If you are considering beginning tango lessons, here is a hurriedly-assembled list based on my personal experience. I hope other Toronto tango dancers will add their own lists in the near future.
EXPLORE DIFFERENT INSTRUCTORS
Take a session of lessons with one instructor then consider doing a second beginner set with a different organization – I know too many people who regret spending too much time and money with their first instructor when there were other options out there.
BE FLEXIBLE RE TANGO STYLES
Be so aware that there is no “Royal Academy of Tango” to dictate what is good tango and what isn’t. There are many ways of dancing social tango and you are embarking on a journey to discover how you want to dance. Be prepared for the frustration of one instructor saying it can only be done this way and then the next instructor being equally adamant that style is totally unacceptable.
BE VERY CLEAN
Pay great attention to personal hygiene before each class – if you are not totally fresh smelling then people will always remember you smelled bad and may never dance with you again. Shower head and body directly before each class, don’t go to class from work or a restaurant, don’t eat food with onions, garlic, etc. day of your class or even day before.
LISTEN TO TANGO MUSIC
Listen to tango dance music as much as possible – a good instructor should hand out a playlist or CD of pieces that are good for beginners.
PRACTICE
Practise walking to tango music at home every day. The walk is everything in tango – if you can walk with a partner to the music, you are dancing tango.
GET SHOES
Women need to get their hands on a pair of medium height tango shoes asap in the learning process – you need to know what you are doing before you move into the sexy ones. A good instructor should help you source your shoes, some even take their students shoe shopping or give them an old pair.
SEEK OUT KNOWLEDGE
Keep collecting information about the tango world – everyone likes to talk about their own tango experiences and options – chat with people in the class who have been learning longer than you, seek out your instructor after class, etc.
CONSIDER BIG AND SMALL CLASSES
Big classes are great because you get to meet a lot of people which is important once you start attending milongas. On the other hand some of the instructors of small classes create an unbeatable personal experience.
MAKE TANGO FRIENDS
You need partners to dance tango. You will increase your pool of potential partners if you are a friendly person that people feel comfortable with.