Like anyone who is an avid tango dancer, I look for great books (as well as videos and music) on my favorite pursuit. This book not only delivers the nuance and details tangueros are hungry for, but in an articulate, riveting way that leaves no technicality out - but never at the expense of the passion the author has for the dance itself. This is for the newcomer or experienced tango dancer - and it offers a shifting perspective of teacher/author to student of the dance/author - to the benefit of the reader. Grab it while you can!

I was looking for a good Tango instruction book, with out much luck, until I took a chance on this one through an Amazon search. David Turner makes this instruction fun and alive. His experiences about challenges with making a movement work and solutions take this beyond a simple how-to book. He has learned both the followers and leaders parts so he can truly help both sides of the "conversation".

He is funny and experienced but not condescending. I appreciate he uses the Spanish names for the patterns, because I really want to learn that the thing I just did was a "ocho", and not that "cute little twisty thing". I make this point because one book I bought (and returned) had lovely step instructions, but did not use the Spanish names. A Tango student must be able to have the common language.

There are photo instructions which will help anyone with a little floor experience. He is hep to same-sex dancers and they will appreciate the discussion using the terms "leaders" and "followers", rather than "men and women".

David Turner is a Brit, regrettably for us Yanks, but he features the Bay Area's own Homer Ladas, and scored extra points in my book for that!

David Turner's 'A Pasion for Tango' is a great and easy read. You will not master Argentine Tango. You will, however, understand the process by which one often struggles with their self-enlightenment of what Tango is, was, and is to be. If you're at all curious about this complex and sometimes confusing social experience then Mr. Turner's book is a must read. You'll learn alot and probably laugh out loud with every turn of the page!

Homer Ladas

I am amazed at how Dr. Dave Turner managed to collect and present in his book such vast amount of information about tango, which sometimes can be subject to fantasies and even misunderstandings.

As tango dance instructor, especially non-Argentine born, I found that this book is a valuable reference material to keep nearby. From the origin of tango to the latest scoops of milonga (tango dance) scenes in Buenos Aires and from different styles of dance to variety of dance steps with detailed descriptions and clear illustrations, I can find everything I need to know in order to appreciate the complex and intriguing world of tango dance.

I like this book a lot and I think it will be useful to me for years. This author has brought an inquiring mind to tango and having asked a lot of questions has come up with an amazing amount of stuff. He is clealy addicted and must have spent loads of time on this book. You could read it from cover to cover but it probably works best as a reference book to turn to after a class or when you find that you have a problem with some move or other.

David Turner writes in an easy going and humorous style - I actually laughed out loud at times. Some of the descriptions of the complex movements are hard to follow bu the illustrations are very useful and if you concentrate, it pays off.

I found myself thinking, 'Aha! Of course I get it,' on so many occasions. I particularly liked the chapter on connection and the one on tango zen, whihc made me more at ease with some things I had struggled with. I like the way he passes on what he has learnt and is not afraid to say what he thinks about the way tango is taught.