The Curious Tanguero - A Tango podcast for Tangueros

What is “tango bliss,” and can every dancer reach it? Author Aleksey joins us to discuss how Argentine tango can awaken presence, healing, and joy, and how breath, attention, and connection shape every embrace. You can find the book at https://blissfultango.com You can join the Curious Tanguero newsletter at http://thecurioustanguero.com Hug and let go. The first will bring you happiness, the second peace.

Advanced tips: Your foot is NOT a point For more tango tips, resources, books, retreats, and much more: thecurioustanguero.com/argentinetango

How to improve your tango by observing others For more tango tips, resources, books, retreats, and much more: thecurioustanguero.com/argentinetango Some of my suggestions: Watch videos of Jonathan Saavedra & Clarisa Aragón dancing D’Arienzo. Watch videos of Chicho dancing Di Sarli. Watch videos of Vanesa Villalba and Facundo Pinero dancing Pugliese. Watch videos of Sebastian Achaval dancing to Miguel Calo. Watch videos of Ariadna Naveira and Fernando Sanchez dancing milonga.

How to easily recognize the beginning of a musical phrase in tango Hear the Beat, Feel the Music: Link For more tango tips: thecurioustanguero.com/argentinetango

👉This episode is about three realisations that helped me understand: 1) how we communicate our free-leg position, 2) how elegant lines are created and 3) how we connect different body parts so that our partner can get ‘access’ to them during the dance. For more tango, check this: thecurioustanguero.com/argentinetango 👉A huge 'Thank you' to Sara Grdan and Ivan Terrazas for teaching me most of the things you are about to read or hear. They deserve all credit for whatever makes sense. Everything that doesn't make sense, comes from my own misunderstanding. Transcription: Many times, when in classes, I heard the following phrases from teachers: ‘You have to communicate to your partner where your free leg is.’ ‘You have to stop controlling your free leg, and let your partner control it.’ ‘Straighten your back leg, you let it always relax and pointing in the wrong direction.’ ‘I can’t feel where your body is.’ And many more, around similar topics. When I hear statements like these that sound like instructions, I try to understand if they are actually instructions or they just ask for a final result without providing a way to get there. Well, for me, all the above are NOT instructions on what to do, but on what result they expect. This email is about three realisations that helped me understand: 1) how we communicate our free-leg position, 2) how elegant lines are created and 3) how we connect different body parts so that our partner can get ‘access’ to them during the dance. Let’s start with the third one: Connecting different parts of our body to allow our partner to either understand or control them. Most people believe that dissociation is the tool we use to stay in front of our partners. We rotate our chest so that we can continue looking at our partner during a giro, even though our feet might move toward different directions for example. But for me, this is not the most important function of dissociation. When you rotate your upper body in respect to the lower body, a set of muscles and tendons are engaged. This engagement creates a stronger connection between two different parts of your body. This muscle tension, where two different parts of your body seem to be pushing toward a different direction is a tool to connect those two parts. And once that connection is achieved, you partner can use one part of your body to communicate to the other. If you start thinking of dissociation not only in terms of ‘opposite rotation’ but in terms of ‘opposite direction that creates tension’ you might start noticing that it exists everywhere: When your teachers tell you that the bottom part of the body needs to push toward the earth while the upper part goes to the sky? …You are creating this tension that connects the two parts of the body. When your teachers tell you to push down your shoulderblades while you elongate your neck toward the sky? …You are creating this tension that connects the two parts of the body. ‘Opposite’ tension creates connection. I have come to perceive all these ways to create tension by expanding toward opposite directions as ‘dissociation’. Whenever I want to create a clear connection between two parts of my body, a create that tension. To sum up: Dissociation is a way to create tension, and that tension connects two parts of your body. Starting considering using dissociation not in a limited way (communicating a pivot, staying in front of my partner) but as a connector of different body parts. Alright, second point: Communicating where the free leg is With some followers (or leaders) it is incredibly easy to understand where their free leg is and how to control it. Let’s call the ‘A’ dancers. And that allows advanced dancers to stop a movement in the middle, to create elegant shapes and adornos, to control the size of a step, etc. But with some other dancers this seems simply impossible. For me, the main difference is this: The ‘A’ dancers create the motion of the free leg by pushing from the base leg. If you don’t know how to do that in side, back, forward, side rotated, back rotated, and forward rotated steps, I highly advise you to find someone who can teach you. To give you a simple example, try to take a side step to the left. If you start the movement of the left free leg by engaging the left leg’s muscles, then you are not pushing from the base leg. A functional push from the right leg would work something like this: Move your weight on the outside part of the right foot (your base) having clear contact on the whole surface of the foot, from toes to heel. That moves your axis to the opposite direction than the one you want to step towards. Transfer your weight to the inside part of the right foot and start pushing the floor toward the right. This will move your axis toward the left. Your free left leg will move relaxed under your axis to step on the left, right under your axis, so that you arrive in a position of balance. Now, there are a lot of things that need to be explained for suc

