By
Emily Leibert,
a staff writer for The Cut.
She specializes in coverage at the intersection of gender and sports, the arts, and our relationship to our bodies.
I know from years of watching Dancing With the Stars — and So You Think You Can Dance, for that matter — that the Argentine tango is one of the hardest ballroom styles to tackle. It requires flawless technique, precise movements, and the very important mandate that you not whack your partner in the balls with a crystal-studded heel. It is so intimidating, in fact, that even longtime professional hip-hop dancer Jenna Dewan, best known for her starring role in the aughts dance film Step Up, is claiming amateur status.
