Tango Survey

In preparation for our upcoming classes and workshops we, at TangoEvolution, put together a short survey and we would truly appreciate your participation:

Take Survey

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We would like to share some of most interesting answers with Tango Community:

1. I am a
Leader

2. There are many definitions of Tango. What does Tango mean to you? What does “being a Dancer” mean to you? Do you consider yourself a Dancer?
Tango is music, steps, and culture. As a dancer, I dance regularly. Even more so, some music takes me and moves me; I could stop it, but the feel of having to move with the music is much stronger.

3. Do you think Tango influences your life outside of dancing? In what way?
It'd be difficult for me to find life-partners with no interest in dancing, and there's the time investment, and there's the improved health and balance. There are also particular body-movements I probably wouldn't have if I didn't dance.

4. What makes you happy in a dance? Describe your perfect tango.
The perfect tango has a lot of interesting things to interpret; I'm able to do interesting things with the music, and my partner interprets them as well, and we both see interesting patterns there and our body movements really reflect our feelings about the music.

5. What in your opinion makes a really good Leader?
Direction is the most important quality for a leader. If the leader has no clear direction, the follower has nothing to follow.

6. What makes a really good Follower?
Feeling is the most important quality for a follower. Even if not necessarily doing all that's asked, the follower at least knows what is being expected (and where the rules are being broken).

7. If you are a Leader, do you (can you) follow? If you are a Follower, do you (can you) lead? Do you think you benefit as a dancer from exploring/taking the opposite role? If yes, how?
I can follow, and definitely benefit from doing so to be able to understand how to lead better. I can't say I'm very good at following, however.

8. If you were asked to teach a Tango class to people you regularly dance with, what would be the most important, in your opinion, issue(s) you would address?
The absolute first first thing I would show people is the stance. Everything moves out of keeping our body in a particular relation to itself and our partner.

9. How many hours a week do you dance, including classes, practicas and milongas?
I dance an average of five hours a week.

10. How do you see yourself as a tango dancer in 6-12 month? What would you like to improve/ achieve in your own dance?
I would like to be able to integrate more of the things I know into my regular dance. I see things, and can perform them, but on the spot I never think of adding them unless it was in a class I just took.

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1. I am a
Follower

2. There are many definitions of Tango. What does Tango mean to you? What does “being a Dancer” mean to you? Do you consider yourself a Dancer?I try not to define tango. I am a dancer when I am dancing. Otherwise, I am a person who dances and who reaps all the benefits of that.

3. Do you think Tango influences your life outside of dancing? In what way?
I make many personal connections that are very valuable to me. Tango also helps me to be social, and to interact with the opposite sex in a non-sexual but quasi-intimate way that is very helpful emotionally.

4. What makes you happy in a dance? Describe your perfect tango.
Music that inspires both of us, a partner with whom I can share a great connection, and that we both can dance with the music, not against it.

5. What in your opinion makes a really good Leader?
Someone who is present in the dance, who listens to the music and to me, and who provides a comfortable and fluid embrace.

6. What makes a really good Follower?
I don't lead worth a darn, so this question is not one I should answer.

7. If you are a Leader, do you (can you) follow? If you are a Follower, do you (can you) lead? Do you think you benefit as a dancer from exploring/taking the opposite role? If yes, how?
I think trying to do the opposite role can provide new respect and empathy for your partners. I can't do it (lead) but I definitely find my small attempts provide a lot of respect for the leads who can.

8. If you were asked to teach a Tango class to people you regularly dance with, what would be the most important, in your opinion, issue(s) you would address?
For the leaders, connection and floorcraft. For the followers, connection and paying attention to the lead.

9. How many hours a week do you dance, including classes, practicas and milongas?
2 hours on average

10. How do you see yourself as a tango dancer in 6-12 month? What would you like to improve/ achieve in your own dance?
I would like to strengthen my core muscles so that I have more facility.

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1. I am a
Leader

2. There are many definitions of Tango. What does Tango mean to you? What does “being a Dancer” mean to you? Do you consider yourself a Dancer?
Tango is a dance form which embodies a stylized physical conversation between two people done to music. Being a dancer means being able to move confidently and gracefully to music. Yes I consider myself a dancer.

3. Do you think Tango influences your life outside of dancing? In what way?
Very much so. The idea of a leader/follower conversation taking place in the physical domain expands the concept of conversation in ways that are profound to explore.

4. What makes you happy in a dance? Describe your perfect tango.
Perfect connection with a follower. A dance where I can clearly and confidently express my thoughts, and the follower understands and responds seemingly effortlessly.