✨ New Tango Podcast Episode Alert! ✨ Today on the Tango Tips Podcast, I’m diving into the wisdom of Nacho Mora & Celia Rodríguez with selected excerpts from their chapter in Tango Tips by the Maestros. Ready to boost your balance, body awareness, and partner connection? You can discover the complete book Tango Tips by the Maestros here: https://tangotipsbythemaestros.com/ You can find more tango resources, tips, stories, videos etc here: https://thecurioustanguero.com/argentinetango

Let's discover Carlos and Mirella's advice to: Uncover how true grounding in dance starts from the floor up, Learn the art of a seamless embrace with steady pressure points, relaxed shoulders, and crystal-clear open vs. close positions. Elevate your elegance and musicality with bite-sized exercises, from 20-second posture checks to deep dives into musical phrasing and tango escenario. For the complete chapter, and many more, check the book Tango Tips by the Maestros on Amazon in English, Spanish or Italian: tangotipsbythemaestros.com Join the Curious Tanguero newsletter here: https://thecurioustanguero.com/

A tango tip on double beat - argentine tango. How to dance the double beat in argentine tango. For more tango tips, resources, and the occasional dad jokes: https://thecurioustanguero.com/argentinetango Join the Curious Tanguero Newsletter so you don't miss the next tips: https://thecurioustanguero.com

What if your hands, your breath, and your awareness were the missing links in your tango connection? - by Bruna Estellita & Julián Sanchez, world tango champions 2023. Let's reveal the subtle, often overlooked elements that make a tango truly come alive. For more tango tips, resources, and the occasional dad jokes: https://thecurioustanguero.com/argentinetango/ Join the Curious Tanguero Newsletter so you don't miss the next tips: https://thecurioustanguero.com/

Ever struggled to lead a cross without using force? In this episode, we explore how a different angle can make tango movements feel different. Find more ways to develop your tango at https://thecurioustanguero.com/argentinetango Receive more tango tips at https://thecurioustanguero.com/

The "2-Step Tanda Process," a simple yet powerful approach to creating a deeper connection with a dance partner in tango. Find more ways to develop your tango at https://thecurioustanguero.com/argentinetango Receive more tango tips at https://thecurioustanguero.com/ Check the book Tango Tips by the Maestros at https://tangotipsbythemaestros.com/ Check the tango novel When the Embrace Whispers at https://whentheembracewhispers.com/

Discover the surprisingly simple yet powerful technique that can instantly make your tango walk and turns feel more stable and controlled. By embracing the rhythm of "push the sand, pull the sand," you'll unlock a whole new level of balance, connection, and effortless movement on the dance floor. Find the tanscription here: https://thecurioustanguero.com/the-simple-tango-tip-that-transformed-my-stability/ Find more tango resources here: https://thecurioustanguero.com/argentinetango Join the Curious Tanguero newsletter for more tango tips: https://thecurioustanguero.com/

