Been There/Done That

Tango Lessons

by Megan M. Erwin

The tango may have originated in Argentina, but the style taught here is decidedly American. As such, my boyfriend wore his cowboy boots to our first lesson.

We practiced the corte (a sort of lunge), two promenades and even learned a spin, complete with toe flick. The fundamentals behind the dance's basic move are best executed while uttering an enunciated "tan-go-step" to keep rhythm; the stiff-armed posture, head tilt and closeness of torsos builds a nice sort of sexual tension. All the while, we attempted to master the "look" of the tango: You're supposed to appear as if you want to jump your partner by song's close.

At the end of the class, no faking was necessary. "It's basic, and kind of primal," says instructor Barbara Conforti, a competitive ballroom dancer and Broadway veteran. "It's the sexiness that keeps people coming back." Every Thursday, the studio holds an informal dance party where students from all classes can practice steps and have a nosh. Alas, we had to run home to attend to more ... urgent matters.

Classes run weekly, $80 per person for four lessons, Society Hill Dance Academy, 409 S. Second St., 215-574-3574, www.societyhilldance.com