5. What in your opinion makes a really good Leader?
Connection. Confidence. Consideration. Musicality. Ability to physically speak and listen.

6. What makes a really good Follower?
Connection. Confidence. Consideration. Musicality. Ability to physically listen and speak.

7. If you are a Leader, do you (can you) follow? If you are a Follower, do you (can you) lead? Do you think you benefit as a dancer from exploring/taking the opposite role? If yes, how?
I can follow, badly, a little. I would really like to learn how to follow better.

8. If you were asked to teach a Tango class to people you regularly dance with, what would be the most important, in your opinion, issue(s) you would address?
Three things: connection, connection, and connection.

9. How many hours a week do you dance, including classes, practicas and milongas?
4-5 hours.

10. How do you see yourself as a tango dancer in 6-12 month? What would you like to improve/ achieve in your own dance?
I expect to experience continuous improvement in all aspects of the dance.

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1. I am a
Leader

2. There are many definitions of Tango. What does Tango mean to you? What does “being a Dancer” mean to you? Do you consider yourself a Dancer?
Tango means an opportunity to connect with another, to have an unspoken conversation. I am a Dancer: I move with grace, and can move with another person with grace.

3. Do you think Tango influences your life outside of dancing? In what way?
I am better able to predict other's movements and thus am better able to avoid collisions. I have better posture and balance because of tango and I feel a stronger sense of confidence knowing that I am really skilled at something. I also have utilized the tango community to establish a connection quickly with the locals in new places.

4. What makes you happy in a dance? Describe your perfect tango.
I am happy in a dance when I feel my partner is enjoying herself too and is supremely connected to me: breathing together, moving together, thinking together.

5. What in your opinion makes a really good Leader?
Acute sensitivity to the follower, creativity, musicality, healthy repertoire of movements.

6. What makes a really good Follower?
Acute sensitivity to the follower, creativity, musicality, healthy repertoire of movements.

7. If you are a Leader, do you (can you) follow? If you are a Follower, do you (can you) lead? Do you think you benefit as a dancer from exploring/taking the opposite role? If yes, how?
I am a leader and I follow. Because of my following, I feel like I better understand the dance. More specifically, I can appreciate what I am requesting of my partner when I am leading. I also am better able to teach because of my ambi-danci-ness.

8. If you were asked to teach a Tango class to people you regularly dance with, what would be the most important, in your opinion, issue(s) you would address?
Musicality, creativity. Reviewing how one can have a great time with the basics.

9. How many hours a week do you dance, including classes, practicas and milongas?
7 hours

10. How do you see yourself as a tango dancer in 6-12 month? What would you like to improve/ achieve in your own dance? 
Within a year, I hope to be an advanced dancer (i.e., effortlessly lead any movement imaginable).

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1. I am a
Leader

2. There are many definitions of Tango. What does Tango mean to you? What does “being a Dancer” mean to you? Do you consider yourself a Dancer?
At its best, tango for me is an intimate form of communication between my partner and the music. "Being a dancer," in this context, means being fluent in the language of tango and speaking that language regularly for no other reason than for the love of speaking it. And yes, I consider myself a dancer.

3. Do you think Tango influences your life outside of dancing? In what way?
Um, this is probably breaking the rules, but you should know that this is Tony. Tango has helped me become a better listener; I have become more aware of other people's thoughts and intentions. Just as I do in tango, I try to understand those thoughts and intentions and try to incorporate them into my own thought and decision making process.

4. What makes you happy in a dance? Describe your perfect tango.
When I dance for the first time with a monster good dancer, and after 2 or 3 moves she whispers to me, "enough of the showy stuff, just slow down and explore the music with me." And then we do just that for the next 6 tandas.

5. What in your opinion makes a really good Leader?
Someone who spends 40% of his time listening to his follower, 60% of his time leading his follower, and 100% of his time dancing to the music.

6. What makes a really good Follower?
Someone who can create the illusion that she has completely surrendered to her leader, but remains an active participant in determining the shape and mood of the dance.

7. If you are a Leader, do you (can you) follow? If you are a Follower, do you (can you) lead? Do you think you benefit as a dancer from exploring/taking the opposite role? If yes, how?
I can follow poorly. There is a definite benefit to exploring the opposite role, because demonstrating to a leader how a follower feels/experiences a lead is just as important as teaching the leader the steps or the motion of a move itself.

8. If you were asked to teach a Tango class to people you regularly dance with, what would be the most important, in your opinion, issue(s) you would address?
Connection and musicality, in that order.

9. How many hours a week do you dance, including classes, practicas and milongas?
I'm embarrassed to answer this question. Let's just say I think about tango a lot.