In this episode, tango legend **Alejandra Mantiñan** shares raw, unfiltered insights on what’s missing in today’s tango world—passion, depth, and the courage to truly expose oneself. She reveals how life shapes your dance, why chasing styles is a lie, and the painful truth about the fading authenticity of milonga culture. Prepare to be challenged, inspired, and stirred as we dive into the soul of tango with one of its most iconic voices. You can find more of Alejandra's thoughts in the book Tango Tips by the Maestros in English, Spanish and Italian. Available on Amazon for worldwide delivery. More info: https://tangotipsbythemaestros.com/ To continue developing your tango: find tango resources at https://thecurioustanguero.com/argentinetango

Feeling trapped on the closed side of the tango embrace? In this episode, we break down why it happens, how both leaders and followers can create more space, and what small adjustments can transform your dance experience. Transcript: https://thecurioustanguero.com/unlocking-space-on-the-close-side-of-the-tango-embrace/ For more tango tips, resources, and the occasional dad jokes: https://thecurioustanguero.com/argentinetango/ Join the Curious Tanguero Newsletter so you don't miss the next tips: https://thecurioustanguero.com/

If you want to check the free live masterclass ‘The Relaxed Dancer’s Roadmap: 4-steps to Stop Overthinking in Tango‘ you can do it here. To read the transcription of the episode go here.

Discover the secret to a connected tango embrace that feels like home. In this episode, we dive into the power of breathing with your back and how it transforms both your lead and your partner’s experience on the dance floor. For more tango tips, resources, and the occasional dad jokes: https://thecurioustanguero.com/argentinetango/ Join the Curious Tanguero Newsletter so you don't miss the next tips: https://thecurioustanguero.com

Struggling to stay balanced in your enrosques? In this episode, we break down the secrets to stability, exploring how a "lazy pivot" and a simple weight check can transform your technique. For more tango tips, resources, and the occasional dad jokes: https://thecurioustanguero.com/argentinetango/ Join the Curious Tanguero Newsletter so you don't miss the next tips: https://thecurioustanguero.com/

Can your fingers and shoulder blades transform your tango? In this episode, we challenge conventional wisdom by exploring how subtle pressure and connection can enhance communication, stability, and fluidity in your dance. For more tango resources, free and paid, go to https://thecurioustanguero.com/argentinetango You can join the Curious Tanguero newsletter here.

In this episode, we explore the six characteristics that set advanced followers apart—and how understanding them can transform your tango experience with them. The remaining 3 characteristics can be found in the first email of the Curious Tanguero newsletter. If you are already a subscriber, feel free to email me and I'll send them to you. For more tango resources: https://thecurioustanguero.com/argentinetango

Discover the essential "Map of Musicality Elements," tips to interpret music with your partner, and how understanding musical patterns can transform your dance. Whether you're a seasoned dancer or just beginning your tango journey, this episode is packed with insights to inspire your next step. You can find a transcript of the podcast at https://thecurioustanguero.com/the-map-of-tango-musicality-elements/ You can find links to all the resources mentioned at thecurioustanguero.com/argentinetango

The third part of the interview with Melina Sedo and Detlef Engel. We’ll discuss Tango DJing & Encuentros vs Marathons. Melina Sedo: https://www.melinasedo.com/ Tango de Salon: https://www.tangodesalon.de/ The book: https://www.caminarabrazados.com/ The Curious Tanguero newsletter: https://thecurioustanguero.com/ Books: Tangofulness: https://tangofulness.com/ Tango Tips by the Maestros: https://tangotipsbythemaestros.com/ When the Embrace Whispers: https://whentheembracewhispers.com/ How to dance more in milongas - for followers: https://thecurioustanguero.com/howtodancemoreinmilongas/

The second part of the interview with Melina Sedo and Detlef Engel. We’ll discuss how you can discover great events for you, and try to understand a bit about double role dancing. (A link to an interview specifically about double role dancing will be published when available.) Melina Sedo: https://www.melinasedo.com/ Tango de Salon: https://www.tangodesalon.de/ The book: https://www.caminarabrazados.com/ The Curious Tanguero newsletter: https://thecurioustanguero.com/ Books: Tangofulness: https://tangofulness.com/ Tango Tips by the Maestros: https://tangotipsbythemaestros.com/ When the Embrace Whispers: https://whentheembracewhispers.com/ How to dance more in milongas - for followers: https://thecurioustanguero.com/howtodancemoreinmilongas/

