Is the tango a ballroom or a latin dance?
The tango that we’re most familiar with in the western world is definitely a ballroom dance – and therefore known as ballroom tango. This is a western, sanitised version of the original dance from Argentina. However, as I mentioned, the dance did originate from latin america so in its purer, more original form, it is a latin dance. It is not formally classed as a latin dance in the same way as cha cha, samba, jive, paso doble and rumba are – these are standardised latin dances in the same way that tango, waltz, viennese waltz, foxtrot and quickstep are the standardised ballroom dances. However, other latin dances do exist – are not standardised and in their original latin forms are much looser and more raw than the westernised versions…these include salsa, bachata, merengue and yes, argentine tango. So it’s not a black and white answer but the tango you’re probably thinking of is the ballroom version.