10. How do you see yourself as a tango dancer in 6-12 month? What would you like to improve/ achieve in your own dance?
Well, I guess I would wish for more dancers here in Atlanta.

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1. I am a
Follower

2. There are many definitions of Tango. What does Tango mean to you? What does “being a Dancer” mean to you? Do you consider yourself a Dancer?
Tango for me is being "in" the music. I enjoy both the old and new tango and dancing tango to other styles of music, but it's about being connected to my partner and to the music. Someone once said that the leader is playing music with the follower's feet and I think that's true. Though some are surely tone-deaf. :) Being a dancer to me means being someone who cares enough about the dance to take the time to learn the subtleties and different styles and being open to all of them. Being a dancer isn't just showing up, it's being present with your partner and with with other dancers on the floor. Yes, I consider myself a dancer. It's a passion, not just a hobby.

3. Do you think Tango influences your life outside of dancing? In what way?
?

4. What makes you happy in a dance? Describe your perfect tango.
a partner who has impeccable musicality and floorcraft. I don't have to "think," I can just be one with him and with the music. He doesn't do fancy moves that I have to work to follow (I'm talking about in a milonga, not in a class). He knows who is around him and what moves and what direction is "safe" for he and his partner. He doesn't contort himself or me, he doesn't hesitate and dances with purpose and passion.

5. What in your opinion makes a really good Leader?
see above.

6. What makes a really good Follower?
someone who can quiet their thoughts and body to truly listen to the leader and the music. She also dances with purpose and isn't pushed or pulled around the floor. She's light on her feet, but has enough presence that her leader can feel where she is. She must also have great musicality to add adornment and bring her own style to the dance.

7. If you are a Leader, do you (can you) follow? If you are a Follower, do you (can you) lead? Do you think you benefit as a dancer from exploring/taking the opposite role? If yes, how?
I can only lead very basic steps, but not with good musicality or floorcraft.

8. If you were asked to teach a Tango class to people you regularly dance with, what would be the most important, in your opinion, issue(s) you would address?
Floorcraft

9. How many hours a week do you dance, including classes, practicas and milongas?
Sadly, not nearly enough. Outside life has taken the forefront. I only make it out every 6-8 weeks these days.

10. How do you see yourself as a tango dancer in 6-12 month? What would you like to improve/ achieve in your own dance?
I just want to dance more.

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1. I am a
Leader

2. There are many definitions of Tango. What does Tango mean to you? What does “being a Dancer” mean to you? Do you consider yourself a Dancer?
Tango is movement, connection fostered by a Buenos Aires beat. A dancer is someone who lets music flow through their body. I'm not one yet.

3. Do you think Tango influences your life outside of dancing? In what way?
I find myself moving to rhythms I did not consciously recognize. I listen to Tango when I walk through the park.

4. What makes you happy in a dance? Describe your perfect tango.
Connection and smooth movement, relaxed but with the right tension, no rush but speed where the music calls for it.

5. What in your opinion makes a really good Leader?
Someone who can smoothly invite the follow to join him in moves that the music calls out of him.

6. What makes a really good Follower?
Someone who can listen, and answer, without trying to talk over the lead.

7. If you are a Leader, do you (can you) follow? If you are a Follower, do you (can you) lead? Do you think you benefit as a dancer from exploring/taking the opposite role? If yes, how?
Not well. I'm sure that I would benefit, but I'd like to be able to lead better first.

8. If you were asked to teach a Tango class to people you regularly dance with, what would be the most important, in your opinion, issue(s) you would address?
Connection, rhythm, balance. Everything else would follow.

9. How many hours a week do you dance, including classes, practicas and milongas?
On average, I would say 4 hours.

10. How do you see yourself as a tango dancer in 6-12 month? What would you like to improve/ achieve in your own dance? 
I would like to be relaxed, smooth and controlled, which is not how I feel now.

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1. I am a
Follower

2. There are many definitions of Tango. What does Tango mean to you? What does “being a Dancer” mean to you? Do you consider yourself a Dancer?
Tango is something gentle and beautiful, a chance to let go of thoughts and be in a magical place, connected to music and to another person.

3. Do you think Tango influences your life outside of dancing? In what way?
Tango gives me a place to be non-verbal, and a place for my creativity, and perhaps most prominently, it's my social life.

4. What makes you happy in a dance? Describe your perfect tango.
My perfect tango happens when there is nothing in my head; I feel like my movement is light and effortless, not willful; and my partner's movement surprises me, it's not patterned in familiar ways, but we stay together anyway, surprising each other. And, of course, the leader is also relaxing into the experience, not being frustrated when something doesn't work out the way he may have intended.