The first part of the interview with Melina Sedo and Detlef Engel. We’ll explore the development of their tango system and the bigger trends they have identified in tango. Melina Sedo: https://www.melinasedo.com/ Tango de Salon: https://www.tangodesalon.de/ The book: https://www.caminarabrazados.com/ The Curious Tanguero newsletter: https://thecurioustanguero.com/ Books: Tangofulness: https://tangofulness.com/ Tango Tips by the Maestros: https://tangotipsbythemaestros.com/ When the Embrace Whispers: https://whentheembracewhispers.com/ How to dance more in milongas - for followers: https://thecurioustanguero.com/howtodancemoreinmilongas/

The second part of the interview with Antonella Terrazas. In this part of the interview we’ll cover her approach to teaching tango, how emotions can play a part in your tango, a controversial post, and her views on trends of tango in Europe. Antonella on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/antonella.terrazas.3 The Curious Tanguero newsletter: https://thecurioustanguero.com/ Books: Tangofulness: https://tangofulness.com/ Tango Tips by the Maestros: https://tangotipsbythemaestros.com/ When the Embrace Whispers: https://whentheembracewhispers.com/ How to dance more in milongas - for followers: https://thecurioustanguero.com/howtodancemoreinmilongas/

The first part of the interview with Antonella Terrazas. In this part of the interview we’ll start by exploring her early years and then cover what elements of other disciplines can help you in your tango, and what it means to adjust to your partner but not in a submissive way. We’ll also discuss the benefits of working without a fixed partner. I particularly enjoyed her answers when it comes to dancing or practising with someone that is not such a good fit. Antonella on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/antonella.terrazas.3 The Curious Tanguero newsletter: https://thecurioustanguero.com/ Books: Tangofulness: https://tangofulness.com/ Tango Tips by the Maestros: https://tangotipsbythemaestros.com/ When the Embrace Whispers: https://whentheembracewhispers.com/ How to dance more in milongas - for followers: https://thecurioustanguero.com/howtodancemoreinmilongas/

The third part of the interview with Oa Metzner. In this part of the interview we’ll cover resistance, density, lightness and heaviness in argentine tango. We’ll also cover how Oa would start again if she was starting today from zero, and we dived deeper into the role of processed emotional baggage in our dance. Finally, we closed by touching a bit on the importance of alignment and feet articulation and the difference between leading and following from the outskirts of the body vs leading from the core. If you haven’t heard the previous episodes, I invite you to listen to them too, before or after this episode. They were eye-opening for me, and I hope they can do the same for you. Οa Metzner on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oa.metzner Oa´s Website: https://www.flowandthedane.com/ The Curious Tanguero newsletter: https://thecurioustanguero.com/ Books: Tangofulness: https://tangofulness.com/ Tango Tips by the Maestros: https://tangotipsbythemaestros.com/ When the Embrace Whispers: https://whentheembracewhispers.com/ How to dance more in milongas - for followers: https://thecurioustanguero.com/howtodancemoreinmilongas/

The second part of the interview with Oa Metzner. In this part of the interview we discussed how the approach to teaching and learning tango has changed the last years, ways to improve your tango, which muscles can help you dance better, and finally we discussed how to reduce pain during your dance. Οa Metzner on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oa.metzner Oa´s Website: https://www.flowandthedane.com/ The Curious Tanguero newsletter: https://thecurioustanguero.com/ Argentine Tango Books: Tangofulness: https://tangofulness.com/ Tango Tips by the Maestros: https://tangotipsbythemaestros.com/ When the Embrace Whispers: https://whentheembracewhispers.com/ How to dance more in milongas - for followers: https://thecurioustanguero.com/howtodancemoreinmilongas/

