Golden Age of Tango

It's very different these days:

"...When a man had the opportunity to dance socially with a woman he made her comfort and pleasure his first priority, so he would never put himself in a position where he might make a mistake, and make her feel uncomfortable. Men and women did not go to classes together and learn a repertoire of step. No man could assume that when he danced with a woman she would know what movement she 'should' do next. He had to be able to lead every part of every movement. Indeed, the men took great delight in creating coreographic patterns that the follower could not have danced before, as a way of proving to anyone who might be watching how well they led." In: The Meaning And Purpose Of Tango by Denniston. p. 21.