This is part 2 about tango posture, the key to beautiful and meaningful tango.

 
 

4. Tango isn’t as aerobic as other genres of dance, therefore you shouldn’t be breathless (unless you’re dancing milonga – quicker paced tango!) so try to make sure you regulate your breathing. Don’t hold your breath in an attempt to uphold your posture as you cannot dance without breathing. Turning blue or red is definitely not part of the ideal tango posture!

5. The final key to tango posture is to lean forwards from the waist up and to have about 80% of your weight on your toes. This is probably the trickiest part. For anyone having danced modern, jazz or contemporary before, you’d usually have your weight forwards from your whole body, which isn’t the case in tango. If you’re struggling, bend over as if to touch your toes whilst keeping your legs straight. This is the difference – here is where you should feel your weight being brought forwards (only obviously nowhere near as far!).

6. Last, one obvious thing not to do (but always worth mentioning) is looking down. If you’re looking down to check where your feet are, rest assured, they should be, as on most people, at the end of your legs, so there’s no need to look! If you’re looking down to see where your partner is, try and feel where he or she is instead. And if you’re hoping to find a £10 note on the floor, just to let you know, chances are very slim so it’s not something worth spoiling your posture over.

Perfect all of these key elements and your tantalising tango posture is complete! Break a leg 😉

 

If you want to learn more, have a read at the part 1 of our article about tango posture. Other relevant blog posts include the tough job of a tango leader.

If you want to try our Argentine tango classes, have a look at our schedule.

Abrazo,

Nathalie and Emma