Tango Dance Styles
Argentine Tango has been thrilling dancers for more than one hundred years. Social Tango is based on improvisational movement that creates a unique experience every time.
There are actually three Tango Dances—Tango, Milonga and Vals—each with its own music.
Tango
Tango is essentially walking with a partner to the music. It is danced to a staccato rhythm that allows the intricate footwork so characteristic of the dance. It is a passionate and sensual communication between partners, expressing emotion while moving together to the music. Its beauty, passion, drama and excitement make this dance truly unique.
Milonga
Milonga uses the same basic elements as Tango but requires a greater relaxation or freedom of the legs and body. Having a more “rustic” style than Tango, it is a kind of fast, rhythmic walking without complicated figures or pauses. Its mood is light, spirited and fun.
There are different styles of Milonga: Milonga Lisa (Simple Milonga), in which the dancer steps on every beat of the music, and Milonga con Traspié, in which the dancer uses traspiés or contrapasos (changes of weight from one foot to the other and back again in double time or three steps in two beats) to interpret the music.
Vals
Vals is the Argentine Tango version of Waltz. It is a fast, smooth dance that joins the seductive and rhythmic melodies of Waltz to the complexities of Tango. It utilizes almost the same steps as Tango, but with more turns and fewer pauses. It has a flowing feeling, using more suspended dynamics and changes of directions.
Tango Nuevo
In the late 1990’s, a new style of Tango dancing began appearing worldwide. Named Tango Nuevo, this dance style features an open embrace (dance hold) and fluid partner movements that emphasize a structural analysis of the dance. It has a flowing style with many different dynamics and range of movements that can be danced to either traditional Tango music or other contemporary musical genres.
