Customer Reviews

Quickstart to Tango

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I became interested in Tango about 4 years ago after a visit to South America.When I returned home I went to a dance studio to begin lessons and to learn more of this fascinating dance. Two years ago my teacher recommended I get a copy of Quickstart To Tango and read it. "Do not read it like a dimestore novel, and do not look for footprints on the floor to follow - this book is more than that" he told me. And he was right! I appreciate the fact that Mr. Allen does not treat his audience like a kindergarten class - he assumes his reader is intelligent. And also when that reader buys a book - that reader must read it. If you are looking for a 'coffee table book' or a syllabus with charted figures, amounts of turn, specific foot placements of each partner, etc. then buy that type of book - there are alot of them out there. Quickstart To Tango contains exceptional explanation of the technique used in this dance - both American and Argentine. In fact the technique contained here is applicable to any dance. And the figure descriptions are quite accurate - but again you must be willing to read them! It is,as the cover states, a wonderful complement to dance lessons and I have used mine as such.But this book is also very helpful to beginners who have never taken a dance lesson. Quickstart To Tango is like the books we used in school - it is meant to be looked at more than once and, as you progress and learn more, the parts you re-read take on more meaning. I enjoyed the interesting historical background on the Tango, and was very entertained by the interview with the great Carlos Gavito. What a pleasure to read an informative book that I can continue to refer to and learn from. It was also a pleasant surprise to find that Mr.Allen is accessible by email happy to discuss Tango, answer questions, or provide help with anything he has written. Bravo, Mr. Allen and thank you.

Wow! Quickstart To Tango not only gives the beginner dancer an excellent understanding of the basics of Tango, but also provides some historical background of its origins and `lore'. Mr. Allen's explanation and presentation of both the American and Argentine style of Tango, is very thorough and detailed. As a dancer of both styles of Tango (and International Standard as well), I was pleasantly surprised at Mr. Allen's ability to present the American and Argentine styles as separate and unique, yet also point out where the two styles are the same. I really enjoyed the practice exercises that are included; they are not only fun but very helpful in gaining a firm grasp of the basic movements. Also the `common errors' and the solutions for them provides some excellent information for all dancers.. There is choreography included beyond the basics, which challenges the beginner and adds interest for those with some dance experience. Although this book is especially helpful to the beginner dancer, it contains some wonderful explanations of the proper dance technique in general. As a student of dance and competitor, I have found the information about technique in Quickstart To Tango to be very helpful in my lessons in all the dances! My instructor enjoyed this book as well and is even using some of Mr. Allen's physical analogies in his lessons and classes! Another big "plus" is the offer of online support to the reader. I decided to try it an e-mailed a question to the author - and he answered it the very next day! I am looking forward to book #3 of the Quickstart Series.

The Argentine Tango-dance is an esoteric dance based on quietness of mind and body contortion, linked by a full awareness of the here and NOW. After reviewing Jeff Allen's book, Quickstart To Tango, where he compares and explains different styles of tango around the world, and also establishes the components of what makes a good Argentine Tango, I said to myself, "This is a great start! At least someone has stopped talking and has started to write!" In Argentine Tango, we have a saying: "To progress quickly, you must close your mouth and move your legs."

In Argentine Tango, body action is based on contortion, the torque of the body, which gives rise to CBM (contra-body motion), as well as walks across the 3 lines which construct your axis, CBMP (contra body movement position). These factors have to be well understood, and Quickstart To Tango explains them very well. But these actions cannot happen without correct posture, poise, frame, and contra-frame, which are also described in an impressive manner in the book.

Change of weight has nothing to do with just walking. That is the essence of Salon-style Tango, which has nothing to do with the Tango we used to dance in the Salon. This is fully based on one complete circle divided by two people establishing space to dance between them and changing weight together. The book does a good job of explaining this is an easily understandable manner.

Argentine Tango is a stepping tango developed by undirected steps in opposition with other styles of tango, which are based on direct walking steps. This is also explained well in Jeff's book.

"Rule of Step Then Turn": This is so important for beginners! And very refreshing for those who are used to more advanced turns such as the Torcimiento, Destorcimiento, Enrosque, Rulo, Tornillo, Planeo, Recorte, etc. Thank you for this chapter Mr. Allen.

"Improvisation: Recombining your knowledge and knowing exactly what you are doing all the time" is another fabulous section in this book. This section describes how the music, including musicality and rhythm (owned by the man), time (owned by the woman), and Timing (owned by the couple) dictate the improvisation. The couple is the 3rd entity, an investment of a man without ego and woman without impatience. Jeff discusses this approach to improvisation with great clarity.

