NEW CLASSES for NEW BEGINNERS
Brand new beginners classes start from September 1st 2008, in all three venues:
Rochester, Canterbury and Hastings.
Want information about the new classes?
Click on whichever of these venues you're interested in attending:
You will find a page which gives you full details, including directions to venues, information about the classes, and term dates.
These venue pages can also be accessed directly through the homepage: go to 'Classes & Practicas' and then select the venue that interests you.
If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact us. When you do so, please include details of your area (Canterbury, Rochester or Hastings) so that we can advise you as quickly as possible. We'll look forward to seeing you!
'EARLY BIRD' DEAL for beginners: try tango at a discounted rate!
Beginners pay just £5 per class for the first five weeks of term (up to Oct 3rd inclusive) (usual price for each class will be £7).
SPECIAL BEGINNERS WORKSHOPS
We are also running several special beginners workshops throughout September and October, in the following venues: Ashford, Whitstable, Sittingbourne and Canterbury. For details of these, please go to the page Workshops for Beginners.
GENERAL INFORMATION FOR BEGINNERS
You are very welcome...
New beginners are always welcome to our beginners' classes and events, and to all practicas.
(A practica is a relaxed, sociable 'practice session' open to everyone of every level, and your entrance fee (£5) includes a free cup of tea and slice of cake!)
Generally speaking, our beginners’ classes are for those who have never danced tango before or who have danced tango for less than 6 months. Everyone is welcome.
If you have already danced tango for more than six months, and wish to join our classes, just contact us beforehand and we can discuss the best class for you. We welcome dancers who have learned some tango elsewhere. If you've tried tango with another teacher and didn't quite take to it, give our classes/social events a try; sometimes it's just a case of finding the right teachers and the right group to make you fall in love with tango.
Don’t be nervous. Everyone is a beginner at the start, and we will be very pleased to see you!
Got a question?
If you have a question or concern, please look below and you might find the answer; if not, feel free to contact us.
Do I need to bring a partner?
No. If you are able to bring a partner or friend of the opposite sex, that’s great, as it helps us to sustain equal numbers of men and women in the classes. However, you do not need to do so – you are welcome to attend alone. Lots of people come on their own, and we move all dancers around (whether they cam alone or in a couple) throughout all our classes so that everyone gets an equal chance to dance. If you attend classes regularly, you will quickly find you have no shortage of people to dance and practise with.
What should I wear to the class?
You should wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. You will need to wear smooth-soled shoes that do not ‘grip’ the floor (ie. not trainers), as you need to be able to glide over the floor. Women may prefer to wear shoes with a heel, but this is entirely up to you. Please don’t wear black-soled shoes, as these can mark the floor.
If you would like to buy proper dance shoes, we can recommend various places. See the Shop pages for details.
What can I expect when I come to your classes?
We teach salon-style, social tango. We begin each class with a short series of basic ‘exercises’ (such as walking movements), which focus on an element of technique. The main part of the class will cover fundamental elements of tango, usually in the form of short sequences. There are plenty of opportunities to just practise dancing to the music. We move people around so that everyone gets an equal chance to dance, whether they came alone or in a couple.
If you would like to find out more about our teaching style, please go to the page About Us - Our teaching style.
I'm hooked! What can I do to progress in the tango?
The most important thing is the obvious one: practise. Particularly when you are a beginner, practising alone is really valuable, so don’t worry if you don't have a regular dance partner. Men and women should, in time, be able to do all their basic steps (walking, ochos, giros, enrosques, etc) on their own without wobbling or falling over – the most important things you need to work on are your balance and your posture. If you want to practise with a partner but don’t have one, come along to practicas and milongas and ask people from your class to dance.
In class, when you are learning a new movement or figure, don’t content yourself with doing it ‘efficiently’. Aim to do it beautifully. Ensure that the movement is being truly and fully led and followed. If you have to whisper to your partner and tell them (or ask them) what to do at any point, then proper leading and following is not happening.
When you feel confident with the movement, practise doing it to the music, responding to the changes in the music (ie. listen to the pace, the mood, the feeling). Finally, when you practise the movement at home, play with it: consider what happens if you move your chest differently, or if you step at a different angle, or if you try to do the movement with the other foot. In this way you will discover new movements for yourself.
You might want to consider a few private lessons with us. In a private lesson, we can tailor our teaching to your own skills and abilities, correct any individual problems, and address any underlying worries or confusions you might have. Just let us know that you’d like some lessons and we’ll discuss it with you (and your partner if you have one). Visit our Private Tuition page, for more information.
Finally, listen to tango music when you are not dancing. We will play a wide range of music in our classes, practicas and milongas. The more you listen to tango, the more you will recognise particular pieces and also the general structures that define the music. Then when you dance, you will find it much easier to move in sympathy with (not just in time with) the music. For more information about where to buy tango music, visit our Shop pages.
Page updated 28th August 2008