You don’t become an Argentine Tango master by accident. You become one by defying expectations, crossing continents, and following a rhythm that your family probably didn’t understand.
This story begins in Italy, of all places. A crowd of students watch as a suave, ponytailed gentleman guides his tango student with care and finesse. With subtle twists of his body, she swivels her feet, kicks up her leg, and the audience looks on in admiration.
The music stops, they bow, and the crowd erupts. All in a day’s work for Giuliano Scarpati – and this is just the beginning.
An Argentine Tango Journey, and The Man Behind It
Giuliano Scarpati was supposed to do something different with his life. Yet this South American born Italian found himself working for the Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Florence, Italy. How does that happen? The answer involves family pressure, a seed planted by his father, and the courage to chase something most people would dismiss as impractical.
The Background Story
GS: I was born in Colombia, and my parents still live there. I grew up in a successful family, so I was supposed to become a lawyer, doctor, or a business man like my dad. In that country there is nothing like Arthur Murray, so when I told them, they couldn’t understand. Every time I talked by phone my mother told me, “When will you get a real job?”
Sound familiar? If you’ve ever pursued something your family didn’t quite understand – whether it was a creative career, a hobby they thought was a waste of time, or yes, ballroom dancing – you know exactly what Giuliano was up against.
How He Discovered the Argentine Tango
AML: How did you discover the Argentine Tango?
GS: My father lived in Buenos Aires, and he talked to me a lot about this dance. It was the seed. In Italy, I made many friends who loved this dance. It was the tree. When I started dancing it – I tasted the sweet fruit. I fell in love.
What strikes you about Giuliano’s story is the patience of the process. The seed was planted years before he ever took a lesson. In fact, many dancers share this same experience – something or someone sparked their curiosity long before they walked through the studio doors.
About That Tango Look
AML: Is it true that you need to have a ponytail, facial hair, or a cool accent to excel in the tango?
GS: [Laughs] Actually, most of the dancers I know have short hair and a clean face, but these things you mentioned make you more recognizable. I was a theater actor and a street artist before dancing. So, I found out, these three things can be helpful to get into the character.
Here’s the thing about the Argentine Tango – it rewards authenticity. The dance doesn’t care if you have a ponytail or not. What it cares about is whether you can commit to the character, the connection, and the conversation happening between two bodies on the dance floor.
Creating the Arthur Murray Curriculum
AML: How did you get involved with the Argentine Tango curriculum for Arthur Murray?
GS: I was an Arthur Murray International Top 3 Instructor in 2007 and 2008, and was noticed by my skills in the argentine dances. So, if Arthur Murray needed a new tango program, I was the right person for the job. I created a new program for our students in Florence, and I presented it to our franchisee and chairman, Mr. Augusto Schiavo. He liked it and he said it could be helpful for all the other Arthur Murray studios.
AML: Was there a lot of pressure?
GS: Oh, it was me applying the pressure. I invested a lot in creating the best program for our students. I traveled to Buenos Aires to make sure I was doing things right. When I knew about the possibility of doing it for all the studios, I said: “It has to be awesome.”
AML: Do you feel like you delivered?
GS: I’m very satisfied of the result. I believe that our company now has the best social Argentine Tango program ever.
The Three Argentine Dances Defined
AML: Thinking of the Argentine dances, if you had to describe each one in a few words, what would they be?
GS: Argentine Tango: Intimate. This is about a “you and me” story, my skin talks to your skin, my heart to yours. By the way, I said “intimate”, not “sensual”, even if it is a sensual dance. I mean, there is a very deep communication between the 2 dancers.
Tango Vals: Sophisticated. You recognize the best argentine tango dancers by the way they do Tango Vals, the way they “fly” with the music.
Milonga: Joy. Argentine Tango is a sensual, dark dance, and the Milonga instead brings out the light, and makes us have fun.
If you’re curious about adding these dances to your own program, talk to your instructor about what’s available. The Argentine Tango family of dances offers something for every mood – from the deep connection of the tango to the playful energy of the milonga.
The Perfect Moment
AML: Describe the feeling when someone really connects to the music in Tango.
GS: When you really connect to the music, you dance with it, you move with it, you improvise, have fun, choose the speed, and you enjoy the moment.
AML: Have you had a perfect moment dancing tango, or are you still pursuing it?
GS: I’ve had many of these moments dancing tango. One I particularly love: 10 years ago, me and my wife (then girlfriend), used to practice our tango in the main square of the city. We danced in the late night, using a little stereo. The situation was amazing: Dancing with the woman of my life, with the incredible atmosphere of Florence, it was like being in a movie.
The Journey in Retrospect
AML: So how would you describe your entry into the world of dancing?
GS: Looking behind I can say that it has been a journey full of obstacles, doubts, mistakes, excitement and happiness.
AML: Did your mother ever come around to understand your decision?
GS: After 8 years, she made peace with me when I told her I was the manager.
AML: Bravo.
What You Can Learn From Giuliano’s Story
There’s a pattern here that applies to anyone starting their dance journey – or any journey that requires you to push past what other people expect from you.
The seed gets planted. Maybe it’s a conversation with a parent, a movie scene, or watching someone dance at a wedding. Then you nurture it, often for years, before you finally take action. And when you do, there will be doubters. There will be people asking when you’re going to get a “real” hobby or focus on “practical” things.
Eight years later, Giuliano’s mother made peace with his choice. That’s a long time to wait for validation. But here’s the thing – he didn’t wait for it. He built something meaningful anyway.
Your dance journey might not lead you to create curriculum for an international dance organization. But it might lead you somewhere equally unexpected. The question is whether you’re willing to plant the seed, nurture it, and trust the process.
(Clockwise from Left) Giuliano Scarpati, with his wife, Valeria, daughter Ginevra (6), son Francesco (8 months), and daughter Virginia (3) is the Director of the Arthur Murray Studio in Florence-Italy, and creator of the new Arthur Murray Argentine Tango, Milonga and Tango Vals program.
Dance coach, author, family man and positive person, his goal is to make people’s lives, through dancing, extraordinary.
Ready to Start Your Own Journey?
Whether the Argentine Tango is calling to you or you’re curious about why learning to tango is good for your social dancing, the first step is the same one Giuliano took – showing up and seeing what happens. You don’t need a ponytail. You don’t need a cool accent. You just need to be willing to plant that seed.
