[Tango-L] Leading with the right hand

[Sergio Vandekier]

"He was saying that leading with the chest is a later invention and that old milongeros used the right hand lead." Anyone else is familiar with that?
 
Tango has many techniques as it is a complex dance that has many different styles.
 
The technique you use depends on the training you had and the style of tango you wish to dance.
 
Most great dancers of the forties and fifties danced leading using the whole body.  The right hand always played a big role in leading. There is absolutely nothing unpleasant about it, assuming that you know how to lead.
 
The lead is extemely subtle, only perceived by the woman, never seen or noticed from outside the couple.  The lead could be (like anything else) unpleasant if you do not know how to lead properly.
 
Who leads/lead with the right hand Nito, Osvaldo Zotto, Misse, Puppy Costello, Lampazo, Virulazo, Petroleo,El Cachafaz,Rodolfo cieri, and all the famous tango dancer that exist and existed in the past.They, of course used other parts of the body to lead as well.
 
In general you lead with  your right hand, your chest, your right shoulder, your thigh, your calf, your foot.  
 
AS to women teaching tango....this is something that historically did not happen because tango was something done by men. Decent women did not do it.
 
Tango was also sang only by men. When women started to sing tango they dressed like men.
 
See Azucena Mizani singing dressed like a man:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxJwG9k2oVw
 
 
Summary:  There are many ways to lead in tango, those that know only one way are very limited.
 
As to learning to dance tango...my preference would be to take lessons from a man that I admire as a dancer. 
 
A woman, on the other hand, can be very efficient teaching Woman's technique or tango choreography for stage dancing.
 
Best regards, Sergio