The art of the tango dance first originated in Buenos Aires, Argentina and spread rapidly throughout South America, to Uruguay especially and then to the other corners of the world. Alongside the dance form, tango evolved as a musical style that has become equally popular throughout the world. Tango Dance Styles

The tango, because it became so popular so quickly has evolved into many different styles throughout the world, each of them unique in how they interpret the steps and interaction of the dance.

Argentine tango, encompassing many other smaller styles, is the original forbearer of the tango dance and has been well known for centuries as one of the most important dance styles in tango. Encompassing important derivatives such as Milonguero, Show Tango, and Tango Nuevo, the Argentine Tango Dance is a unique and original style of dance.

The original form, which which developed in family clubs and local neighborhoods, involves a complex collection of elegant tango dance steps. The normally close embrace of the tango is often opened up to execute these complex forms, creating a spectacle for those watching.

In contrast, Milonguero style is defined as a much closer brand of tango, with the partners taking small steps with rhythmic footwork matched to the music. It grew out of the small, downtown clubs in which open embraces were not possible.

Tango Nuevo is a newer form of the tango dance in which young people open up their stance more and perform complex moves to more modern music, usually with faster beats. It has become popular in jazz and alternative Tango clubs.

Ballroom Tango was developed as the dance form traveled overseas to Europe and North America. The tango dance was made much simpler and standardized for competition. In 1922, the dance was codified for international competition, requiring a 30 bar per minute rate for the dance, using modern music (at that time).

Finnish tango became very popular in the 1950s throughout Finland. Unlike many other forms of tango dance, the Finnish tango is more melancholy, matching the somber themes of Finnish folk art and culture. This form of the dance is performed with smooth, strong movements from a close stance. The dancers remain low and take long steps and land with heel down in all forward steps. Today, Finland hosts an international Tangomarkkinat which draws over 100,000 tango fans from around the world.

The Variations of Tango

The different styles of tango dance are so different some cases that they are essentially no longer the same dance. In the Argentine Tango, the body is first to move, followed by the feet, allowing a more flexible, elaborate format.

In contrast, the ballroom style of tango dance uses a jerkier motion that pulls the feet forward rapidly to catch up with the body, with striking, pointed movements, matching the general music preferences of ballroom tango.

The actual steps in Argentine tango are gliding, with not specific rhythm applied to any of them. The feet and the body move rapidly in various directions and the dance is led by each step, meaning every position of the feet can be different as the dance alters to match the movements of the man and woman dancing it. This allows a more reactionary dance in which the dancers respond to the music with emotion.

The ballroom style, because it was codified for competition is set. It uses the same basic steps and rhythm for the same songs, allowing minimal expression, but a more technically impressive dance style.

The tango, depending on which style is being danced, has appeared in numerous outlets around the world. The Nuevo style of tango dance might appear in a disco in downtown Buenos Aires, while a middle aged couple dances the classic Argentine style down the street. Ballroom competitions are held annually around the world where masters of the dance practice their art form in front of thousands.

Even today, as shows like "Dancing with the Stars" take off on national television, the tango has started appearing in living rooms across the nation. The tango is a classic, universal form of dance that can take on any number of forms. For those interested in becoming more familiar with the tango, it is only a matter of selecting which format to try.