How do you dance tango?

Like any other dance, one can learn to dance tango. But once the basic movements are handled, you also have to learn to  feel the tango . Which is not the same. Tango requires a  connection between the couple , it is two intertwined bodies, in dialogue. But  how do you dance  tango ?  There are two ways to do this: walking or figuratively.

The tango caminado

 The tango caminado is the most danced in the  milongas  . In this variant, the hug is always closed: the couple dance with the upper body glued. It consists of moving around the track in an anti-clockwise direction, walking to the beat of music, and interspersing in the walk eights, ornaments and some simple figures. This type of tango is closed: it is danced inwards, isolating itself from the outside.  It focuses on music and the couple. 

Tango caminado has a lot of  improvisation , which is given with the feeling of  music . The woman constantly follows the mark of the man, which is not easy considering, precisely, that he is improvising his steps. That is why it is so important  to dance very closely  and learn to score, especially with the torso. It is also possible to use hands, arms and even legs.

Tango with figures

The  tango with figures  is the one that is danced in the ballroom dance halls. It's the one we usually see in   tango shows  . It is structured, like other dances, in base step and figures: the base step is done constantly and the figures that the couple know how to perform are interspersed. The hug is open, since to perform the figures it is necessary to separate from the partner. The marking is usually made with hands and arms. Tango with figures is danced  outward : dancers are more concerned from outside than from music.  It is a tango less felt than the caminado, but more colorful and spectacular.