Guidelines Beginners Course
Hi, this page will help you get familiar with tango etiquette learning methods, and other things you need to know to get started. Please do read it thoroughly before coming to your first lesson.
Venue: St Matthew's Primary School. Go to reception at the main entrance and ring the bell that reads "Tango".
Time: 8-9pm. Please be on time. After the lesson you can stay for more practising until 10pm if you want.
Shoes: Bring comfortable shoes and a pair of socks (preferable a fresh clean pair of socks). We do some exercises where you should take your shoes off.
Hygiene: No need to bring fancy clothes but good hygiene is essential for an enjoyable dancing experience. Please read the tango etiquette section at the end of the page.
Venue: St Matthew's Primary School. Go to reception at the main entrance and ring the bell that reads "Tango".
Time: 8-9pm. Please be on time. After the lesson you can stay for more practising until 10pm if you want.
Shoes: Bring comfortable shoes and a pair of socks (preferable a fresh clean pair of socks). We do some exercises where you should take your shoes off.
Hygiene: No need to bring fancy clothes but good hygiene is essential for an enjoyable dancing experience. Please read the tango etiquette section at the end of the page.
Best practices for effective learning
Have a look at this short video: youtu.be/f2O6mQkFiiw
The most effective way to learn a movement of a certain complexity is to break it down in more simple movements that can be executed in a reliable and consistent way. Repetition and continuous feedback from your teachers, a mirror, your partner or video recording are essential to automate the movements and ensure good quality. Once the simple movements are automated, they can be put together to produce the final movement.
We encourage you to be patient and automate the simple bits before moving to something more complex. We often have impatient students wanting to go straight to advanced movements because they believe they are more "fun". However, they end up doing movements which are unpleasant to the partner and not aesthetic at all.
The most effective way to learn a movement of a certain complexity is to break it down in more simple movements that can be executed in a reliable and consistent way. Repetition and continuous feedback from your teachers, a mirror, your partner or video recording are essential to automate the movements and ensure good quality. Once the simple movements are automated, they can be put together to produce the final movement.
We encourage you to be patient and automate the simple bits before moving to something more complex. We often have impatient students wanting to go straight to advanced movements because they believe they are more "fun". However, they end up doing movements which are unpleasant to the partner and not aesthetic at all.
Basic Tango Etiquette
Given the physical closeness in Tango, good hygiene is essential for an enjoyable dancing experience. Bad breath, body odor and excessive perspiration are common offenders. Be sensitive to your fellow dancers. The following recommendations are STRONGLY recommended:
• Shower before dancing whenever possible.
• Use a deodorant or perfume AND an effective anti-perspirant.
• Do brush your teeth regularly and use a mouthwash before dancing ( I would recommend Dentyl pH https://www.dentylactive.com it is a very good mouthwash that doesn’t irritate the tongue)
• Think carefully about eating strong foods before dancing, like garlic, onions and curry, as they linger on the breath, skin and clothes for a long time, even after brushing your teeth and using mouth wash.
• When you have been cooking – especially frying – the odour remains on your clothes. Please use a clean fresh shirt/dress for dancing.
• Shower before dancing whenever possible.
• Use a deodorant or perfume AND an effective anti-perspirant.
• Do brush your teeth regularly and use a mouthwash before dancing ( I would recommend Dentyl pH https://www.dentylactive.com it is a very good mouthwash that doesn’t irritate the tongue)
• Think carefully about eating strong foods before dancing, like garlic, onions and curry, as they linger on the breath, skin and clothes for a long time, even after brushing your teeth and using mouth wash.
• When you have been cooking – especially frying – the odour remains on your clothes. Please use a clean fresh shirt/dress for dancing.
