Argentine Tango Curriculum

We have designed this curriculum with thought and attention to the varied and personal development of the social dancer. Anyone can dance the tango, regardless of age or background. Our program balances four essential skill areas that successful tango dancers master: Mechanics (structure, grammar, and vocabulary), Technique (the way the body is conditioned and trained), Connection (the art of lead and follow or improvising with a partner), and Musicality (expressing music through movement). The course descriptions below note which areas are emphasized at each level, but ultimately each person will have a unique process in discovering and integrating them.

Crash Course - An introduction to social tango for the curious and cautious! A taste of partner connection, tango vocabulary, dance floor navigation and tango musicality.

101 "Fundamentals" - For those completely new to tango and for those with prior experience who would like to refine the fundamentals. This class emphasizes the mechanics and connection elements of tango. You'll learn walking steps, cunitas, the follower's cross, ochos, and grapevine turns. All students will spend some time learning both leading and following roles.

102 "Close Embrace Technique" - This class is the second part of our Beginner program, introducing the body-to-body, "close embrace" style of tango which is danced most often in the crowded milongas of Buenos Aires. You'll develop primarily your technique and connection skills, but also your musicality in tango, tango-vals and milonga.

103 "Close Embrace Turns" - This course focuses on dancing grapevine turns (also called giros or molinetes) and other turning elements for tango in the close embrace style, and additional instruction in milonga danced in close embrace.

104 "Milonga & Vals" - A thorough exploration of the character and aesthetic of milonga and Argentine waltz as distinct entities. We'll explore the playful rhythmic footwork of "milonga traspie," the repetitive double-time and hesitation steps that make milonga artful and complex. We'll also apply the 3-1 and 1-2 rhythms of waltz to our vocabulary of improvisation.

201 "Sacadas, Paradas, and Boleos" - This course adds new elements to your tango repertoire, such as sacadas, boleos, and paradas, opening the dance embrace as necessary to create space for these movements.

202 "Intermediate Technique" - In this course we'll polish and refine the subtlety of your embrace connection and your ear for tango music. We'll also expand the creative range of your dance vocabulary with challenging elements such as contra-boleos and calecitas.

203 "Advanced Close Embrace" - Additional turning vocabulary for close embrace dancing, including rhythmic variations, sacadas, paradas, spins, and volcadas.

204 "Drags & Ganchos" - Incorporate these elements into social dancing with fluid transitions between closer and more open dance embraces.

Photo by Marty Katz

The Follower's Defaults
Read this article to learn more about the design of our curriculum and the process of learning tango. By Sharna Fabiano