Tango: The Structure of the Dance Paperback – April 1, 2005

Tango is usually taught using a series of well-known patterns -- students might recognize ideas such as the "eight-count basic," "back ochos," or the "ocho cortado." Dancers usually learn to dance by learning these sequences, then assembling and inventing little variations.Late in the 20th century, several tango dancers (the author among them) discovered that there is a far more basic structure underlying all these sequences. Every known sequence -- almost every possible sequence, in fact, can be described in terms of just three basic kinds of step combined in different ways. This is a surprisingly but incredibly powerful revelation: it is as if you've been learning a language from a phrasebook, and all of a sudden somebody introduces you to the grammar. You've only learned whole melodies, and somebody teaches you to name the notes. It opens up an entire world of possibilities for invention, improvisation, and personal expression.Some people are bewildered by this. They need prearranged sequences, things that they can memorize and repeat. If you find the idea of improvisation threatening instead of exciting, skip this book, and keep learning your sequences.If, however, you are a creative person, and you feel that there are many things you *could* do with the dance -- if only you could figure out the possibilities! -- then get this book. The whole thing is good, but what you really want is the first 15 or 20 of the "Theory" section. That's the heart of the book, and it will change your tango world.Complaints: (1) As with "Tango Awareness," the editing is poor, and there are some conspicuous typos. Hopefully a new edition will fix this. (2) Much of the book is really just exercises working out many possible combinations of the same things for you to practice. While working through all those combinations is good -- essential, in fact! -- that material is quite tedious in a book, and probably better presented in video or audio form. I don't own the CD ROM, but it might be a better buy.Regardless, get this book -- and if nothing else, read the first part of "Theory" carefully, word by word, until you understand it thoroughly. Your effort will be rewarded many, many times over.

I'm very pleased with this book.

The CD ROM is an outdated technology.

I had 3 years of serious tango experience when I ordered this book. At first I was puzzled and didn't understand what mr. Castro was telling that I not allready knew. I thought the diagrams were funny and confusing. Then I saw mr. Castro teach and walk and vary on the 'basico' and walk and walk... and everything became clear to me. It gave me a complete new outlook on what I had learned and what I still want to learn. The book is not only a good help in learning the first steps, it is especially a good help to lift you up to a higher level, where variation and improvisation are more important than the movements. I understand a CD-Rom is in the making, I can't wait!

Mauricio's handbook is both a great starter book for those looking to get into the tango scene, and a great refresher for those who have had some tango classes. It introduces the basic steps that you will need to know in order to get any further in this line of dance. The instructions are very easy to understand and the pictures are very helpful. If you would like to learn some of the moves (and feel comfortable doing them) before you take a class with a live instructor, this book is what you need.

The inconsistency of this book is amazing. It opposes any serious book written about the Argentine tango that I have encounter. I have found that in the introduction tango is presented as a free dance, and after that it comes chapter after chapter with non sense phrases.

It's a very good book. Through its pages you can learn the more modern concepts not only about argentine tango but also the most innovative dance techniques. The author break all the learning and teaching dance rules.

If you're already into tango dancing but don't have the opportunity to do it very often, you may forget some of the basics. In this case, the book could help you out by being a quick refresher course. This book is definitely a good investment if you're interested in tango