"How To Practice": Jeff talks about this subject in specific and useful terms. Personally, I would say that if you are practicing or learning without guidance, you are just repeating injuries, and you retrieve yourself not in dancing in a milonga, but keep practicing. Yu have to find out where practice stops and dancing starts. That's why you need a guide. Your muscle memory doesn't detect what is right or wrong! It just records it.

"Lead and Follow": Man starts as a leader and merges into a follower, while the woman starts as a follower and merges into a leader. This process can happen in single step. What a concept! And an important one that I agree with 100%. This is described perfectly in Quickstart To Tango.

"Navigation": The essence of the mass circulating around the floor following LOP (line of progression), counter clockwise, and orientation, the use of LOD (line of dance) counter clockwise by every couple. This need what we call "floor-craft," which you will find in this book!

Quickstart To Tango also contains a full history of the Argentine Tango, as well as a very interesting conversation with Carlos Gavito, star of Forever Tango.

I strongly recommend this work by Jeff Allen, which I consider of great value. If you want to start tangoing, please do it correctly. The fabulous exercises and analogies contained in Quickstart To Tango will really improve your understanding of the Argentine Tango.

The man should learn how to think. The woman should learn how to wait.

In the early 1980's, I had the opportunity to teach Jeff Allen his first Argentine Tango lesson. I told myself, "This man is a genius." I was very impressed by his level of understanding and speed of assimilation. Very recently, I had a conversation with Jeff, and I told him how impressed I was with his writing He said, "Listen Ive, I am not a specialist in Argentine Tango." I replied, "Jeff, without any pretension, I am a specialist, having danced for 50 years. Given your writing in Quickstart To Tango, if you are not a specialist, nobody is. Thanks for your humility."

Ive Simard

Ive Simard: 1. Argentine Tango Artist (choreographer-teacher) 2. Author of El Tango Agentino, Milonga, Val Cruzado Syllabuses 3. Co-founder of El Mundo del Tango 4. President of ATMA (Argentine Tango Masters Association) 5. President and founder of AFTU (America First Tango University) 6. President of "Le Vaudeville", America First Tango Theater 7. Dual Fellow of ISTD (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance) 8. BA in Dance Art

At least once a week since 1998 we open up one of the Quickstart series books and find solutions, techniques, and additional choreography that either amplify or add to what we have learned in many classes. We have taken both group and private lessons. When we mention some of the examples that we've read my teachers are generally very interested or in agreement. Evidently Jeff Allen is very well known in the dance community throughout the United States and his opinions and teaching methods are highly respected. We were not at all surprised to find that he writes a regular column in "Dancing USA" magazine called "The Dance Lesson."

Admittedly we both tried to read these books as if they were novels and were overwhelmed by the quantity and increasing level of content. Perhaps by osmoses the intellectual transfer of information from the book's pages would become our dance experience. Remembering assembling a bicycle step by step got the job done, we started to do what we should have done from the beginning practice the elements according to our level of understanding at the time. When we knew nothing we worked the information from the beginning and as we succeeded and became moderately competent we moved to the next level. It is amazing that some of the problems we have as mid range beginners to Tango & Swing had been anticipated by the author. Then came the methods for corrective measures. The technique in the Quickstart to Tango & Swing books by Allen brings these books to a whole different level not just assembly of dance steps but how to do them and then how to do them better - a great partner!

This review was written by Feature Writer Michael Ditkoff for the publication La Voz Del Tango:

