Argentine Tango (~1860)
... is the art of improvised dancing with a partner. It is well known for the passionate and sensual relationship between the dancers.

What makes Argentine tango unique is having no basic step - just pure attention and enjoyment of leading & following while listening to the music.

As there is no basic step, both dancers need to "listen" to each others body signals in order to "fly" across the dance floor.

This unique blend of effortless nonverbal communication and body awareness, tantalising music and the proximity of your partner can result in a deep emotional and passionate "connection" between the dancers which is unlike any other dance or art form.

Argentine tango has emerged as an unique synergy of African dance and other music and dance styles brought to the Rio de la Plata region in Argentina and Uruguay by European immigrants.

Because improvisation is its very soul, tango is a dance designed truly to be enjoyed by everyone dancing (not just watching!) on the social dance floor!

Tango Nuevo - the music (~1970)

Astor Piazzolla, very successfully, combined Argentine tango music with American jazz. This was the start of a new phenomenon in tango music labelled "tango nuevo".

Some of Piazzolla's popular compositions, such as "Vuelvo al sur", inspired dancers to incorporate slower and larger moves into their dance vocabulary.

Tango Nuevo - the dance (~1990 )

Around 1990 Gustavo Naveira together with Fabian Salas and Pablo Veron began to study, and later teach in a systematic and easier way, tango that includes larger and slower moves.

They also realized that many moves that in the past had been choreographed by show dancers are in fact leadable, i.e. suitable for improvisation, provided the correct technique is used. This technique is quite the opposite from the actual stage dance technique.

The new tango nuevo teaching method is based on understanding concepts (front cross, open step, back cross, walking, giro, ocho, changes in direction, sacada, boleo etc.) rather than memorizing sequences of steps.

Compared to the previously used methods (such as the "basic 8"), the new way of teaching tango has accelerated the learning of both the basics as well as the more advanced tango. This is also reflected by a wider range of music played in modern milongas.

Nuevo dancers (those who know or learned with the nuevo system) use both open and close embrace - although open may be preferred as it allows for larger moves. Old school dancers tend to prefer close embrace as small step moves work nicely with chest to chest contact.

Tango Fusion (~2000 in the dance)
... is the fusion of Argentine tango with other modern dances and music.

Tango fusion attracts young and experimental dancers who love improvising with a partner to a wide range of music, from traditional to electronic tango, swing, latin, house or even classical music.

The brand new movie "Take the Lead", starring Antonio Banderas, features great dance scenes and the fusion of various genres in dance and music.

Note: At Funkytango we teach tango fusion moves only on special request to advanced students in private classes. However, as much of today's fusion music is easier to dance to, we like to play a good deal of fusion music for practicing and learning.

Neo Tango (~2004)
... is the latest step towards absolute freedom in partner dancing.

Neo tango is the term that covers dancing the entire spectrum from traditional to nuevo and fusion tango, as well as dancing to non tango music such as songs from Kevin Johansen, Manu Chao or the popular German-Polish band Kroke.

Building on the dance technique of traditional tango and tango nuevo, neo tango dancers incorporate any dance moves that can be improvised.

In other words, tango has entered the new millennium with infinite possibilities for upbeat, dynamics and fun - for those with an open mind.

Neo tango gives today's dancers absolute freedom in partner dancing!

Note: At Funkytango we teach neo tango moves only on special request to advanced students in private classes. However, Klaus loves to play music from all genres and of course anything neo too!

Tango Fantasia or Show/Stage Tango (~1930)
...are the terms often used for (sometimes) exaggerated and athletic, choreographed dancing of Argentine Tango designed to entertain a paying audience for a few minutes on a stage.

While Fantasia is great to watch, it has generally little to do with the Argentine Tango technique and is often done by very skilled professional show dancers - not necessarily even trained in Argentine Tango.

Neo Tango and Tango Fusion dancers can also be quite entertaining to watch as their dance repertoire comes closest to the one used by Fantasia/show dancers.

Note: At Funkytango we don't teach show or stage tango in our classes as the technique is the opposite of what social dancing is about. Anything we do - even in shows - is improvised i.e. not choreographed.

However, we are happy to point out the differences and help show dancers to expand into social dancing - this can be done most effectively in private classes.

Argentine Tango - Videos

Here are some video examples from different parts of the world.

Depending on the music and personal style of the dancers, Argentine Tango can be danced very differently. Every dancer moves in a unique way and has a unique feel for his/her partner.

Although the music in some videos is not Tango, the dance technique used is authentic Argentine Tango.

Many dancers like Tango because they don't need to try to look like someone else but to have fun and be comfortable with each other improvising on the dance floor - being themselves.

All good dancers tend to use the same technique (which is what we teach) but they can look anything from funky to elegant - depending on their mood, clothes and dance partner.

"Chicho" Mariano Frumboli and Mariana Dragone at the Tango Festival in Portugal 2006 dancing to live music:

Sebastian Arce and Mariana Montes dancing to a version of "Enjoy the silence" originally by Depeche Mode:

Pablo Veron and Sally Potter in the movie "The Tango Lesson" dancing to "Zum" by Osvaldo Pugliese:

Homer Ladas and Andrea Fuchilieri performed Argentine Tango to a blues tune at Friday Night Blues in San Francisco:

Hosanna Heinrich and Klaus Petritsch dancing to "Windmills of your mind" by Alison Moyet:

Andres Amarilla and Meredith Klein dancing "Zum" by Osvaldo Pugliese:

Moti Moses Buchboot and Naomi Hotta dancing "Aisha":

Music and dance video by Tango Trio "Garufa" featuring San Francisco and many of its local and non local dancers (Homer Ladas, Luciana Valle, Mariana Dragone, Alex Krebs. Mayumi Morrow..)

Argentine Tango - Music

For a great selection of traditional Tango music listen to radiotango

For mp3 music downloads of neotango, tango nuevo and tangofusion see: NeoTango.de

For a long listing of tracks: see Veronika (la potranca) amazing electronic and non-tango collection laPotranca

For live listening to neotango music (alternative tango radio!) try the PlasticTango site.