Transitioning from an intermediate to an advanced tango dancer is a journey that requires dedication, patience, and a deep understanding of the dance's nuances. While intermediate dancers have a solid foundation, advancing to the next level involves refining techniques, enhancing musicality, and developing a deeper connection with your partner. Here are the key steps to elevate your tango skills and take your dance to the next level.
1. Master the Fundamentals with Precision
Even as you aim to advance, revisiting and perfecting the basics is crucial. Focus on refining your posture, balance, and axis. Ensure your steps are precise and your weight transfers are seamless. Advanced dancers don’t just execute moves—they do so with impeccable control and elegance. Spend time practicing walking exercises, ochos, and giros with a focus on quality over quantity.
2. Deepen Your Connection with Your Partner
Tango is a dance of connection, and advancing requires a heightened sensitivity to your partner’s movements. Work on your embrace, ensuring it is firm yet flexible, allowing for clear communication. Practice leading and following with subtlety, using minimal force to convey intentions. A strong connection allows for more complex movements and improvisation, which are hallmarks of advanced tango.
3. Enhance Your Musicality
Musicality is what transforms steps into a dance. Advanced dancers don’t just follow the rhythm—they interpret the music. Listen to a variety of tango orchestras to understand different styles and rhythms. Practice dancing to the melody, the pauses, and the accents in the music. Experiment with pauses, syncopations, and dynamic changes to express the music’s emotion through your movement.
4. Explore Advanced Techniques and Variations
Once your fundamentals are solid, start incorporating advanced techniques such as boleos, ganchos, and sacadas. Focus on executing these moves with control and fluidity. Learn variations of common steps like crosses and turns to add complexity to your dance. However, remember that advanced tango isn’t about flashy moves—it’s about executing them with intention and elegance.
5. Develop Your Own Style
As you progress, you’ll begin to develop your unique tango style. This comes from understanding your body, your preferences, and your interpretation of the music. Experiment with different movements, rhythms, and embraces to find what feels authentic to you. Advanced dancers are not just technically proficient—they are also expressive and individualistic.
6. Practice Improvisation
Improvisation is a key skill in advanced tango. It requires a deep understanding of the dance’s structure and the ability to adapt in real-time. Practice dancing without a set sequence, allowing the music and your connection with your partner to guide your movements. This will help you become more spontaneous and creative on the dance floor.
7. Seek Feedback and Continuous Learning
Even the most advanced dancers continue to learn and grow. Attend workshops, take private lessons, and seek feedback from experienced dancers and instructors. Be open to constructive criticism and use it to refine your technique and style. Tango is a lifelong journey, and there is always room for improvement.
8. Dance with Different Partners
Dancing with a variety of partners exposes you to different styles and techniques, helping you become a more versatile dancer. It also challenges you to adapt your lead or follow to different embraces and movements. This adaptability is a hallmark of advanced tango dancers.
9. Focus on the Emotional Aspect of Tango
Tango is not just a physical dance—it’s an emotional experience. Advanced dancers convey feelings and tell stories through their movements. Work on expressing emotions like passion, longing, and joy in your dance. This emotional depth is what makes tango truly captivating.
10. Be Patient and Persistent
Advancing in tango takes time and effort. Don’t be discouraged by setbacks or plateaus. Celebrate small victories and keep pushing yourself to improve. Remember, the journey is as important as the destination.
By focusing on these key steps, you’ll refine your moves, deepen your understanding of tango, and elevate your dance to an advanced level. Embrace the process, and enjoy every step of your tango journey.