A few months ago, I read a recommendation for this book and decided to purchase it. I am glad I did! Quickstart To Tango is a comprehensive book that covers both the American and the Argentine Tangos. For this review I will limit my comments to the general dance and Argentine Tango sections. This book is more than a picture book that describes figures and whether or not a step is quick or slow. That is a review of Paul Bottomer's "Tango Argentino" book. Mr. Allen's book includes tango's social development - collaborating with well-known teacher Daniel Trenner. A sample of the chapters and salient point of each are: What is a dance step? - "Moving the body to new vertical position with all of your weight over the next foot" Learning timing - "If you can hear the knocking on a door, then you can certainly hear the beats in the music while you are learning to dance" Using Good Foot Contact - "The ball of the foot carries the weight in the Argentine style." Rotation in Tango - "Both of these figures - Fans in the Ballroom style and Ochos in the Argentine style - are initiated by one of the partners and concentrate heavily around the established center of rotation of their partner." The Basic Dance Positions and Body Framing - "A major difference in the Argentine style is that the weight of the body is poised over the balls of the feet while being compressed through the knees." Attitudes and Priorities : Mental and Physical - "Be very kind to your partner and remember you are learning too." There is a thorough discussion of contra body motion. Dancers should be "split at the waist" so that the top half and the bottom half can rotate in different directions. For example, in leading the woman to the cross. The man's hips face the left after the second step, but the chest should face the woman. Contra body motion has been rarely discussed in the group classes I've attended. There are black and white photographs of dancers illustrating various figures, e.g. Salida, the Walk to the Cross, and Grapevine. The woman wore brightly colored shoes so her movements show clearly. The man wore traditional black shoes which don't show up as well. This book is an excellent reference and belongs in your library.

Thank you Mr. Allen for finally explaining what makes this dance "work" ! I have been a fan (no pun intended) of Tango for a long time. I tried some classes and just couldn't "get it"....after reading this great book, I know why! It really isn't about where your feet go - it's about your entire body and this book explains that beautifully.
All of those beautiful movements that look so complex are really a collection of simple movements and the give and take between the partners- wow, I wish I had read this book first before spending my $$$ on classes!

"Quickstart To Tango" is an easy to read, informative, and entertaining `How To' book for any Tango aficionado. Jeff Allen gives an excellent, and easy to understand presentation of the basic fundamentals required to dance both the Argentine and American style Tango. This book provides the beginner dancer with a clear understanding of the proper technique needed to successfully execute this fun, sexy, and eccentric dance! The basics of the Tango, "the Walks", are described in wonderful detail and have suggested practice exercises that are both useful and enjoyable! For those who are more adventurous or more `educated' in dance, Mr. Allen provides additional choreography with very detailed descriptions. What I found particularly helpful is that throughout the step descriptions Mr. Allen clearly points out `common errors' that occur and gives the remedy for each. This book has a lot to offer to dancers of all skill levels and contains excellent information regarding dance technique in general. The reader will return to this wonderful resource over and over again, I highly recommend you pick up a copy and `Tango On'!

This book is of use only to an intermediate to advanced dancer who already has a solid foundation in the steps, and some prior general knowledge of dance vocabulary and concepts. Overall very disappointing as book that will teach you to dance, but enjoyable to read about the subjective though processes involved in the dance.

Instead of focusing on teaching the basic steps clearly, the author fills the book with dance theory, history, and conversations. A vexing aspect of this book is his writing style: the book is filled with meaningless repetition and vague 'artsy' expressions that would leave anyone but advanced dancers in the dark. This book is woefully inadequate for the beginner as it has no diagrams of foot placement, and far too few photographs to see the connection between each photograph that makes up any sequence.

More than a book on learning how to dance the Tango, it's a sociological,mood-filled and informative introduction to the Tango itself, learning to dance comes later.

Providing simple and elementary lessons, the book is perfect for learning to experience the Tango and getting the references and orientation needed to continue perfecting the dance steps.

In its pages, the reader will find, in addition to the basic choreography of the Tango, both the Argentinean Tango and the so-called American Tango, a list of recommended accompanying CDs, a brief history of the Tango, a conversation with dancer, Carlos Gavito as well as general and informative material.

Although the lessons are clearly explained and illustrated, the steps themselves are without graphics which would have facilitated comprehension and visualization.

Jeff Allen, a graduate of URI, is the winner of the 1984 Gold Closed North American Championship and is a member of the Imperial Society of Teachers and the Pan American Teachers Association.

Using Mr. Allen's book has unlocked many secrets on how world-class dance instructors would work to establish and or correct the necessary movement to produce a beautiful Tango! My introduction to Quickstart to Tango came after reading one of Mr. Allen's columns in Dancing USA magazine regarding rotation in Salsa. The article was so helpful I decided to purchase his book about Tango; I have been overjoyed as topic-by-topic reading provides me with great insight about the approach and structure of each component. The review written by Mr. Ive Simard also on this page, is absolutely accurate and he IS a master of Tango! I can only add that Mr. Allen's books anticipates the common errors made by leaders and followers at the beginning and intermediate stages of either style of Tango and discusses them with the reader followed by a kinesiological approach to their correction. Quickstart to Tango WILL help you to find the dancer in you. Do not pass this book by if you have a love for Tango!!!