Is it acceptable for “real men” to dance? And further more, is it acceptable for two “real men” to dance with each other? Most of us would probably say no. But that is because most of us don’t dance Argentine Tango!
Argentine Tango is a dance that is completely free and open to interpretation. There are no set step patterns, no right, or wrong way to hear the music, no restrictions on how close together, or far apart you are with your partner. So it comes as no surprise that it is also totally normal (read “socially acceptable”) for two men to dance it together.
Contrary to the common belief that Argentine Tango is a dance about the relationship between a man and a woman, most Tango dancers will say that it is a dance about whatever you feel, or wish to show. Of course, it can be about a man and a woman, but it does not have to be, and often is not.
Tango can be playful, flirtatious, funny, serious, silly, moody… While it can be challenging for some people to learn to express themselves with dancing (think, for example, of learning to act sensuous in front of other people in the Rumba), Tango does not present this challenge. If you show up for your Tango lesson, and all you can think of is your hectic work day, then simply dance a ‘hectic’ Tango, and you will be totally right! The trick with Argentine Tango is to dance what you feel, because if you simply dance steps, you may as well sit down!