Argentine Tango School 'Tango Centro'

Tango Centro is a school specialising in Argentine Tango, based at Herengracht 13 in Den Haag, 350 metres from Centraal Station. The teaching emphasises improvisation rather than set patterns: you learn to dance through leading and following, which means every dance becomes completely new and creates endless possibilities and styles. The dance can be elegant, daring, playful or intimate. Though traditionally the man leads, as dancers improve the distinction between leader and follower becomes increasingly unclear.

Classes welcome all ages — you'll find twenty-year-olds learning alongside seventy-year-olds and everyone in between. You can attend lessons without a dance partner; if you register alone, you go on a waiting list until someone signs up for the complementary role (leader or follower), and registrations are processed in order of application. If you want to start sooner, you can find a partner yourself or try the Facebook group Tango Centro Tango Partner, where people look for partners for classes and workshops.

Free trial lessons are offered throughout the year. During summer (26 June to 11 September) there is a summer schedule with Friday evening classes. Regular salons (social dancing) take place on the third Saturday of each month, where you can practise what you've learned and also attend without a partner. The school hosts workshops and special events: for example, a salon on Sunday 2 August includes a workshop on "Versieringen" (embellishments) at 19:00–20:00, followed by dancing 20:00–23:00, with entry at €10.

Missed lessons can be made up in consultation with instructors during other classes in the same block. The school maintains a Facebook group and newsletter for announcements.

You can wear whatever allows you to move freely. Shoes with smooth soles and rounded toes are best to start with; tango shoes with a leather sole are also available if you want to invest. Free trial lessons run throughout the year, with regular sessions on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons.

Classes welcome all ages and all levels, and you can start without a dance partner.