Norwich Tango

F.A.Q.s

Where did tango originally come from?

Tango emerged from the poor districts of Buenos Aires following successive waves of immigration at the end of the 19th century. It was a time when men out numbered women by 10 to 1. Only by learning to dance well and please the women did the men have any hope of finding partners.

What should I wear?

Tango is a formal elegant dance. For practice nights anything comfortable will do, but for a milonga (see below) most people like to dress up. The only real requirement is a pair of slippery soled shoes - leather is ideal. Trainers and rubber soles can damage your knees if you are trying to pivot.

What is a practica?

A practica is the traditional name for an informal practice session when people get together to try out moves and work on their dancing.

What is a Milonga?

Confusingly there are two distinct meanings for the word Milonga. It's the name given to a dance event - the equivalent of the English 'ball'. Which is why you might wear informal clothes for a practica and choose to dress up if you are going to a milonga. It is also the name given to a particular type of music - a fast form of tango.

How many dances should I have with the same partner?

It can take time to tune into a new partner. Three dances is a reasonable minimum. (But if you are really not enjoying the experience you can of course say "Thank you", and duck out earlier. Equally, if it is working well, you can stay longer.)

What are the benefits of private lessons?

If you really want to improve your dancing, it is worth taking private lessons whenever you get the opportunity. They are more expensive, but with a good teacher can turn out to be cost-effective. In a group class you might get personal attention from the teacher for no more than about 10 minutes. In a private lesson you can spend an hour or more working on your own particular weaknesses and strengths.

What does Norwich Tango spend its income on?

Norwich Tango is a non-profit making organisation. Local teachers give their time for free. In addition to the obvious expenses of venue hire, insurance, performing rights fees, music, equipment, publicity etc we also try to get the best available teachers from this country and abroad to visit Norwich to give workshops. We have to cover their fees, plus transport and other expenses.

Where else can I dance tango?

Tango is enjoying an explosion in popularity. You can dance it in many cities in the U.K and abroad. Cambridge is the nearest centre outside Norwich and you will always find some hardy souls heading up the A11 on Tuesdays and alternate Saturdays. If you are looking for tango further afield, ask any of the teachers for suggestions or just type (for example) 'Seville tango' into Google on the web.

Where can I buy tango music?

There are hundreds of tango CD's out there, but some are not for dancing. Visit www.milonga.co.uk for advice and a wide choice of tango music. You can also buy tango CD's from www.amazon.com or by ordering from your local music shop.

Are there any tango films available on video?

You'll find some good dancing in both these films: The Tango Lesson - by Sally Potter Tango - by Carlos Saura (in Spanish with sub titles, but don't let that put you off.)

How do I improve?

The answer of course, depends on what you want to achieve. If you come to classes once a week and attend the odd workshop then you should reach a level of proficiency that will enable you to feel at ease at a milonga in a couple of years or so. But of course many people are keen to progress more quickly - and if you are prepared to put in the effort you will soon notice the difference.

So what can you do?

• There is no substitute for floor miles. So dance as much as you can. Once a week for three years, or three times a week for a year? The choice is yours.
• Listen to the music. Play it at home, in the car, on your walkman. Walk to it. Cook to it. Get used to moving to the music, even by yourself. Let the rhythms become part of you.
• Be prepared to travel. Go to Cambridge, London, Totnes, and Edinburgh. Ask any of the regular dancers about suitable venues.
• Consider private lessons. Pound for pound you will get more value out of individual tuition. In a workshop you might get personal attention for 10% of the time. In a private lesson the whole session is yours. A balance of the two - private lessons and workshops is probably the best solution.
• Find a partner. You can then focus your practice.
• Take notes. And go back over them regularly. Learning to dance isn't a linear process. It's circular.
• Continually go back and look at the basics - connection, the walk, the embrace.
• There are lots of different styles of tango. Be prepared to find the style that suits you.
• Consider a tango holiday. Dance in Spain, Holland, France, Portugal. In fact wherever you go abroad Google yourself a milonga at your destination.
• Don't make it competitive. Be relaxed and comfortable whatever your level and you will improve. It's much harder to get better when you're tense and anxious.
• Don't feel you've failed if you go to a workshop and can't remember the moves afterwards. The real goal of workshops is to extend your core technique - improving balance, co-ordination, connection. The moves are only a way of practising these essentials.
• Don't be sidetracked by show-tango. The best dancers are striving for simplicity and musicality, not fancy moves.
• Remember that followers would much rather dance the simplest steps with someone musical, than struggle to keep up with complicated patterns from someone trying to impress them. (And if you don't believe this, ask them.)

Friday Drop-In Classes

Beginners

In these classes you will learn the fundamentals - the importance of the connection between leader and follower and the way the tango embrace helps you move together as one person. Once you have grasped these elements and are comfortable with some of the basic vocabulary of the dance - walking to the side, the forward and backward ocho, the giro (turn), and the cross, the dancers leading the class will suggest you move into the improvers class. How long this takes will depend very much on individuals. It might take a month if you are used to dancing and put in the practice time. It might take a good deal longer if you have no experience, are dancing once a week and miss the odd class. But the time it takes is not important. What matters is that you have a sound core technique which will allow you to try more advanced moves.

Improvers / Intermediate

Here the emphasis is on refining basic technique and adding to the vocabulary of the dance. It is not a question of adding ever more complex moves. What we are striving for is an elegant simplicity. At the same time we will return regularly to the fundamentals to make sure they are reinforced at every step. We'll look more closely at the music, and at the way simple steps can be used to improvise. You will also have a chance to explore Vals and Milonga.

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Norwich Tango is a non-profit making organisation.
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Telephone: 07786 796478

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Website: Michael Lavocah
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