5. What in your opinion makes a really good Leader?
First and most important - a relaxed but clear and supportive embrace; it 'breathes' with our movement, be is still secure for me. He is not 'steering' with his shoulders and arms, which requires me to manage the movement instead of relax into it. And he is not overbearing or judgemental about my response to his lead; his lead is for us not for him.

6. What makes a really good Follower?
Someone who lets the leader lead.

7. If you are a Leader, do you (can you) follow? If you are a Follower, do you (can you) lead? Do you think you benefit as a dancer from exploring/taking the opposite role? If yes, how?
I haven't explored leading thus far.

8. If you were asked to teach a Tango class to people you regularly dance with, what would be the most important, in your opinion, issue(s) you would address?
Tuning into your partner rather than having your own agenda.

9. How many hours a week do you dance, including classes, practicas and milongas?
6 - 10

10. How do you see yourself as a tango dancer in 6-12 month? What would you like to improve/ achieve in your own dance?
I have been very involved in organizing events, and running a studio, so I want to get back to improving my own dancing. I don't even know what I need to work on right now! But I want to be dancing more, be asked to dance more.

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1. I am a
Follower

2. There are many definitions of Tango. What does Tango mean to you? What does “being a Dancer” mean to you? Do you consider yourself a Dancer?
To me, tango is being one with the music and my partner. I have always been a dancer but never as good a dancer as I would like to be.

3. Do you think Tango influences your life outside of dancing? In what way?
Tango music predominates in my listening life, and the constant challenge and joy of the dance often keeps me from participating in other activities

4. What makes you happy in a dance? Describe your perfect tango.
When the music speaks to me and to my partner in the same way, and the dance seems effortless and flowing.

5. What in your opinion makes a really good Leader?
Someone who is considerate, protective, musical, and comfortable to dance with.

6. What makes a really good Follower?
Someone who waits for the lead and is responsive, musical, light, and relaxed.

7. If you are a Leader, do you (can you) follow? If you are a Follower, do you (can you) lead? Do you think you benefit as a dancer from exploring/taking the opposite role? If yes, how?
I can lead a little but not well. Taking "leading for women" classes helped clarify what not to do as a follower and made me appreciate how difficult the leader's role is.

8. If you were asked to teach a Tango class to people you regularly dance with, what would be the most important, in your opinion, issue(s) you would address?
Body mechanics and musicality.

9. How many hours a week do you dance, including classes, practicas and milongas?
Normally, six to ten.

10. How do you see yourself as a tango dancer in 6-12 month? What would you like to improve/ achieve in your own dance?
I envision myself as more at ease with and less intimidated by good dancers and more aware of the possibilities within the dance.

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1. I am a
Follower

2. There are many definitions of Tango. What does Tango mean to you? What does “being a Dancer” mean to you? Do you consider yourself a Dancer?
To me, tango includes a whole realm of styles, including milonguero, nuevo, close embrace, open embrace, etc. In some ways, it's about an emotional approach and visual aesthetic more than a set of movements. To me, there are two kinds of people at dances- "people who dance" and "dancers". People who dance have a hobby; dancers have an addiction or obsession. (Guess which one I am).

3. Do you think Tango influences your life outside of dancing? In what way?
Yes! A good chunk of my social networking is through tango. Tango dancers are friendly, and there are several who have their heads on straight, so to speak. :-)

4. What makes you happy in a dance? Describe your perfect tango.
Good connection, fidelity to the music, and an active participation by both leader and follower.

5. What in your opinion makes a really good Leader?
Good connection, fidelity to the music, and the ability to actively listen to the follow on some level.

6. What makes a really good Follower?
Good connection, fidelity to the music, the understanding of how, when, and whether to contribute to a dance with any given leader. And, visual grace.

7. If you are a Leader, do you (can you) follow? If you are a Follower, do you (can you) lead? Do you think you benefit as a dancer from exploring/taking the opposite role? If yes, how?
Yes it benefits, and no, I haven't started (yet!).

8. If you were asked to teach a Tango class to people you regularly dance with, what would be the most important, in your opinion, issue(s) you would address?
Tell the leaders that we follows don't care a lick about "how many steps", we just want them done really well. Boring is a leader term, not a follow term!

9. How many hours a week do you dance, including classes, practicas and milongas?
varies wildly.

10. How do you see yourself as a tango dancer in 6-12 month? What would you like to improve/ achieve in your own dance?
Yes. That's a good question... my tango education isn't that focused. I improve through taking classes and dancing, but I'm not working on any one thing.

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