We are the only school in the South East dedicated to teaching authentic Argentine tango - and nothing else. We offer structured classes and workshops so that you can progress at your own rate to the highest level you are capable of and wish to attain. This is why we work hard to maintain a clear sense of progression through the different levels we teach - from the nervous first-timer to the experienced tango-lover.

In pursuit of this, we have a clear outline of 'class levels': the minimum required level for each class. This page gives you information about class levels and also answers some of the most frequently asked questions about this topic. If you have any more questions having read this page, do please ask us in person.


Which class levels are there in each venue?

In Canterbury, our main venue, we run weekly classes at four levels: beginners, recent beginners, improvers and intermediates. In Hastings, we offer three levels: beginners, recent beginners and improvers. In Rochester, our newest venue, we run two classes: beginners and recent beginners.

The levels are broadly comparable across all our venues, so you can come along to any venue, any week, and attend your usual level (though there's always a little regional variation).

There are two other regular classes, which have their own levels:
a) 'Pre-practica' classes offered on Sundays in Canterbury (fortnightly) and Hastings (monthly) and which are themed. The themes vary and are announced in our classes and published on the page 'Specialist Classes for Regulars' (under News & Special Events). We aim to make these classes appropriate for ALL levels, though you usually need at least a couple of months' experience of tango to start with.
b) 'Technique & Style' class (Canterbury only), which is a supplementary class for 'serious' students of tango, and which requires a minimum of 6 months' regular and continuing attendance at our classes.

There are also a number of special courses and workshops, and classes with guest teachers, which are pitched at various levels and which are advertised in our classes and on the pages under 'News & Special Events.


What is the difference between levels, in terms of the material covered?

The classes are pitched according to how long you’ve danced for, how regularly you attend classes/practicas, and your competence at leading/following and certain key movements.

The beginners class is for new beginners and those who have danced tango for up to 6 months. If you've never danced tango before, this class is perfect for you. It focuses on fundamental movements, technique and floorcraft. It is also ideal for those recent beginners who wish to take extra classes to consolidate their technique. The particular content is updated from term to term, but we always cover the fundamental elements of tango. Nervous dancers or those who wish to polish their technique can stay in this class as long as they like!

The recent beginners class is for those who have studied tango with us for approximately 6-12 months. It is the stepping stone between 'beginner' and 'improver' levels, and is also a perfect class for those new to the improver group or those improvers who want to take an extra class. The level of detail is higher than in the beginners' class, and we work more on turning figures and more complex movements. You should be aiming to 'free dance' confidently in this class.

The improvers class is for those who have studied tango regularly for 1-3 years. This is a class for good social dancers, and it requires the ability to lead/follow entire dances on the social dancefloor. This class encourages you to expand your knowledge, refine your technique and style, build your musicality, and try new things. It is the best choice for those who have danced for 2 or more years but can’t attend our classes and practicas regularly. It is also good for intermediates who want to update their dancing, as the specific content each year reflects advances and changes in tango. For these reasons, it is usually our biggest class, and many people choose to remain in it, rather than move onto the intermediate class, as the content is always varied and constantly updated. This class teaches the conceptual framework which is crucial for the intermediate class.

The intermediates class is for very good social dancers who have danced for, on average, 3 years, and who attend our classes at least once a week (usually more). It assumes you are a good leader/follower and that you are ready to develop your own style, improve your musicality and floorcraft, and explore more complex, varied and contemporary movements. We assume that most of the dancers in this class dance tango twice a week or more. The class also requires more conceptual knowledge of the structure of tango, and a greater ability to pick up figures and sequences quickly, and to experiment with them readily.

When do I move 'up' a level?

We will let you know when you are ready to move up a level. We don't allow students to move themselves up from one level to the next, because we have an overview of the individual and the whole class, and we're experienced in knowing when the moment is right. Do not fear: we want students to progress as soon as they are able, and we don't hold students back once they are ready to move on up! But we are also careful to maintain standards in each level, which is what our students expect (and what we are frequently praised for).

The levels in tango are not usually comparable with those in other dances. In our experience, and drawing on the comments of our now-regular students, the standard required to move up a level is higher, and it takes longer than in many other social dances.

Broadly speaking, assuming that you attend one class a week and you practise outside class (alone, or at practicas or social dances), most of our students fit into the following:

Beginner: no experience of tango or up to 6 months' experience
Recent beginner: 6 months to 1 year's experience
Improver: 1 to 3 years' experience
Intermediate: an average of 3 years' experience or more

These are just averages, and experience is essential but not in itself sufficient to warrant moving up a level...


Why do some students move 'up' a class earlier than others? How can I move up faster?

Don't feel disheartened if you see some people move 'up' before you do. It is unlikely to be related to natural talent - or a lack of it! We have some students who attend every class on offer, come to all the practice sessions, book regular private lessons and practise their own movements alone. These students are very likely to progress much faster, and when we see that someone is ready to try the next level, we let them know. If you only attend classes intermittently, you're bound to progress slower - but that's fine, if you're happy with how it's going.


I've missed several classes and been asked to 'drop down' a level for a while. Why?

All our classes are progressive, and if you miss several classes in a row, you may find it difficult to catch up immediately, which makes it harder for those in the class who are leading/following you.

At recent beginner and improver level, this doesn't usually matter too much (unless you drop out for a long time... tango keeps moving on!), but at intermediate level, this can mean that a usually fast-paced class is interrupted whilst we have to re-teach figures that the other students have already been studying for some weeks. In this case we will usually ask you to come to the improver class instead, for a short time, just to get back up to speed.

Please do not be offended or take this personally; it is applied across the board and in the interests of the whole group, as well as to you as an individual. Our intermediate-level classes are actually taught at a very high level, and feedback from our regulars overwhelmingly supports maintaining that level across the board. After a short period (a few weeks, or perhaps less), you'll be back up to speed and welcome to attend your usual class.


Attending extra classes

You are very welcome to attend ALL classes at or below your level, in as many venues as you like. Our best dancers tend to come to at least 2, 3 or even more classes per week (which is how they got so good!). Attending extra classes at a level that is officially 'lower' than your own is a guaranteed way to accelerate your progress. We are always amending and updating our material, so attending a lower-level class will show you some of the latest moves and technique, as well as remind you of some fundamentals you may have forgotten.

We have a special discounted price to encourage this: if you attend more than one weeknight class a week, the price per class drops to £6, irrespective of how many you attend or what price the class was to start with.


Are the levels the same elsewhere?

In short - no! As we say above, the levels in tango are not usually comparable with those in other dances. In our experience, and drawing on the comments of our now-regular students, the standard required to move up a level is higher, and it takes longer than in many other social dances.

Also, the terms we use to describe our levels are relative, and you will find differences if you attend classes elsewhere, even if they use the same descriptions (eg. beginner, recent beginner, improver, intermediate).

One thing to bear in mind is that there are distinct styles of tango. In particular, tango nuevo is really quite different in structure and technique, and until you've studied nuevo in depth with us, you will need to attend a lower level class if that is the style being taught. On the other hand, the level of our regular classes is fairly high (especially for beginners and improvers), and some classes in salon tango elsewhere are not as challenging as ours, so you may find you can comfortably go up a level.

We know many of the tango teachers and groups in the UK and in Argentina, and can offer you advice and guidance if you're visiting another teacher/group and are unsure about which level to sign up for.