Part 1, interview with Oa Metzner: In this part of the interview we discussed what the term ‘social tango’ actually means for social dancers like me and you, what helps tango dancers improve, and then we dived into biomechanics. Finally, and this was a wonderful eye-opening part of the interview for me, we discussed the basis of connection. Οa Metzner on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oa.metzner Oa´s Website: https://www.flowandthedane.com/ The Curious Tanguero newsletter: https://thecurioustanguero.com/ Books: Tangofulness: https://tangofulness.com/ Tango Tips by the Maestros: https://tangotipsbythemaestros.com/ When the Embrace Whispers: https://whentheembracewhispers.com/ How to dance more in milongas - for followers: https://thecurioustanguero.com/howtodancemoreinmilongas/

To buy Angela´s book visit: https://nicadanza.com/en/in-contact-with-reality/ In Buenos Aires https://www.instagram.com/estudiodinzel.arg In Italy https://www.edizioniephemeria.it/prodotto/in-contatto-con-la-realta-di-angela-nicotra/ In Germany https://www.logos-verlag.de/cgi-bin/engbuchmid?isbn=3843&lng=deu&id The Curious Tanguero Newsletter for more tango tips: https://thecurioustanguero.com/ The book Tangofulness: https://tangofulness.com/ The book When the Embrace Whispers: https://whentheembracewhispers.com/

I went to the most transformative tango intensive I’ve ever attented, and I wanted to share with you my experience. I’ll discuss what happened there, some main tango tips that I received that gave me a deep insight into my tango and showed me how to continue improving and creating better dances for me and my partners. I hope this can do the same for you. The Curious Tanguero Newsletter: thecurioustanguero.com Tango Novel When the Embrace Whispers: whentheembracewhispers.com The Intensive: https://tangoretreats.com/saraivanimmersion/ Sara Grdan: https://www.facebook.com/curichak Ivan Terrazas: https://www.facebook.com/feraltango

Today we’ll discuss the order of learning things in tango. Let me be clear: I am not saying there is ONE correct way to learn tango and all the others are wrong. All I am saying is this: This way did miracles for me. It worked for me. So listen to it, take it with a pinch of salt, and forget about it if you think it’s not for you. When the Embrace Whispers: https://whentheembracewhispers.com/ The Curious Tanguero newsletter: https://thecurioustanguero.com/

Today we’ll discuss my tango life. Why would you care to listen about it, I have no idea. But I’ll do it either way. Tango Tips by the Maestros: https://tangotipsbythemaestros.com/ Tangofulness: https://tangofulness.com/ The Curious Tanguero newsletter: https://thecurioustanguero.com/ Tango Partner app: https://tangopartner.com/ How to dance more in milongas: https://thecurioustanguero.com/howtodancemoreinmilongas/ When the Embrace Whispers: https://whentheembracewhispers.com/

Today we’ll discuss the position of your hips in tango. I didn’t really become aware of my hips position till last year, and I still have much to learn and embody. Today, I’ll share with you a little funny event that let me understand my hips better. When the Embrace Whispers: https://whentheembracewhispers.com/ The Curious Tanguero newsletter: https://thecurioustanguero.com/

Today I’ll share with you the third part of the interview I did with Sara Grdan and Ivan Terrazas, two wonderful tango teachers that I wish I had met earlier. If you haven’t heard the first two parts yet, I recommend looking for them in the list of episodes. In this third part of the interview we talked about how we, the students, as spectators, develop an ‘educated taste’ based on the performances we watch. We discussed the magical function of the thumb - spoiler alert: There is no magical function - and why do people leave tango? We also talked about one very important thing you need to observe about your teachers when they are in a milonga. Sara Grdan: https://www.facebook.com/curichak Ivan Terrazas: https://www.facebook.com/feraltango When the Embrace Whispers: https://whentheembracewhispers.com/ The Curious Tanguero newsletter: https://thecurioustanguero.com/

Today I’ll share with you the second part of the interview I did with Sara Grdan and Ivan Terrazas, two wonderful tango teachers that I wish I had met earlier. In this part of the interview we talked about the tango vocabulary. the words and phrases we use to explain and teach tango and their importance. Things like: Spiral, connection, dissociation, being grounded, just relax, use the floor. We discussed how tango boils down to two words. We then talked about the three questions a student should ask their teachers to make sure they understand every new information they try to teach them. It’s a brilliantly simple sequence of questions that you can use with any teacher. Then we discussed musicality. Sara and Ivan have a refreshingly different perspective about musicality than the usual, I loved this part. Finally, we touched upon improvisation and what it truly means. Sara Grdan: https://www.facebook.com/curichak Ivan Terrazas: https://www.facebook.com/feraltango When the Embrace Whispers: https://whentheembracewhispers.com/ The Curious Tanguero newsletter: https://thecurioustanguero.com/

