At the beginning of this new dance, a little orchestra tried to accommodate, please and help people to move
with the music. Two or three musicians should have been very skilled and fast to improvise, and their
improvisation was dictated by what a dancer did with the legs. This is why tango music is changing all the
time.  It is a life story in sounds. Unfortunately, this first Tango music was not written down, but there might
have been some masterpieces. Later the record companies brought some echoes from the original versions
of that music to our days.
Tango never ends, nor does the process of learning it. It does not matter whether you are a teacher or an
advanced dancer, you just go from one level to another. We think that our private lessons are the most
effective approach to fast progress in Tango-life, because we use a very particular way of teaching
communication. Also we feel that some special people with fire in their hearts, with dreams in their eyes, with
love for this life, will always learn tango faster.
Tango is like traveling: the more you know about it, the more it opens to you that you are at the beginning of
your road.  Moreover, dancing tango is like writing a book: nobody can hide his or her personality while
doing it.  When we read something, we see the vocabulary and usage of the words, the style and structure of
the paragraphs.  
We see the author behind the description of the subject.
The same happens in tango.
There are many different styles in tango, different teaching techniques.
When a teacher has some good knowledge and clear understanding of Tango history, development, and
Tango techniques, such teacher would have very pleasant and clearly structured lessons.
As some would say in ancient times, with clear thinking comes clear teaching.
Whatever we do in our lessons or shows is for the joy and pleasure of all.  Sometimes, with apologies to
Shakespeare, I would say: Tango is life, life is a theater.
Tango is a theater of your life.
We like to tell some jokes during the lessons and watch people laughing and enjoying themselves. This is the
best reward for a good teacher.
Since tango is a relationship therapist, we like to teach couples with established communication, and help
them to improve it.
When couples are learning, practicing and dancing tango together they have a way to a better, longer, and
more beautiful life!  
We would say to them: Tango is just a walk with LOVE in your heart.
It means that a leader needs at all times during the dance to think about the comfort of his lady.
But it is a two-sided coin: a lady needs to listen to the energy/ impulse that he sends (as a part of his lead) to
her.   
I liked the article very much. You are very
spiritual about tango. Peggy Stamon,
"Tango Talk"
Hi Elena! We are Chinese. But I loved to listen and dance Tango since I
was 10. You again re - open for me a new world of tango.  How could we
become the members of Tango Caminito Company? Alan and I like how
you are teaching. Your instructions are very clear and easy for us to
learn! We appreciate you. Thanks for your excellent teaching technique.
Alice &Alan Chau, Orange County, CA."
Tango was born at the end of 19th century in Buenos Aires and Montevideo
from combinations of many dance elements of different cultures. At that time
many men from all over the world came to Argentina looking for work and
new opportunities.
Since women danced with many different men without set patterns (like we have now) they were led by
watching the chest of their partner.
Women were looking over the man left shoulder giving him a signal if somebody was approaching from
behind. This still is the etiquette of milonga! All men were looking for consolation, comfort, and excitement,
for a woman. There were not enough available women, some were pricey and spoiled. Men practiced with
each other some moves from their national dances in order to improve their skills. For example, Europeans
brought from fencing the most common movements in tango: corte and parada. These 2 positions every
Tanguero still needs to recognize in many steps because they are crucial for authentic expression. Only much
later the dance took a specific form and became more elegant.
Tango became more acceptable to the middle class, and men could take their own wives to dance on
Wednesdays at a dance hall.
One of our student at San Diego Champion Ballroom Academy, Edy Lange,
who began to learn to dance in Vienna in the forties wrote to me:

"Elena, you are teaching with such joy and enthusiasm! It is a joy to be
in your class. I am telling you that because I see also that you both are
tremendous business people. I love your way of teaching that is why I
come. Thank you."
Men (p o r t e n o s) would work hard at the docks on the Rio de la Plata, save some money, and then go
to a dance hall or brothel to buy some time or a dance with a woman.
For some men at that time two minutes of a dance could cost a fortune.
They practiced together (men with men) in order to get better.
They were strong, adventurous and courageous people; and some of them were  criminals escaping from
justice in their homelands.
At the beginning Tango was a communication for people experiencing the lonely life of immigrants. It still is a
way of silent dance communication.
People come to learn tango for many different reasons.
Most of them are motivated by the incredible images from some tango movies, by the beauty of the music,
or by an atmosphere of romance and nostalgia.
We think that the passion for Tango is the hidden, unconscious desire for eternity.
SOME special people, who feel the music and deeply understand the powerful presents of this life, will learn
and dance tango.
Tango is like making love: a man is never in a hurry!  
He leads, then waits for a woman to finish her move, and then he leads her to other things again.
If people listen to each other during the dance, they will learn more about each other.
Ladies (even some who like to control) are looking for a confident man, for a leader.
They do not like men who doubt, either in life or in tango.
If the gentleman understands where he is going, if he is not confused with his own decisions, ladies would
enjoy dancing with him.
This dance was around a woman and for her.
It was expensive, and it was a challenge.
Competition between the men often led to fights. While dancing, they held their woman tight with the right
arm, protecting her.
The left arm was always available for handling a knife.
This left arm was not important for the dance, and a woman never relied on it.