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Argentine Tango

     Argentine Tango is a beautiful dance that offers a wonderful experience for each person that you dance with. We have beginners, intermediate and advanced level lessons each week. Our lessons during the fall semester of 2008 are in 133 White Building on Fridays beginning with warm-up at 5:00pm.

     About 50 people attend each week. Anyone is welcome to join in. We are open to undergraduates, graduates, professors, and community members.

     Argentine Tango is both simple and complex at the same time. Simple in that it is just walking and complex in the many combinations and variations on one's expression through walking. The animation on the right is one of the most advanced things we teach as it incorperates most of the core concepts we apply in dancing the Tango.

Where to Dance Argentine Tango in State College

HUB LateNight

     During the semester special Argentine Tango events are held by the Ballroom Dance Club with the help of HUB LateNight. These include instruction, followed by open dancing. These events are announced in class, on the calendar, and on the list serve.

Milongas

     Sometimes our members hold Argentine Tango parties at their homes, called milongas. These milongas are all open dancing. For more information about when and where these are announced during the lessons or you can contact the Argentine Tango Coordinator or also check the list serve. Make sure to check out the Tango Etiquette on the Links page.

Sept. 13 Branch Road Milonga
Sept. 19 LateNight Penn State in 106 White Building
Oct. 10 LateNight Penn State in 106 White Building
Oct. 31 LateNIght Penn State in 106 White Building
Nov. 15 Branch Road Milonga
Dec. 13 Milonga Barbara's House
New Years Eve Location TBA

Insider Secrets of a Milonga
(Tango Dance Party! Written by Wren Fritsky)

A milonga is a social dance party and with a little knowledge can be the ticket to a wonderful and unforgetable evening.

Before the dance:

  • Prepare for an enjoyable dancing experience: personal hygiene is essential, dress appropriately (elegantly)
  • Be considerate with long hair, sharp edges, eye glasses, calogne, etc.
  • Always "ask" for a dance, whether verbally or non-verbally. Be graceful when asking, accepting, declining, or accepting a rejection to a dance.

During the dance:

  • Respect the dance, floor, and fellow dancers! The "line of dance" is counter clock-wise: the outside is the 'fast lane' the inside being the slower (sometimes fancier lane)
  • Keep advise asking/giving for a practica (Tango practice): if you must, do so off the dance floor. Same goes for talking during the dance.
  • Dancing with the same partner for 3-4 songs (Tanda) is common practice except for "extreme" cases. (Ask one of the more experienced dancers for the definition of "extreme"). You can continue or change partners during the intermission music (Cortina). Try to dance "socially" (not with the same partner all evening)
  • Again, respect your partner. Avoid leading backwards, always be alert for safe and enjoyable dancing!

After the dance:

  • Leaders: gracefully escort your followers off the dance floor
  • The response to a "thank you" is a "thank you".

Merchants Recommended by Our Club Members:

Teddy Shoes Inc. - Owner Steven H. Adelson
548 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA. 02139
(617) 547-0443
www.teddyshoes.com
teddyshoes@aol.com

Felina Shoes Exchange - Mostly women's shoes but they have many styles.
http://www.felinashoes.com/shoesexchange.html