Tango myths debunked​

 Argentine tango is one of the most beautiful, elegant, and sensual dances of modern times.
It is also the dance around which there are most myths and stereotypes. Let's debunk the most common ones!
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TANGO IS A DANCE BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN

Of course it can be, but not necessarily. 

On modern dance floors we see men dancing with men, women with women and any other possible combination!
Tango is a dialogue between two people in an embrace, independently from gender, religion, nationality.
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On modern dance floors we see men dancing with men, women with women and any other possible combination!
Tango is a dialogue between two people in an embrace, independently from gender, religion, nationality.
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THE LEADER LEADS, AND THE FOLLOWER FOLLOWS IN A RIGID POSTURE

There is an idea still circulating about tango (unfortunately among some dancers as well) that followers/women must be loyal followers, who can just dance by letting their partner lead and that the firmer the man's/leader's lead is, the better a dancer he is. 
We must understand that modern tango, and the tango we love, is one of the few styles that proposes real partner dancing. It is a dialogue, a 50/50 sharing experience, much more complex than just "leading and following".
​ It is a dance that is co-created moment by moment, in the full presence of both partners. Followers can propose and suggest as well - a lot! To achieve this co-creation, the tango position (the embrace) needs to be very flexible, sensitive and attentive to the micro changes happening in the dance. Tension and stiffness take away the pleasure of the dance and the sensitivity that is necessary to make our dance an unforgettable experience for both participants.
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YOU NEED TO BE AN ATHLETE TO DANCE TANGO

This is perhaps the most toxic of myths revolving around tango.
While choreographic and stage tango (called "tango escenerario, a tango style created to impress audiences), 

many times requires to be fit, the original tango is a popular dance, born in the poor neighborhoods of Buenos Aires. Modern tango for the dance floor, which is danced all over the world by millions of people, does require a minimum level of body control to start with, but not athleticism.
If your body control is not optimal, tango can become a fantastic training to make it better.

many times requires to be fit, the original tango is a popular dance, born in the poor neighborhoods of Buenos Aires. Modern tango for the dance floor, which is danced all over the world by millions of people, does require a minimum level of body control to start with, but not athleticism.
If your body control is not optimal, tango can become a fantastic training to make it better.

TANGO IS DANCED WITH A ROSE IN THE MOUTH

This is perhaps the funniest one ;)
The idea of tango with a rose in the mouth come from movies of the 1920' starrying Rudolph Valentino, as well as in the 1959 movie "Some like it hot". Although the dances portrayed were mostly flamenco, the power of Hollywood made sure that this stuck in our collective immagination until today.
So...sorry: nobody in tango dances with a rose in the mouth; people in Paris don't go around with baguettes in their hands,  and so on :)