Stanford Tango Club
Frequently Asked Questions
I don't know anything about tango. Can I attend the class?
--- Of course! The beginners level classes do not assume any tango or other dance experience. If you have a fair bit of experience dancing Argentine Tango, you can attend the intermediate/advaced level class.
Do you compete? Do you perform on stage?
--- No and no. This is not a competing team and we do not do stage performances. We just dance for fun! Argentine tango is danced at the dance parties called "milongas". We organize milongas as well as encourage people to go to other milongas around the Bay Area (there are dozens of them every week!).
Do I need to bring a partner to the classes or practicas?
--- Most people do not come with partners. We rotate partners in classes.
What are "practicas"?
--- Practicas are practice sessions. There will be tango music and you dance and practice, simple! There are NO LESSONS at the practicas, but feel free to discuss with or ask other people at the practica. If you want to practice something you aren't good at doing, it's a good idea to talk to your partner beforehand. Also, we encourage people to rotate partners every 3-4 songs. It's not very polite to hold on to one partner for a long time unless you have a clear mutual agreement. Having said that, practicas are supposed to be fun, so you are encouraged to make new friends at the practicas :-)
Are you affiliated with the Salsa club/ballroom dance club etc?
--- No.
So remind me again what exactly you dance?
--- Argentine tango for social dancing.
Do you accept cash/checks/credit cards for class fee?
--- Cash, checks: Yes
Credit cards: No.
Do I need to pre-register for the classes? Can I pay when I arrive for a class?
--- You don't need to pre-register. Just pay when you arrive.
I'm not a student at Stanford. Can I attend the classes?
--- Yes, usually all our events are open to everyone.
I don't know anything about these teachers? Are they good?
--- You bet!! All our instructors are professional tango teachers and some of the most well-known in nation!
How is the gender/leader-follower balance in class?
--- Usually the balance is good. Once in a while it tips to one side or the other, but generally it's not a big concern.
I have done ballroom-style tango / some other ballroom dance / salsa before. Can I take the intermediate level class?
--- Seriously, NO! Argentine tango is a completely different philosophy.
So I heard that club members/officers can take classes for free. Is that true? How do I become a member/officer?
--- That's right. Club officers take classes for free. If you are a registered Stanford student (undergraduate or graduate), you are excited about tango, willing to devote some time helping with class organization etc (typically 1-2 hours a week), we definitely want to hear from you. Prior tango experience or skill level is NOT a barrier! (Some of the most successful officers started learning after they became officers and went on to become really good tango dancers). We often recruit new officers in the beginning of the year or when someone leaves or graduates. Generally there are 6-8 officers in the club.
What kind of shoes should I wear while dancing?
--- Argentine tango involves quite a bit of pivoting on the balls of your feet, so wear something you can pivot on without much difficulty on a dance-floor. If you have some sort of "dance shoes" (with sude or leather soles) or "dance sneakers", those work fine. For girls, ballet slippers are quite comfortable too. In the early stages learning tango, you can even were cotton socks (just make sure they aren't too slippery). If nothing else, just pick from whatever shoes you already have the ones that do not stick to wooden floor much. (Shoes with rubber soles tend to stick to the floor).
Where can I buy dance shoes?
--- Try this link to a page by the Stanford Ballroom Dance Club. See the "Shopping" section.
So I went to a practica, and suddenly they were playing this crazy fast song that was impossible to dance on! What on the earth was that?
--- Don't worry, it happened to all of us at some point :-) What you heard was most probably a "milonga" song. (So the word "milonga" has two meanings. You either "go to a milonga" or "dance to a milonga"). Milonga rhythm is faster and often the style of dance changes. You'll learn as you go along how to dance to milonga rhythm.
People keep using these words I don't understand. What's a "tanda"? What's a "cortina"?
--- In a milonga (dance party) or sometimes in practica, a "tanda" is a set of 3-4 songs. Generally it's polite to dance a tanda with one partner. Two tandas are separated by a short non-tango music (30-45 seconds) called a "cortina". When you start going to milongas, you'll learn more about tango etiquettes.
I have more questions. What should I do?
--- Contact us!