Bibliography
Books are our intimate connection to the minds and knowledge of others.
What and why
Good books can expand our body-mind awareness and knowledge to benefit our tango.
How
Bibliographic references include, where available, a link to Amazon followed by a link to Worldcat for public library reference. Entries are ordered alphabetically by the author's last name.
Amazon
The Alexander Technique
We all want to do what is right and best, but too often, what is right feels wrong, and vice-versa. Alexander, coincidentally writing about the time of the origins of the Argentine tango, has particular significance for the tango. He writes about choices that foster improvisation, good uses of the body that foster elegant and efficient movement, and end-gaining, the fault that sabotages our learning. (Original 1989)
Use of the Self
Thoughts on and techniques for achieving more proper use of the body and inhibiting inappropriate use. 2019 (Original 1932)
Amazon
If you can't make it to one of Joaquin's musicality workshops, this is the next best investment you can make to bring the music into your dancing. In 136 pages, plus DVD videos and music, he covers rhythm steps and timings, melody with and without a rhythmic base, melody dialogs, the structure of tango music, syncopations, off-beat dancing, and milonga and vals rhythms. There are even chapters for performers and teachers. The information is presented in ways that are easy to understand and practice. 2009
ANLP—The Association of NLP. Presuppositions of NLP.
A more concise (than Rubin) expression of the presuppositions of Neurolinguistic Programming.
Amazon
The new rules of posture : how to sit, stand and move in the modern world 2006
Amazon
Finite and Infinite Games : A Vision of Life as Play and Possibility
The Argentine tango, like life itself, is an infinite game. As the book says, “The joyfulness of infinite play, its laughter, lies in learning to start something we cannot finish.” The tango does not end with a song, or the tanda, or the end of a milonga. It continues as long as others continue to play. 1986
Eisenhardt, Kathy and Sull, Donald
AmazonSimple rules : how to thrive in a complex world 2016
Amazon
Amazon
The Franklin Method
Eric Franklin is a modern author and conductor of workshops for dancers. He specializes in internal and external imagery for the individual dancer, the performer, and members of a dance group. 2014
Gaggiotti, Giorgio and Sandro Fioretti, Lorenzo Gaggiotti (Illustrator), Camilla Loyer (Translator).
Amazon
ALL IN ONE STEP: “IN SEARCH OF LIGHTNESS WITHIN THE TANGO EMBRACE”
Tango is a dance of the walk. This book is all about the walk. It is filled with illustrations showing the tango's desirable structure and movements. Simple, easily understood text tells us why we should prefer the methods shown here. 2021
Amazon
The Inner Game of Tennis : The Ultimate Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance
Gallwey's book is the seminal work on our intellectual, symbolic thinking system versus our feeling, analog system. Derivative “Inner Game” books apply these concepts to other areas of physical performance. 1997
Gauch, Vanessa.
Practice playlists (YouTube) by Vanessa Gauch
We appreciate the quality of the tango movement instruction and the production of these concise, to-the-point technique and practice videos.
Amazon
Body Learning : An Introduction to the Alexander Technique
A wonderfully accessible introduction to the Alexander Technique, related to the right uses of the body(mind). 2003
Amazon
An excellent resource for tango DJs and for those who wish to learn more about tango music, orchestras, and singers, and particularly about those songs well suited for dancing. 2018
Amazon
Hear the beat, feel the music: count, clap and tap your way to remarkable rhythm
Not a tango book, but it's helpful for beginners in all dance styles.
Amazon
Thinking, fast and slow
Here we learn about the different strengths and weaknesses of our intellectual, symbolic thinking system versus our feeling, analog action system. 2011
Amazon
Oliver Kent has written seven books on different Argentine tango subjects. Each book is clear and concise, tightly focused on a single subject. 2018
Amazon
Several short sentences about writing
We found this book delightful to read and helpful when trying to say more clearly with few words. Not a tango book… or is it? 2013
Amazon
Tango Masters: Anibal Troilo
Michael Lavocah is a master of tango music research. He draws vivid pictures of the characters central to Argentine tango music. We learn about how tango music was developed and changed by these figures. 2020
Tango Stories: Musical Secrets 2014
Amazon
Falling is Not An Option: A way to lifelong balance
George Locker has studied T'ai Chi and other martial arts for 40 years. Now 70 years old, he teaches seniors to regain and strengthen their balance using the Postural Retraining™ method he developed based on T'ai Chi movements. Much of this has direct applicability to Argentine tango movements. 2020
Amazon
A Book of Games : a course in spiritual play
We saw a T-shirt that said: “Tango: beauty - misery”, relating all the different ways the Argentine tango can challenge us. And it's not merely the technical challenges of dancing well so that we feel comfortable and clear to our partner and that onlookers see how we relate to the music. We face many disconnects between our hopes and dreams for the dance and ourselves, connecting with our play and work, or lack of it. We feel we desire and deserve dances with certain people yet may not get them. A Book of Games gives us creative prompts for ways to bring our most resourceful selves to the dance and to life. 1981
Amazon
Awaken the giant within : how to take immediate control of your mental, emotional, physical & financial destiny! Popular empowerment messages based on NLP principles and delivered in an inspirational form. 2013
Romita, Nancy and Allegra Romita
AmazonFunctional Awareness: Anatomy in action for dancers 2016
Amazon
Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life
The foundation for Nonviolent Communications (NVC). Too often, our culture and upbringing teach us to think and speak in ways that create conflict, internal pain, and even violence. Nonviolent Communication teaches ways to communicate that help us get what we want peacefully. 2003
Rubin. Presuppositions of NLP.
This website is chockablock full of ads! It also has helpful articles on many aspects of Neurolinguistic Programming.
Sedó, Melina and Detlef Engel
Amazon
Caminar Abrazados : Tango is walking in an embrace
This book and their TTT-Tango Teacher Training intensive have greatly influenced our understanding of tango. 2015
Stone, Douglas and Heen, Sheila.
AmazonAmazon
Getting To Know: Twenty Tango Orchestras
Tango Journey website
Playlists in YouTube 2016
Amazon
How to Write One Song : Loving the things we create and how they love us back 2020
Starrett, Kelly and Glen Cordoza
Amazon