Tango is a dance that is rich in history, and a lot of different styles of tango have developed over the years and social milieus in which tango has grown. When the lady decides to dance cheek to cheek, she will find that the experience makes following a lot easier, on the whole, and a lot more natural. The reason is simple. When the lady brings her head and chest close to the man’s, it brings her weight forward of her feet. This creates what is called forward poise. Forward poise is a prerequisite for partner dancing. No matter what direction the couple goes, whether forward, back or side, their weight will always be forward, toward each other. Maintaining this stance is more difficult for the partner going backward, which is usually the woman. Wearing high heels probably also helps to encourage this "weight over the toes" kind of feeling. To secure this mutual forward poise, the couple ends up leaning on each other, in an equal and comfortable manner. This dependency requires trust, but will give more security and confidence in partnering, both leading and following.
Simply speaking, if the lady keeps her head toward the man’s head, her feet will fall naturally where they must. Conversely, the man knows where the lady’s feet will catch as a result of where he directs her head. With this knowledge, he will instinctually fit his body into the vacant space left available. This will vary depending on what his next intentions are for the lady, and therefore for himself. With sufficient experience, a dancer finds that pressure, and even upper body and hand contact, can become optional. It is the shape and poise which are conditioned into the dancers’ bodies that allows them the quick response and communication so necessary for moving together as one. When these elements of shape and poise are in place, it is even possible to lead and follow with no contact at all. It is dancing cheek to cheek that creates the phenomenon of balance towards each other. Self-awareness is a necessary prerequisite for the subtle change in understanding that occurs as the center of balance becomes changed, when two dance as one. When the dancers have this awareness, they will truly dance "two as one". The center, rather than being in the individual, is now between the couple. That’s one of the reasons why moving together in a close, attached way can take a lot of getting used to. To gain efficiency takes a lot of experience, concentration and experimentation. The efficient, effortless awareness that develops between experienced partners can appear to be telepathic to the unknowing observer.
The term lead really means that the man is both first initiating and then following each step that he creates for the lady. The more artistic and creative leaders dance from moment to moment, from one step to the next. The less experienced man will dance in a program, or learned combinations. The novice leaders have to think ahead from set group to set group of steps, rather than reacting from foot to foot. This is a necessary phase of learning, but it is clearly less artistic and spontaneous. It doesn’t allow any possibilities for the spirit of the moment, the amalgam of impulses and emotions which spring from the music, your partner’s movement style, and the available space surrounding you as a couple.