From Student to Dancer: Escaping the Tango Classroom

What’s it really like to live and dance tango in Buenos Aires?In this special episode, I talk with Lee Litas - a journalist, dancer, and now full-time resident of Buenos Aires- about her journey from tango tourist to tango local. After visiting 14 times, Lee made the leap to move permanently, and shares what changed when she stopped visiting and started living the dance from the inside.We talk about:– Why she chose to move during the pandemic– The myths foreigners have about tango culture in Buenos Aires– What it’s like to experience “too much tango”– The importance of etiquette, codes, and floorcraftWhether you’ve been dreaming of your first trip to BA or are just curious what it really means to live tango every day, this conversation will open your eyes to a deeper layer of the culture.Follow Lee in IG @litasintotemptation🎧 Want to go deeper than just steps and technique?Join me inside IMSO Tango School Online — my monthly program for dancers who want to connect with tango on a deeper level, through musicality, culture, and personal expression.– Try it free for 30 days: https://imsotango.com/online-school📌 Stay Connected & Learn More🌍 Website: imsotango.com📩 Email: [email protected]📸 Instagram: @imso_tango🎙 Listen to The Tango Banter: https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/DItT8LMWASb💃 Join the Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/sotangoworld🎶 Free Lesson – 5 Things Every Dancer Should Know About Tango Music:imsotango.namastream.com/product/83152💬 Have questions? Drop a comment or DM me anytime!

Are you still a student… or have you become a dancer?In this episode, I reflect on the long arc between learning tango and owning it - and why so many of us feel like we’re never quite ready.We talk about:- That feeling of not being good enough… even after years of classes.- The temptation to stay in “practice mode” - even at the milonga.- And the quiet shift that happens when you finally let go of trying to be perfect… and start dancing for real.This isn’t about technique drills or tips.It’s a meditation on self-perception, permission, and the moment you realize the only diploma that matters is the one you give yourself.If you’ve ever caught yourself working instead of dancing…Or hesitated to go to a festival because you thought you weren’t ready…This conversation is for you.🎧 Want support as you find your voice in the dance?Join me inside IMSO Tango School Online - my monthly program for dancers who want to explore musicality, presence, and the emotional artistry of tango.- Try it free for 30 days: https://imsotango.com/online-school📌 Stay Connected & Learn More🌍 Website: imsotango.com📩 Email: [email protected]📸 Instagram: @imso_tango🎙 Listen to The Tango Banter: https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/DItT8LMWASb💃 Join the Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/sotangoworld🎶 Free Lesson – 5 Things Every Dancer Should Know About Tango Music:imsotango.namastream.com/product/83152💬 Have questions? Drop a comment or DM me anytime!Photo courtesty of @louistangophotoMusic courtesy of La Santa Calavera Orchestra

Tango feels different depending on where you are - but is it the dance that changes, or is it us?In this episode, I reflect on what it was like to dance in Japan, and the questions it stirred up:What shapes a community’s embrace? How much do our cultural backgrounds shape the way we connect? And what happens when we stop seeing difference as wrong - and start seeing it as human?This isn’t a lesson in technique.It’s a reflection on culture, perception, and what we miss when we assume there's only one right way to dance.If you’ve ever walked into a milonga and felt slightly out of sync - or sensed a subtle shift in connection when dancing abroad - this conversation might feel familiar.🎧 Want to keep exploring these deeper layers of tango?You can join me inside IMSO Tango School Online - my monthly program where we dive into musicality, connection, and the art of dancing from the inside out.You can try it free for 30 days here - https://imsotango.com/online-school📌 Stay Connected & Learn More🌍 Website: http://imsotango.com📩 Email: [email protected]📸 Instagram: @‌imso_tangoJoin my Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sotangoworld💬 Have questions? Drop a comment below or DM me on Instagram!🎶 Free Lesson: 5 Things every dancer should know about tango music: https://imsotango.namastream.com/product/83152

Tango can bring up all kinds of doubts—the kind you don’t always say out loud.In this episode, I reflect on three mindset shifts that helped me move through quiet insecurity: the pressure to look a certain way, the myth that leaders always know more, and the moment musicality stopped being abstract and started feeling real in my body.This isn’t a how-to. It’s a reflection on what it means to feel behind, and how we begin to come back to ourselves.If you’ve ever questioned your place in tango - or wondered if you’re doing it “right” - this one’s for you.🔗 Want to keep exploring musicality, phrasing, and expression? Join my online program - first month’s free → https://imsotango.com/online-school🗣️ What’s one mindset shift that changed your dancing? Message me @‌imsotango or reply in the comments below.📌 Stay Connected & Learn More🌍 Website: http://imsotango.com📩 Email: [email protected]📸 Instagram: @‌imso_tangoJoin my Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sotangoworld💬 Have questions? Drop a comment below or DM me on Instagram!🎶 Free Lesson: 5 Things every dancer should know about tango music: https://imsotango.namastream.com/product/83152

Some dynamics in tango are so normalized, we stop seeing them - until something shakes us awake.This episode explores the unspoken power structures that shape our community: who gets centered, who stays silent, and why certain behaviors are tolerated for so long. It’s not about one incident. It’s about a pattern. One we’ve all participated in, whether we meant to or not.Through reflection and shared experiences, I look at the deeper questions behind the discomfort: How does power move in a tango space? What do we risk when we speak up? And what does real cultural change ask of us?This conversation isn’t easy - but it’s necessary if we want tango to be more than just beautiful on the surface.Tango is more than steps. It’s a reflection of who we are - and how we show up for each other on the dance floor.If you’re ready to explore the deeper layers of musicality, connection, and technique, try IMSO Tango School Online.🎓 Get your first 30 days free → https://imsotango.com/online-school📌 Stay Connected & Learn More🌍 Website: http://imsotango.com📩 Email: [email protected]📸 Instagram: @‌imso_tangoJoin my Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sotangoworld💬 Have questions? Drop a comment below or DM me on Instagram!🎶 Free Lesson: 5 Things every dancer should know about tango music: https://imsotango.namastream.com/product/83152

