I believe that one of the best things about tango is that includes traveling a lot. Being a tango dancer is not just visiting milongas in your own community or your own country. Tango is international. Even in its beginnings: it was created by emigrants and it included very different cultures that came from different parts of the world. Traveling almost every month and visiting different types of events, as a DJ, teacher or a dancer, I learned that many of the commonly shared beliefs about people and tango communities are wrong. “Why are you so nervous? How come you are nervous? You are traveling to Portugal! You will a have great time there”, she was surprised. “Well, yes, I believe I … [Read more...] about 7 things I’ve learned traveling for tango
Anatomy of a Perfect Embrace
What is perfect embrace? It is like a kiss – different people will give you different answer. Some like it soft and tender, others long and passionate or short and playful… There are no rules there. That is the beauty of tango – it is not a standardized dance. The way you create your tango embrace depends on what you want to achieve. In my article “Flavors of tango: motion vs emotion” I tried to explain the difference between different flavors of tango. https://tangomentor.com/motion-vs-emotion/ Here I give you a visual guide how to create an embrace which is optimized for emotion – the one I prefer. This is very intimate way of embracing the partner: optimized to maximize the … [Read more...] about Anatomy of a Perfect Embrace
How ladies choose partners
Knowing the answer to the question “How ladies choose their partners?” can be game changing for both, men and women. Ladies, especially if they are beginners, who know how other ladies choose their partners can save themselves from frustrating experiences. Having terrible tanda for some ladies can be emotionally devastating and after that they can just pack their things and go home. Knowing this answer, can change the perspective for men too. Understanding what ladies look for in their dancing will give them idea what they should focus on in their learning process. This is why I asked some of my friends, favorite dancers and teachers to tell me how they choose their partner in milongas … [Read more...] about How ladies choose partners
Learning to dance in small spaces
Dancing in small spaces can be a blissful or frustrating experience, depending on what kind of skills the dancer developed during his learning process. Skills to navigate the complex world of crowded dance floors are often regarded as a sign of experience and high status among social tangeros. In this article I will give you a list of some of the benefits you can have from learning how to dance on crowded dance floors. I believe that these are the most important ones, but other dancers can list more. If you have one, I would be happy to read them in the comments. Back in 1857 the French poet Charles Baudelaire published his celebrated book “Les Fleurs du mal” (English: “The Flowers of … [Read more...] about Learning to dance in small spaces
The flavors of tango: motion vs emotion
Technique is overrated. I often say this when I want to illustrate how little tango dancers pay attention on the cultivation of the emotional side of their dance. The secret of tango is not in the motion: it is in the emotion. In this article I will try to identify some of the key differences between motion and emotion in tango. I will also try to give you some entry level advice on how to cultivate the emotion in your dance. “I saw you dancing with her. You finally succeed! No more chasing her, we can go home now”, my friend said with a smile after I joined him on our table. “Meh!” “What? You didn’t like her dancing? C’mon, she is a famous star and Argentinian teacher – you should … [Read more...] about The flavors of tango: motion vs emotion
How to rekindle your passion for tango?
It is always interesting to see the enthusiasm when people first start dancing tango. Discovering that secret world for them is something which sparkles great passion for everything connected to the dance. What they often don’t tell us when we start is that the passion will eventually fade away. Some might think that there is nothing you can do; that it might be natural, but I disagree. You can just wait for the passion to (or not to) return, or, you can do something about it. I believe that waiting is not always the smarter option – this is what my experience taught me. “I don’t know… there is this question in my head, repeating nonstop – who are these people, why am I here?” “Hmm, … [Read more...] about How to rekindle your passion for tango?
