In Portland, the main style of dancers is not exactly representative of what happens in Argentina. This is not a negative aspect, it is just different. When you dance in Buenos Aires the majority of people dance in a Salon style. In Portland the style began mainly as Milonguero style. Milonguero is also danced in Buenos Aires but it is not the major style. Here in Portland we were also influenced by the Nuevo style which was invented in the 80’s and 90’s. Tango in the US became an amalgamation of these two styles, which doesn’t exist as the primary style in Buenos Aires. 

Although I began tango by learning the Nuevo style and the Milonguero style, in 2012 I began learning the Salon style which was very new to the US at that time. I began learning Salon because it was very clean and elegant as opposed to the intensively close Milonguero style and the very active Nuevo style. The Salon style is the primary style danced in Argentina as well as the competitions around the world.  I am the only Salon style trained Portland Tango Teacher. 

Also, many of the teachers in the US, along with Portland, use a more “energetic” approach to leading and following. As a very logical dancer, I use a physical approach. My style is to use physics along with our anatomy to make the easiest and most effective way of dancing.