Excuse my ignorance but is there a difference between Argentinian Tango and a regular tango like they do in competitions?

Damian. There is no simularity in the International Tango and the Argentine Tango at all. The type of music is different. The steps are different and the hold is different. But it is still a lot of fun. My main problem between the two styles is for years I am used to having my partner on my right hip. With the Argentine Tango they are in front. Every time i do any manoeuvre I finish with the lady on my right side.What got me interested was Robert Duvall's film Assasination Tango. The age group intersted in this style where I live are the over 40' s.

I have been dancing Argentine Tango on and off for about 5 years. There are many styles and variations. There is some type of syllabus or base figures to use if you can ever find a good teacher that uses them. Most of the teachers we have had were spacy at best and always said there are no patterns--just dance and feel the music. Dance Vision has a syllabus and there are some solid basics to be taught in this dance. Arg. Tango has a passionate following. They go on Tango trips and etc., but there is not much competition--it's more of a social dance, but lots of demonstrations or showcases are done. Arg. Tango folks are somewhat narrow minded and look down on other dances and only dance Arg. Tango. I am still puzzled about Arg. Tango and how far I want to go with it. Wish I had a better teacher and more defined goals, a little more definition of the dance-- for improvement rather than just getting out and dancing socially.

International and American Tango are entirely different dances. Don't even know why they even call all these dances Tango.

What you have written just about sums it up. I did notice something which applies to another style Salsa also.. I saw a demonstration by a couple brought out from Latin America. I would stake my life that the man had done the International style of Rumba. In this Argentine Tango he went for a bit of a walk The Walks were about as good as you could find anywhere in the Rumba style.. Then I have an instruction disk on the Salsa. At the end there is a profile on the teacher. Lo and Behold he had been the International Latin Champion of his country. And also the current World Champions for 06 in the Salsa. You should see them doing either Ballroom or Latin.