Tango In Gloucester

What should I wear?

For classes, wear something which is comfortable and which is loose enough for you to be able to move freely. Men usually dance in trousers and a loose shirt. Most ladies wear a dress, or skirt and blouse, some wear trousers. It is a matter of personal choice. Beware of too straight a skirt. To dance elegantly you need to be able to take long steps, and too straight a skirt will hamper you. People often dress in a similar fashion for Practicas.

When there is a Milonga (a more formal evening of dancing), people often dress up. Men usually wear smart casual, or even smart smart, while ladies often dress to impress. One usually sees some spectacular outfits, fishnet tights, and so on. However, that is not the case for classes and practicas. When you get the chance, though, you can take advantage of it.

Shoes

For both men and women, the most important point is to wear shoes with a sole which permits you to swivel (there's quite a lot of swivelling in Tango Argentino). That may involve a suede sole or a leather one. If you are not sure which to use, ask one of the improvers. If you want to get shoes specifically for dancing Tango, we can suggest local suppliers who can help. Whatever you do, don't try to dance in shoes with a patterned sole - they will stick you to the floor. Similarly, don't become fixated about shoes - we have known people who have been on a 'pilgrimage' to Buenos Aires and have come back with several pairs !

For ladies, we suggest a shoe with a slight heel for classes. They tend to put your foot in a good position for dancing (with your weight forward over the ball of your foot). When it comes to an evening's Milonga, you may well wish to wear something a bit more extravagant. In general, though, two-an-a-half or three-inch heels are probably as far as you would go and be comfortable with.

For men, a slight heel is an advantage, although some keener men go the whole hog and wear a Cuban heel. Again, we can offer advice on what might be right for you.