Hi, I'm new to the boards, but have been watching the instructional videos for a year now. I took a latin dance class in college, and now that I'm in grad school, I want to continue learning the Argentine Tango. The problem is, when you're a poor grad student, you don't have the money to spend on continuous lessons.

So, that said, would anyone know of a good instructional DVD for Argentine Tango? I didn't see one specifically for the Argentine style on this website, and Amazon seems to only carry DVDs with poor reviews. I'm looking for enough instruction that I can hold my own at a dance hall for a couple of years (until I'm able to pay for lessons).

Thank you!

Where are you located? In Phoenix there is a wonderful group with a total cost of $5 for a decent lesson. To be honest best teachers of Tango in town and I've been around the Tango Community. Chances are there is a group near you with similar costs.

Be careful with the DVD's. Many show only the old style of Argentine and will confuse you when you get on the floor. In the early ninties there was a major shift in ideologies and only the really old men dance what most of the videos show. Your reviews won't tell you that because if you are watching the videos to learn tango you aren't a well versed disciple.

Also Argentine is really an improvised dance. Be careful learning choreography because you are going to get thrown off the first time the woman leans in and embellishes her way into an entirely different step. That is part of why there aren't a lot of DVDs. It's really a dance that needs real live personal practice to truly understand and dance.

My favorite dance...I went to Argentina to really learn it. Now I dance as often as possible and can't get enough of it.

Taking a group class is a small investment and I really understand about being a grad student. I've been there...done that and skipped meals to survive but if you want to dance Argentine find a group not a DVD. It's one of the few places I would say a group is more effective than individual lessons.

3 Videos that I like and use are:

Un Tal Gavito Volume #1

The Technique of Pulpo (VHS)

Pulpo Tango week (2005?) The workshop Recap (Rare)

I've not watched them myself but dancevision.com has several Argentine DVDs for sale. I think you can preview some clips online. No idea if they only show "old man steps".

Hi guys/gals

I would also like to learn the A/T. But am told there are various different types of A/T. So my question is : which type of A/T should I start with? So also with the purchase of DVDs.
Thanks

SL

Take a look on You Tube at 'Dario's Tango Guide'. His material is based on the variations that flow from the 'Basic Eight' (a teaching style which is anathema to some), but is an entirely free resource, and full of ideas.

You Tube has lots of AT material. Look out for Oscar Casas. The sound quality is often dreadful, and he speaks English with a heavy accent, but what he says is well worth the effort.

As AT is a quite intense form of communication between two dancers, you do need a partner to practice with. There is nothing better than having an experienced dancer show you what you are doing right and wrong.

That said, the Dancevision DVDs are done by George Garcia and Christie Cote, they do build up to a resonably competent "social" AT which will be useful all over the US and they do go into a bit of detail about leading and following.

If you go to a class, you will learn to dance in the style of the class. It has been said elsewhere here that a lot of AT leaders need to consult a proctologist before they can find their head in the morning! You would be told off for using DVDs and youtube, but at least you will learn to dance in the class style and be able to try different partners (which is some of the fun and frustration of AT). If the class has regular practicas where you can practice and practice, it would be a bonus.

Dont worry about styles, but avoid the fancy show tango, AT is not really a dance for showing off. After a few years you can choose the style you want to dance in and throw away almost everything you have learned up to then!

A big hint is if you can chat to your partner whilst doing AT, you are not doing AT! You need all your concentration to do this type of dance.