I've heard different things about the man's left knee (women's right) when in PP in tango. I suppose it may matter in the other smooth/standard dances, but i specifically care about tango, because this is where i notice it / think it's most important. i've heard that the knee faces INWARDS (man's right), which is weird since you are going towards the left side, but I heard that you do it anyways.

another teacher told me when i asked this that it actually faces out in the direction you are going (i'm talking like closed promenade in Int Tango) so it faces OUTWARD towards the left

what's the true answer, or is it a styling thing

If you place your left foot correctly (inside edge of ball or toe, heel raised) then your left knee will "face" the right direction.

There are other considerations, of course, such as the proximity of your left knee to your partner's right.

Your teacher should be able to demonstrate the proper placement for you.

jj

Thanks for putting me through...I'm new in this kind of dance but i just have to give it a deep taste lol

The knee " veer " in tango, is a technical aspect that is created by the "thighs" , IF the legs are braced correctly,and feet placed in the correct alignment, body shaped to a right side lead ( altho it is danced from the left ) then in conjunction with these aspects, a gradual turn to the left in a fwd walk should eliminate the tendency to " swing " the legs in to position.
And yes, the feet do turn outwards slightly at commencement .

The common usage of refering the leg shape to " wineglass " exemplifies their appearance and is part of the character of the dance .

The basic concepts of Tango ( Intern.style ) should be taught by a competant prof. ( it has many pitfalls )..

An understanding of why is the Tango so.
Way back in time the Tango was danced in market places, as was Flamenco.
A group of spectators will naturaly form a circle, never a square or an oblong. Accordingly the steps had to be circular. The surface danced on was usually a dirt surface. This is why the feet was lifted. If you wished your steps to go circular what better way is there than to veer your knee inwards and to use the inside and outside of the feet
If anybody saw the Robert Duvall movie Assasination Tango will remember Robert practising his Walks in the street after coming out of an Argentine Tango Club. Knees touching.I hope this helps you Tango lovers.

You'll be telling us, next, that Tango was danced in Argentina by the Gauchos, still stinking of horse sweat, to seek the company of ladies of the night.

Stereotypically, a cowboy would be bow-legged from riding horseback.

Telemark. " Originally the Tango was
( and still is ) a light spirited Flamenco dance from Spain. With the Spanish conquest of much of South America, this Tango together with other Spanish folk dances naturally emigrated with settlers from Spain ".
One thing is for certain. It was danced in a restricted area, like a saloon in the Argentine and by Gauchos. Lets not forget also that Flamenco was danced even in Roman times in Spain. If Flamenco is a forerunner of Tango. It was also probably danced there .

I must remember, next time I'm on the dance floor, that I'm dancing Flamenco. It's easy to overlook.

All dance forms have some root in folk dance, but most are so far removed from them, that the reference is irrelevant. Tango is certainly one: and in anything like its modern form (last 120 years, at least) it is uniquely (among other forms) an URBAN dance. The myth that gauchos danced it is widespread, but almost wholly wrong. They danced other folk-derived forms, including, of course, milonga - the original and authentic milonga, that has really very litle to do with the dance of that form we enjoy today.