Tango Vs Salsa

Tango is to salsa what a long term relationship is to a quick fling. Having danced salsa on and off for about three years, tango always seemed, dare I say it, a bit staid. However, with a misson to involve my new husband into the dancing scene, we found ourseleves, shakily, tangoing around a dance studio trying to be graceful. Emphasis on the word 'trying'.

What sold it to hubby, is that with tango, the man is ALWAYS in control. He leads, she follows. He decides the steps, she follows. He decides the speed (hopefully in time to the music), she follows. You get the picture. Men are in control. Actually, the same is for salsa, but if you are dancing with a guy who just dances away with no consideration for his partner, there are sneaky ways that you can put him in his place so to speak. This suits me. I'm yet to find that in tango, although I have had only one lesson.

What sold it for me, is that it's a great work out. It may not look as speedy as salsa but while you are whirling around gazing into each others eye (ok, we're not that good yet, but we will be) the leg muscles are really tested for balance and strength - the ladies even more so because they not only have to do the steps but also make it look good with pointed toes and stuff. It would be easier if I had legs as long as Giselle, but unfortunately not. What can I say - the vertically challenged must work harder!

Perhaps we weren't too smooth and perhaps our steps weren't as accurate as they should have been, but within the hour our teacher, to his credit, did manage to get us dancing the basic steps around the room to music with no major injury and that sold it for both of us. Looking forward to class two.

(For more information on tango classes in Dubai, visit http://www.elfiruletebnf.com/contacto_dubai.html)