Tango

What Is Tango?

Tango originated in the working-class neighbourhoods of Buenos Aires and Montevideo in the late nineteenth century, blending influences from African candombe, European polka and Cuban habanera into a uniquely expressive partner dance. By around 1915 it had already become a social sensation across Europe.

This guide covers ballroom (International Standard) tango, one of the five dances in the competitive Standard syllabus alongside waltz, foxtrot and quickstep. If you're looking for the original Argentine social dance — the close-embrace, improvised style that most standalone "tango schools" in London actually teach — see our dedicated Argentine Tango guide.

The style split in two directions from there. Argentine tango kept its close embrace, improvised walking and subtle lead-follow connection. Ballroom tango was codified in the 1930s by English dance teachers (with German input) into a fixed, counted technique for competition — a back-leaning frame, staccato "Slow-Slow-Quick-Quick-Slow" timing and sharp head movements that give it a very different character from its Argentine parent.

In practice, this means most schools in London that call themselves a "tango school" teach the Argentine style — it's ballroom academies, not dedicated tango studios, that teach this competitive ballroom version, folding it into their standard syllabus alongside waltz, foxtrot and quickstep.

Tango vs Argentine Tango

Ballroom tango and Argentine tango share a common root in 1880s Buenos Aires, but a 1930s codification for European competition split them into two genuinely different dances — and in London, they are almost always taught at different types of school.

Benefits of Tango

Who Is Tango Suitable For?

Learning Tango in London

London has a rich tango scene overall, but it is worth understanding how it is organised: dedicated tango schools and the milongas (tango social dance events) running weekly across the city almost all teach the Argentine style. Ballroom tango, by contrast, lives inside general ballroom academies, taught as part of the standard competitive syllabus set out by bodies such as the ISTD — whose Ballroom Branch, founded in London in 1904, still governs the technique used today.

Flow Dance Nine Elms teaches tango explicitly as one of the five dances in "the standardised syllabus for International Ballroom", alongside instructors with national and international competition titles. At Zoltan's Ballroom and Latin Dancing Lessons, founder Zoltan Szalontay — a graduate of the Hungarian Dance Academy with three World and European formation-team medals — teaches tango within a full Standard and Latin programme. Arthur Murray Dance Studios, part of a franchise dating back to 1912, describes its tango classes as capturing "the dramatic strength and romance" of the partnership, and Dancebuzz teaches tango alongside waltz and cha-cha within its social ballroom programme.

Ballroom tango classes in London are usually taught within a general Standard ballroom programme rather than as a standalone class — most schools introduce it once students have some grounding in waltz or foxtrot.

Classes progress from basic frame, walk and the staccato timing pattern through to the full figures used in Bronze, Silver and Gold syllabus levels.

Tango FAQ

• What's the difference between ballroom tango and Argentine tango? +
  Ballroom tango is a formal, counted competition dance taught inside a Standard ballroom syllabus, with a fixed frame and set steps. Argentine tango is the original, improvised social dance, danced in a close embrace at milongas. See our Argentine Tango guide for the full comparison.
• Is the tango taught at London ballroom academies Argentine or ballroom style? +
  It's ballroom (International Standard) tango — the competitive version with fixed steps and timing. If you specifically want the Argentine style, look for a dedicated tango school or milonga rather than a general ballroom academy.
• Is tango an official ballroom dance? +
  Yes — it's one of the five dances in the International Standard programme, alongside waltz, foxtrot, quickstep and Viennese waltz.
• Where can I learn ballroom tango (not Argentine tango) in London? +
  General ballroom and Latin academies teach it as part of their Standard syllabus — it's usually introduced once you have some grounding in waltz or foxtrot, rather than taught as a first, standalone class.
• Is ballroom tango difficult for beginners? +
  The staccato timing and dramatic frame take some getting used to, but it's taught progressively within a beginner ballroom programme — most schools introduce it after a few basic dances rather than as your very first lesson.
• What other dances are usually taught alongside tango in a ballroom class? +
  Tango sits within the Standard programme alongside waltz, foxtrot, quickstep and Viennese waltz — most schools teach all five as a set, progressive syllabus.
• Do I need a partner for ballroom tango classes? +
  Not for most group classes — many ballroom schools welcome singles and rotate partners during the lesson, though private lessons typically expect you to bring your own partner.
• How long does it take to learn the basics of ballroom tango? +
  Most students pick up the basic frame and timing within a handful of lessons once they already have some grounding in another standard dance like waltz; building full syllabus figures takes ongoing, regular practice.