Today I’ll share with you the first part of the interview I did with Sara Grdan and Ivan Terrazas, two wonderful tango teachers that I wish I had met earlier. After 14 years of learning tango, I can confidently say I have never met another couple that could explain to me with so much clarity what I need to do to improve and how to get there. I flew from Portugal to Croatia to have classes with them and they also helped me online. In this part of the interview we talked about the ugly truth of the plateaus that most dancers realise 5-6 years into their journey and the difference between dancing with conventions instead of the inherent language of the body. We talked about what neural mirroring and two monkeys crossing a river have to do with leading and following. We discussed expressions that confuse me such as free the free leg, resist more, resist less, and other funny phrases. We covered dancing in freedom instead of carrying the follower, and we touched upon the feeling of chemistry that we sometimes feel when dancing with another person and its origin. Really awesome stuff. And that was just the first part of the interview. Sara Grdan: https://www.facebook.com/curichak Ivan Terrazas: https://www.facebook.com/feraltango When the Embrace Whispers: https://whentheembracewhispers.com/ The Curious Tanguero newsletter: https://thecurioustanguero.com/

When the Embrace Whispers is a heartwarming novel about Sarah, a woman yearning for more beyond the ordinary. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she discovers tango, leading her into a world brimming with passion and self-discovery. The book is available in English on Amazon and will soon be available in German, Spanish and Italian. If you want to be notified when the book is available in other languages simply go here: https://forms.gle/vBmhQGZXsj7ATUH96 Main website: When the Embrace Whispers: https://whentheembracewhispers.com/

In about a month I am off to Workshop Milonga Sevilla. Here is why I am going there and what I like about it. If you join, come say hi! Links: Workshop Milonga Sevilla: https://www.workshopmilongasevilla.com/ Novel 'When the Embrace Whispers': https://whentheembracewhispers.com/ The Curious Tanguero newsletter: https://thecurioustanguero.com/

I often struggle with musicality. Using sounds to understand syncopa and marcato on 4 was helpful for me. I hope it's helpful for you too. You can find the Curious Tanguero Newsletter here: thecurioustanguero.com The novel 'When the Embrace Whispers' here: whentheembracewhispers.com And you can contact me for the Curious Tanguero Advanced newsletter here: [email protected]

This time, we'll get personal. Handle with care. Share for those who need it. For more tips, stories, reviews, join TheCuriousTanguero.com newsletter.

There is one position that, once I understood it, made my pivots, ochos, enrosques much easier. This is how to identify it. For more tips, stories and reviews, make sure to join TheCuriousTanguero.com newsletter

Just came back from the Lisbon Tango Marathon. This was my experience. For more tango stories, reviews, tips, join TheCuriousTanguero.com newsletter

Dancing the off beat can become easier if you embody the rythm. Here is how. For more, join TheCuriousTanguero.com newsletter

Perceived partner's responsiveness in tango Find Tangofulness: Exploring Connection Awareness and Meaning in tango in 11 languages on Amazon or on tangofulness.com Find Tango Tips by the Maestros on Amazon in English, Spanish and Italian. Join the Curious Tanguero for 3-to-5-minute long emails on improving and enjoying your tango.

Creating a tango that your partners find interesting. Find the Curious Tanguero Advanced newsletter here: https://thecurioustanguero.com/cta-podcast

Why Cabeceo? The effects of cabeceo on argentine tango and experience. Find Tangofulness: Exploring Connection Awareness and Meaning in tango in 11 languages on Amazon or on tangofulness.com Find Tango Tips by the Maestros on Amazon in English, Spanish and Italian. Join the Curious Tanguero for 3-to-5-minute long emails on improving and enjoying your tango.