© Jade Montoute Further details: Tango Tea at the Waldorf Carole Edrich reviews

Good dancing partners, classic champagne, elegant environment, an afternoon tea with scrumptious sandwiches, perfect pastries and scones of the quantity and quality normally restricted to a hungry gourmet’s dream. This is no fifties fantasy but a real life experience available to all at the Waldorf Hilton’s Tango Teas.

The Palm Court is an elegant room. Soft, natural light from the huge glass ceiling is subtly reflected from panelled mirrors on walls and doors. Wrought iron railings topped with glowing burnished brass separate two levels of diners around a cleared central dance floor that was sufficiently small to encourage intimacy and just about large enough to hold those who wanted to dance. Enormous strategically placed flower arrangements are echoed by white and green tablecloths topped with lilies upon which are laid the all-important afternoon teas.

Our table, on the level slightly higher than the dance floor, gives an easy view of the diners, musicians and dancers. We wear deep crimson ribbons to show that we want to take advantage of the Simply Dancing Partner service. This new company provides good looking male and female dancing partners for lessons and social dance. It’s especially good for people who leave their partners at home, who are shy, are learning or unsure of their abilities. The service works well for us too. Teenage god-daughter and slightly mad god-mother make a strange dancing pair, but through Simply Dancing we are able to dance whenever we want without imposing on each other, on strangers, or feeling pressure ourselves.

More ballroom and Jive than tango, the afternoon is enjoyed by all. the Pre-tea lessons and charming professional partners open access to any level.

As I savour a second scone I wonder how much dancing will burn the calories I’m consuming. It’s worth it, and if we’re not all danced out when the tea dance is over we can go to the South Bank for more...

If you’re interested...

June’s tea dance was the first at the Waldorf in five years. It’s a component of the build-up celebrations to the Waldorf’s 100th anniversary. It’s expected that they’ll be held regularly from September 16th and into 2008.

Cost is £55 including afternoon tea, Dance partners are available at £35 per person. Each one-hour lesson costs £10 per person for those in a couple, or £20 for singles requiring a dance partner. Lessons run in two one-hour sessions from 12-2pm covering a selection of Ballroom and Latin dances.

Book early to avoid disappointment. This event was sold out well in

Waldorf Tango Tea Dance © Jade Montoute

advance and apparently had a waiting list long enough to hold another identical event!

History of the Waldorf’s Tango Teas

Built in 1908 just in time for the arrival of Argentine Tango from Parisian society in 1910, the Waldorf’s place in tea dance history was documented by Dancing Times: "The 'Tango' is graceful, decorous and worthy of a place in any ballroom. If you doubt me, go to one of the 'Thés Dansants' organized by the Boston Club on Wednesday afternoons at The Waldorf Hotel, and you will be charmed." (June 1913)

The popularity of the Waldorf Tea Dances grew even further when Howard Godfrey joined the hotel in 1926. Already an established band leader with several popular recordings, people flocked to the Waldorf to see him and dance. Howard Godfrey and the Waldorfians were to make several more records to popular acclaim.

As fashion moved on from Tango to Charleston, new music was incorporated into the Tea Dances. They were stopped when Palm Court’s glass roof was shattered, resumed in 1982 and ran more or less weekly until the salon was closed for renovation.