All About Tango

There are many kinds of tango. The three most popular in America are 1) American Tango, 2) International style tango, and 3) Argentine tango. In my view, International tango is better described as "English tango" since that's where it originated and it is not truly international in popularity. For example, International tango is certainly not so popular in Argentina. American tango is well-suited to social dancing, where you dance with a partner you've never danced with before. It is a lead and follow style. International tango is more choreographed -- so much so that those dancing international style often stop in the middle of a routine if they make a small mistake and are often not able to recover well. American style dancers just improvie and keep going. American and International styles are quite sharp in style with headings turning quickly and steps taken in a "quick-hold" manner rather than a graceful manner. American and International styles are similar and often danced in ballrooms. Argentine tango is very different in style and is not danced so often in ballrooms, but at special "Argentine tango dance parties," where nothing is danced but Argentine tango all night long. Argentine tango is unusual in that the leader must know every step the follower is taking and see it in his mind's eye. Argentine tango is often very smooth and romantic, unlike American and International. However, Argentine tango can also be very fast and exciting, depending on the music. As an example of a difference, in Argentine tango the leader sometimes steps forward toward the follower with his left foot while the follower si stepping backward with her left foot. This is never done (to my knowledge) in American and International styles. Argentine tango also has some very unique steps where the dancers kick between each others' legs.

101 Books About Tango