The Tangosynthesis Blog
with Graham and Nathalie
A long time ago in a venue far far away...
05 May 2024 - by Graham
Seven years ago today I taught my first ever tango class. I was supposed to be teaching a LeRoc modern jive class in Sevenoaks, but somehow it morphed into tango and... well, the rest is history. Since then we have moved venues a few times, ran our own X/Tango neolongas, watched dancing be made illegal for a year, came back, found our style, and are still going strong. Teaching can be tough sometimes, with lesson preparation, looking for inspiration, wondering if enough people will come to the class, and still having to find something to keep people interested week on week without making things more and more difficult until everyone gets put off. But seeing people having a great time at my classes makes it all worthwhile. It is particularly rewarding when you find something you love doing, and then not only do you get to do it but [read more...]
X/Tango is Back!!!
03 Apr 2024 - by Graham
On the 19th April, X/Tango will return to the Tangosynthesis calendar for the first time in far too long! We last held one of these events in February 2020 just before the world got shut down around us, and a combination of various life events has meant that we never got them back up and running. But finally and at long last... we are BACK!!!! So what is X/Tango? Do you love tango, but just cannot get on with the "traditional" music played at so many milongas? Do you want to get on the floor and dance without all the messing around with cabeceo & mirada - and risking getting told off for daring to go up to someone and asking if they would like to dance? Do you want to expand your tango horizons and find out just how versatile this amazing dance style can be? And do [read more...]
Merry Christmas!
13 Dec 2023 - by Graham
Hi all… Just a quick note to say a great big THANK YOU to everyone who has come to our classes in 2023. I think some of you already know that I started Tangosynthesis - or just “teaching tango” as I called it back then - pretty much by accident. But it wasn’t long before it started to grow, and very soon it became a significant part of my life. And I think it’s fair to say that tango quickly took over! But it would never have happened without you all. Running a tango class takes research, commitment, and a lot of practice, but that only gets you anywhere if people want to learn. And you all do. Whether I’m in the mood for teaching or not, whether I’ve had a good day or a tough one, I know that standing in front of my tango groups and [read more...]
What is tango?
01 Nov 2023 - by Graham
It is often described as “a dance of passion” or “the sexy dance”, but when it comes to everyday social tango this is very misleading. Tango is not inherently any more passionate or sexier than any other dance style. So… what is it? Tango is mindfulness. It is musical meditation. When you dance tango it is as if you are the only two people on the dance floor, and the rest of the world goes away for a few minutes. Tango is improvised, with the leader and follower obeying certain rules and principles; there is no choreography to learn and no sequences to memorise, so every dance is different. If you have been avoiding tango because of its “sexy” or “passionate” reputation then think again. Tango is for everyone, so give it a go. [read more...]
Is Tango its own worst enemy?
19 Jun 2022 - by Graham
For many people, tango is not just a dance. It is defined by the music, the clothes, and the environment in which it is danced as much as by the dance itself. Old musical recordings from the Golden Age of Tango set down by famous tango musicians set the tone and atmosphere, and everyone attending the venues is expected to dress in a way that at least gives a passing nod to the styles of 1950s Buenos Aires. But this approach is not universally appreciated, and for a lot of people new to tango this orthodox traditional atmosphere is what keeps them away. If tango is to survive and grow it needs to learn how to cater to these new people as well as the existing dancers. I talk to a lot of people about tango and encourage them to come along to one of our classes [read more...]
