Argentine Tango Demonstrations: our favourites

Argentine Tango Demonstrations

While New Zealanders can see some world-class tango each year at the annual tango festivals and congresses, some of us just don't want to wait that long. Below are a selection of our favourite tango demos to keep you inspired until the next festival rolls around. You may not be able to view them if do not have Javascript enabled or if you do not have latest version of Flash. A link to YouTube is given below each video.

(This started off being an introduction to the big names in tango, but distractions are causing slow progress... let us know if you want to do some research for us.)

Stephan's favourites

Stephan loves energetic and playful dancers, but also enjoys watching the more understated and fluid dancers as well. What matters most is the musical interpretation.

Aoniken Quiroga and Luna Palacios (tango)
Thierry Le Cocq and Delphine Blanco (milonga)
Javier Rodrigues and Geraldin Rojas (milonga)
Detlev Engel and Melina Sedo (milonga)
Julio Balmaceda and Corina de la Rosa (vals)

Aoniken Quiroga and Luna Palacios

So you think tango is boring? This video will bring a smile to your face. It's not only proof that tango comes in all shapes and sizes but also shows how much fun you can have playing with the music. Aoniken's energy is simply infectious.

Aoniken Quiroga and Luna Palacios dancing to the tango Pensalo Bien.

Thierry Le Cocq and Delphine Blanco

Thierry Le Cocq is amazing. His milonga is raw and powerful yet technically refined. He is like a steamroller on the dance floor and I mean this in the best possible way: always into the floor, completely connected with his partner and the music—solid yet so agile. For me one of the best milonga dancers out there.

Thierry Le Cocq and Delphine Blanco dancing to the milonga No Hay Tierra Como La Mía.

Javier Rodrigues and Geraldin Rojas

Javier Rodriguez is the David Beckham of tango professionals: apart from being very good at what he does, he sees himself as a bit of a style icon, sporting different haircuts and interesting outfits on a regular basis. What I like about his dancing is his elegant posture and embrace and his minimalist approach. There are no unnecessary steps, instead every single step fits perfectly with the music.

Javier Rodrigues and Geraldin Rojas dancing to the milonga Reliquias Porteñas.

Detlev Engel and Melina Sedo

"Tango is walking in an embrace"—this couple from Germany, Detlev Engel and Melina Sedo are doing just that but they do it beautifully. Even more minimalist than Javier Rodriguez, they focus completely on the "cadence" with the music and moving as one. This is salon tango at its finest which you could actually dance at a milonga. It looks deceptively easy but let me assure you, it takes many years of hard work.

Detlev Engel and Melina Sedo dancing to the milonga Ella Es Así.

Julio Balmaceda and Corina de la Rosa

Finally a vals video featuring the "king of the vals", Julio Balmaceda. His fluidity is just amazing. Vals is all about the flow and the lightness of the music, which Balmaceda translates so beautifully into his dancing without ever looking disconnected from the floor.

Julio Balmaceda and Corina de la Rosa dancing to the vals Bajo un Cielo de Estrellas.

Argentine Tango Demonstrations

Stephan's favourites

Sarah's favourites

Isabel's favourites

Recommended by others