5 Reasons Why Learning to Tango is Good For Your Social Dancing

5 Reasons Why Learning to Tango is Good For Your Social Dancing

There's nothing practical about the Tango.  

It's a solid gold toilet, an Italian sports car, or a snakeskin tuxedo - these are not the survival needs of a human.  The Tango, unfortunately, can fall into this unnecessary luxury category.  People will routinely pass it off, opt for something that fits their day to day life, and not realize the error they've made. 

No, this isn't a plea for purchasing more gold toilets.  This is an education on what Tango can do for casual social dancers.  

What's The Point of Learning to Tango as a Social Dancer?

Gummies aside, and unless you're incredibly weird, you don't eat vitamins for the taste.  You swallow them for what they do for your overall health.  Throughout the course of your social dancing journey, you may have dances that you love (taste good), and others that you extract the nutrients from (vitamins).  

For some, Tango is one of those Vitamin dances.  

The Social Dancing Benefits of Learning to Tango

1. Steroids

We aren't condoning drug use, but if there was a single dance that had a steroid-like effect on a leader's confidence - this would be it.   Dances like Foxtrot and Waltz owe a debt of gratitude for the bravado that Tango can add to, even, the most timid leaders.  

2. Balance

Just like a muscle, you can't build balance unless you challenge it.  For Followers, that's where the Tango comes in.  The athletic bursts of movement require that the follower is stepping larger, and with a cat-like burst of energy.  This challenges the balance, and builds a better sensitivity to walking steps in all social dances.  

3.  Timing

Timing is an essential skill for all ballroom dances.  One of the best dances to develop timing is, yep you guessed it, the "T-A-N-G-O".  Tango music is written like a sentence, with a capital letter at the beginning, and a period at the end, and once you figure that out - it works with just about every Tango you'll hear afterwards. 

4. Escape

There are dances that suit your personality.  Those dances that are easy to transition into, and fit your life.  Then there is Tango.  For many, it is ballroom dance escapism at its best.  An alter ego, secret agent, hidden identity of a dance that allows everyone who tries it a chance to truly tread outside of their normal day to day activities.  

5. Statement

Casually mentioning that you've been learning the Foxtrot may earn some polite encouragement from your friends and co-workers.  Casually mentioning that you've been learning to Tango will stop people in their tracks, and rightfully so.  There's an attitude to the dance.  It says you've got bravado, that you're daring, and a risk taker.  

Just like owning a solid gold toilet.