Tango has a reputation for being beautiful. But is it also… unwelcoming?In this episode, I look at what makes tango feel intimidating to newcomers - and what seasoned dancers can do to change that. No shaming, no blaming - just a clear-eyed look at how culture is created, and how each of us can help shape a more generous, open, and truly social dance floor.Because belonging doesn’t happen by accident. It happens by design.💬 Have thoughts or stories to share? Drop them in the comments or DM me @‌imso_tango.Want to go deeper in your tango?IMSO Tango School Online helps you build confidence, expressiveness, and musical clarity on the dance floor. First month is free → https://imsotango.com/online-school📩 Join the community & learn more:🌍 Website: http://imsotango.com📸 Instagram: @‌imso_tango💬 Questions? DM me on Instagram or drop a comment below.🎶 Free Lesson – 5 Things Every Dancer Should Know About Tango Music: https://imsotango.namastream.com/product/83152👥 Join the FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sotangoworld

What makes a dancer stand out at the milonga? It’s not just the moves. It’s not just the music. It’s something deeper.In this episode, I unpack the quiet, often unspoken reasons why dancers choose certain partners over others—from posture and floorcraft to musicality, energy, and presence.If you’ve ever wondered, “What are they seeing that I’m not?” or “What are people looking for when they watch me dance?”—this episode is for you.Whether you're newer to tango or have been dancing for years, this conversation will help you reframe how you see the dance floor… and how you show up on it.→ Chicago event info click here: https://imsotango.com/events Want to feel more confident, expressive, and musical in your own dancing?That’s exactly what I help dancers do inside IMSO Tango School Online.🎓 Try it free for 30 days → https://imsotango.com/online-school💬 Stay Connected & Keep Exploring🌍 Website → http://imsotango.com📸 Instagram → @‌imso_tango💌 Email → [email protected]🎶 Free Lesson → 5 Things Every Dancer Should Know About Tango Music: https://imsotango.namastream.com/product/83152💬 Join the community → SoTango World Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sotangoworld

This episode originally aired in October 2024, but I’m bringing it back because it sparked some of the most heartfelt messages I've ever received.In this episode, I unpack the elusive, euphoric experience dancers often call the tango high. From nervous system chemistry to spiritual flow states, I reflect on what happens inside us when the dance clicks—and why we sometimes wait for it instead of learning how to bring it.Whether you’ve felt that magic or are still chasing it, this conversation will help you reframe what connection truly is—and what it means to offer it, not just receive it.Want to feel more confident, expressive, and musical in your own dancing?That’s exactly what I help dancers do inside IMSO Tango School Online.🎓 Try it free for 30 days → https://imsotango.com/online-school💬 Stay Connected & Keep Exploring🌍 Website → http://imsotango.com📸 Instagram → @‌imso_tango💌 Email → [email protected]🎶 Free Lesson → 5 Things Every Dancer Should Know About Tango Music: https://imsotango.namastream.com/product/83152💬 Join the community → SoTango World Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sotangoworld

This episode originally aired as Season 2 #17, and it’s one I still get messages about. So today, we're bringing it back.If you’ve ever been told to “just feel the music,” but no one explained how—this one’s for you. I break down the essential building blocks of tango music and how they translate into better dances, deeper connection, and more musical movement.Whether you’re a leader or follower, musicality is the difference between just getting through the song… and actually dancing it.Join my upcoming LIVE in my FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sotangoworld🎶 Embellishment workshop May 27th - IMSO Tango School Online - join FREE for 30 days: https://imsotango.com/online-schoolThe BIG 4 orchestras: Di Sarli, D'Arienzo, Pugliese, TroiloThe BIG 4 of Tango Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7j75hs8BtxmAPTKWfAG0Zy?si=5jjiyNywRc-WGt-2CTpFPQ&pi=m0YmOEtoTJSmeTango Orchestra Sampler Spotify Playlist:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1fO8xlPHvZv7I2Wk0zA0OK?si=yIL0eNUKT9SxdLLFOqnx-g&pi=VU-2oCF1RDqrz📌 Stay Connected & Learn More🌍 Website: http://imsotango.com📩 Email: [email protected]📸 Instagram: @‌imso_tango💬 Have questions? Drop a comment below or DM me on Instagram!🎶 Free Lesson: 5 Things every dancer should know about tango music: https://imsotango.namastream.com/product/83152

Politics and tango might seem like separate worlds—but are they really?In this final episode of the season, I’m diving into the messy, often uncomfortable reality of how political views—whether personal, community-based, or global—can shape who we dance with, who we avoid, and how we feel at the milonga. From awkward cabeceos to full-on community rifts, politics shows up in tango whether we like it or not.This is one of the spiciest episodes I’ve recorded yet, and I hope it sparks reflection—whether you agree, disagree, or find yourself somewhere in the middle.Tango music can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to. IMSO Tango School Online helps you break down the music, understand phrasing, and make clear, musical choices in your dance—without overthinking.🎓 Try it free for 30 days—see if it’s right for you → https://imsotango.com/online-school📌 Stay Connected & Learn More🌍 Website: http://imsotango.com📩 Email: [email protected]📸 Instagram: @‌imso_tangoJoin my Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sotangoworld💬 Have questions? Drop a comment below or DM me on Instagram!🎶 Free Lesson: 5 Things every dancer should know about tango music: https://imsotango.namastream.com/product/83152