D'Ave mentioned frame in tango. Although A & I are broader, the man's wrist is now rotated inwards on both dances. Catherine-something-or-other, one of the few American Standard dancers to attain world ranking, was very insistant about it at one of the comps I visited, and after asking nationally-ranked American pros, they said the same.

Hello Stavros,

I can only talk about the International Tango and the Argentinian tango, but I'll give it a try. The most visible difference between the 2 dances as I learned it, is the position of the upper body part. In the Argentinian tango the couple is very close to each other with the upper part of the body. It looks almost as if the women is wispering the man something in his ear. In the International Tango, it more the lower part of the body that touching, and the upper part is not. The Argentinian tango also is more passionate, and you have less movement. These are the most obvious characteristics as I know them (I can be mistaken, so please correct me if I'm wrong). I hope this helps you a little bit.

I find it difficult to say wich tango you're dancing. My guess ( but it is my guess!) is that you're dancing the international.

Miriam

Great way to look at the different styles of the same dance - and, oh so true.

My techique coach made the following humorous but argueable accurate comment, regarding the attitudinal or emotive differences BTW the 3 styles of tango:

Arentine: partners are lovers, about to be married;
American: partners have been married for a year;
International: partners are only staying together for the kids.

I've been doing A-tango for just 2 years, adn have just learned I-tango (Bronze I) only 2 months ago, and no no Arg-Tango as no one competenly teaches it locally, so am not expert, but can add a few things about the former 2 styles:

There is no "basic" in I-tango - for, like other I-dances, it is structured in a specific order of moves. As mentioned by another, the dance begins at 45 deg to the floor with a left tango, a right tango, and a progressive link. A-tango has also been well-described below.

Both are "attitude" dances with no air btw partners in closed position, but I-tango is surely more "arrogant", if you will. Good tnago walking technique, and CBM (where used) is the same in both versions.

However, there are other similarities to appreciate socially, because Silver A-tango borrows from Int'l, and the link is used in both versions. So, it is easily possible to mix them a bit in social floorcraft, where the exact patterns of any Int'l travelling dance often are inappropriate for the crowded floor.

I respectfully disagree that feet don't close at the end of moves (most) in I-tango - I have been trained that they distinctly close (for the man) with left slightly ahead of right. I'd also disagree that I-tango is all closed position, as I don't consider outside position and promanade position to be closed. Lastly, I'd add that in terms of body contact, it's fairly necessary to have at least one of the three usual points in contact (thigh, hip or diaphragm), as in other closed smooth dance. For me (so far), thigh contact (my right, her left) is the most necessary in leading I-tango well, and in keeping the "axis of love" (i.e., rotation) in tight, which makes it all much easier to dance together. No keys in the right pocket in this dance (ouch!), and if there's any change in there, she'll be able to count it.

Having a great deal more experience in Argentine than American or International styles of tango, I can offer a different perspetive than most on the differences between Argentine and American/International. Essentially, American/International styles only vaguely resemble Argentine, assuming the latter is taught correctly.

First, true Argentine is only danced to a particular system of beats or rhythm in a few styles, most notably waltz-tango and milonga-style tango. Thus, you can expect to see an Argentine dancer spending entire measures just standing and waiting for the perfect momement to move... and then execute a series of movements that don't really adhere to any system of quicks and slows.

Second, the frame in Argentine is wildly different. Rather than the broad, expansive frame of American/International styles, Argentine is often danced more compactly, with the man's left hand rotated in (as in flexing a bicep). Some styles even have the left hand at the hip. How close you are to your partner depends on the style of Argentine... salon style tends to be reasonably far apart, whereas some styles have you essentially connected at the breastbone.

Naturally, this latter position demands another major difference... toe leads. Like Latin dances in general, Argentine takes a toe-lead, not a heel lead (as in smooth dances).

Finally, there is a difference in emotion, and this is essentially just my opinion. Whereas ballroom-style smooth tango has a clear emphasis on power and strength, Argentine is more subdued, and just as the music tends to focus on loss, sorrow, and nostalgia, the dance itself tends to be more somber and mournful. Even when "passionate", Argentine has less of the powerful tiger-stalk that's characteristic of American/International tango, and displays its emotion in comparatively subtle ways.

Anyway, hope this helps. Happy to hear comments, flames to /dev/null.

Hello Stavros,
I am writing you from the "next door": Turkey. I think it is beautiful having a common point although politicians cannot find(!).
If you are doing your first three steps forward and 4th to the side and 5th is sliding( with SSQQS tempo)it is absolutely American Style Tango, which I prefer to Int.Style.
You have asked for the video tapes, but I can say you that you can not learn the technic correctly from the videos, by self-study ...and WITHOUT TECHNIC it is "childplay" played at the end of the school term. EVERYBODY NEEDS A TEACHER...because ,only, an eye can see your faults and correct it.
In my opinion..:if you are serious about dance ( I do not know your age) you should go to the good dancers or teachers. If you are a social dancer you can browse from :www.yahoo.com
Have nice dancelife!!
Ozan M. CELIK
corte-dance@usa.net

Hello Miriam

Thank you very much for your answer!
I see that the Argantinian Tango is more passionate but are there any differrencies in the steps?When you dance Argantinian Tango what is the "basic step"? And what is the "basic step" when you dance "International"?

Also do you know any video tapes that you can recomment to me?

Again thank you for your message!
All the best
Stavros

Hi Stavros,
I know a little about all three styles. American style mostly. The basic timing in American is slow, slow, quick quick slow, it's an eight count basic. In the basic step, the man goes forward, and the lady goes backward. They can open out from each other, as when doing promenade to open, to fans for the lady.
Argentine tango basic step has the man going back on his right foot, side left, forward right cbmp, forward left, close feet together (lady does a lock step here), forward left, side right, close feet together. All beats are slow.
International is always danced in closed position, and truly, I haven't been able to find a basic timing. Most men I dance with start with two walks and a link SSQQ, promenade SQQS then a back corte, then some kind of outside swivel. Check out the tango on this web site, ballroomdancers.com, to see if it looks like the style you're learning. At any rate, have fun!

I've done a bit in all the styles (not much in Arg.). In International, the partners can never loose body contact, and unlike the Americaln, the feet don't actually close on the last 'slow'. The way you bend your knees is a bit different than the two. American tango often has lots of openwork, like fans, etc., and even simple syllabus steps (like promenade) are a bit different. In both Am. and Internatl. dance position is the same. Argentinian seems to be a bit freer with the 8-count basic, but I don't know too terribly much about it.