Tango v salsa

Aerobic fitness

Tango’s rhythm changes all the time, so dancers have to pause, extend, speed up, slow down. To work up a sweat, you need a faster “milonga” rhythm. Slower tango is more like long-distance walking. 3 stars

At first it seems a bit like a gentle sway, but salsa keeps the heart beating fast and, when the rhythm speeds up, is classed as a high-intensity cardiovascular activity which can burn up to 450 calories an hour. 5 stars

Toning

Tango is all about working your “core” muscle groups – rather like Pilates. If you’re after impressively toned thighs, calves and upper arms, regular tango dancing is a good place to start. 5 stars

You don’t need to have a hard body to perform salsa’s essential steps. However, it does make the upper body and arms stronger and firmer, and can give a Latino curve to flabby thighs. 3 stars

Equipment

You can tango in T-shirt and jeans, but for a real buzz women need a tight black top and heels, men a funyi hat, pinstripe suit and leather-soled shoes – bought only when you’ve mastered the basics, mind. 4 stars

Salsa dress can be as sexy and glamorous as you want, but if the mood takes you, you can also dress down. Many salseros wear T-shirt and jeans, so it can be pretty easy on the wallet. 5 stars

Emotional high

“A sad thought danced” is how tango is often defined. It’s not about sex so much as yearning and desire. The adrenaline high is mitigated by the moody low induced by the accordion’s melancholy strains. 3 stars

Even though it is danced in pairs, salsa is a communal and fiesta-friendly dance. And all that soaring, emotional music tends to provoke a romantic and exhilarating high. 5 stars

Good for beginners

The leg moves can be tricky at first: the leader’s entire torso sometimes has to rotate, often in opposition to the rest of his body. They say it takes a year to be a good beginner, so you need staying power. 2 stars

Basic, happy salsa is much easier for first-timers. But there is a deceptive skill in moving constantly, quickly and harmoniously with your partner – salsa is all about keeping the rhythm in your hips. 3 stars

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