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A Guide to Tango Courtesies

The following guidelines of Tango dance etiquette are usually well known among experienced dancers, but are not often discussed. For new dancers, it's good to know what they are, to help avoid embarrassing, awkward, or unsafe situations. Following the guidelines will help you get the most out of your Tango dance experience.

1. At a Tango milonga (dance), couples dance Tango counter-clockwise around the dance floor. The faster "lanes" are those toward the outside of the counter- clockwise line of dance. The slower "lanes" are toward the center. As you dance, try to avoid cutting across these lanes, cutting through the center, or dancing backward to the line-of-dance especially on a crowded dance floor.

2. If you are not dancing, show respect to those who are by not walking through the busy dance floor and by staying clear of the dance space. For example, while others are dancing, do not stand in the dance lanes and talk. On the dance floor, first priority goes to the dancers. Give them room.

3. If you are trying to show your partner a new step, move to a distant corner or non-dance area for your demonstration and discussion.

4. The safety of your partner and surrounding dancers must be your first concern. Both leader and follower should always be alert to the presence of other dancers in front, to the sides, and behind, to help avoid collisions. If a collision occurs, try to soften the collision by bringing your arms in and stopping movement. Afterwards, be polite and friendly, even if it was not your fault. To a certain extent, dancing on a crowded Tango dance floor is an exercise in avoiding collisions in a safe, creative, and fun way.

5. No one likes being kicked, run into, or stepped on, so on a crowded dance floor, avoid large flamboyant movements like high boleos, ganchos, and leg extensions. If you feel you are about to step on someone, try to not follow through with the stepping action to soften the blow of your foot landing on someone else’s. Also, leaders, keep your left elbow down and fairly close to your side. It's no fun on a crowded dance floor having to duck when a dancer swings around with his left elbow jutting out dangerously.

6. For the leaders, if you absolutely must travel backwards to the line-of-dance, check the rear first. For the followers, as a dance pattern unfolds, be alert to other dancers potentially in the way and warn the leader of a possible collision either verbally, by pressing your hand on his shoulder, or by pulling him closer.

7. If a dance couple stops in front of you, then either dance around them, mark time or use a Tango side-rocking step, for example, to continue dancing until they move on.

8. For more experienced dancers, set a good example for beginners: be patient, polite and sensitive. It is acceptable to give advice, provided it is asked for first, or provided you ask permission to make an "observation" or a "comment". Remember you were once a beginner. An insensitive "comment", however well-intentioned, can not simply ruin someone's evening but can bruise a beginner’ self-confidence at a time when he/she is very vulnerable. Do not forget. Encouragement works wonders.

9. Last but not least. It is usually best not to talk while dancing; focus on the dance and the floor traffic. Keep the chat to the intervals between songs. This does not mean that everything must be formal and serious. It IS OK to smile, be playful and have fun on the dance floor. Tango is above all a social dance. So just relax and enjoy it.

Updated 11-Jan-08