city milongas, but it offers convenience, affordability, and sustainability. While occasional trips to larger cities can be rewarding, tango aficionados in smaller towns must embrace the importance of dancing close to home. In large cities, established tango communities provide structure and support, but in small towns, we have to create that structure ourselves. Building a tango community isn’t easy, but it’s essential. If we continue relying on long-distance travel, the day will come when exhaustion or life circumstances prevent us from traveling, and we’ll have no choice but to give up tango. Wouldn’t it be better to channel that energy into building our own community, so we can enjoy tango just as those in larger cities do?

Dancers in small towns must adopt a strategic mindset. We can’t rely on others to create opportunities for us—we need to take initiative, plant our own seeds, and nurture them until we can enjoy the fruits of our labor. Building a tango community requires dedication, patience, and hard work. It may not be quick or easy, but the investment is worth it. Starting small is fine; what matters is commitment. With time, our community will grow, and the start-up phase will pass. Instead of looking elsewhere to dance, we should focus on strengthening, expanding, and improving our local group.

The significance of building a local tango group cannot be overstated. It’s not only where we refine our dance skills but also where we cultivate the relationships that make tango truly special. Tango is a partnership, a collaboration—without a team, there is no tango. While it’s natural to seek out better-established communities, why not invest in improving our own? As dancers, we must think about the future, not just the present; prioritize team-building alongside personal enjoyment; contribute as much as we receive. I willingly provide a place for our group to dance as my contribution, but I hope others will also step up—not as a favor to me but as a way to strengthen and grow our community. Don’t come solely for enjoyment; think about how you can help the group thrive. Ask yourself regularly: “What have I done for the group lately?” If everyone plays their part, our local tango community will flourish, and tango can become an indispensable part of our daily lives as well (see Never Forget Why We Started.)