I went to a dance social that offers mix of party Latin (Salsa, bachata, merengue, cumbia, etc), Kizomba, and Argentine Tango (maybe and ballroom). This kind of social dance setting is rare (except ballroom dance events that are also a mix of bunch).
If you go to a dance event, the dance-specific dancers show up (salsa dancers for salsa event, Argentine Tango dancers for milonga, West Coast Swing dancers for WCS event, and so on).
Dancers choose their dances. Maybe due to their culture. Maybe they like the songs.
There is natural physical affinity factor. Some are agile, some are elegant. They may choose song and dance that their body likes.
Each dancer has natural affinity to a type of dance, and it shows.
Ballet-Argentine Tango-kind of dancers use frame and axis for lines and balance. They tend to stand tall and have good presence while standing. Their body tends to move as a unit, and that is a reason occasionally done leg flick or other embellishment moves can attract attention.
But they can look awfully stiff on the Latin floor.
Salsa-bachata dancers have more flexibility and use body isolation. Cuban motion with pelvic gyration, shimmy shoulder isolation, head flick, arm works, etc, all belong to party Latins.
Have fun in moving!
But they rarely have good walk stride with stretch. They are accustomed to dance on a spot, and few have good traveling walk. Their dance can look less "purposeful".
If you want to dance both of them well, you need to switch body usage consciously.
For dancing Argentine Tango, you'd use muscles in lower back like adding corset to form good axes and to help balance. Axis-based balance and pivot is a critical technique for the dance.
For dancing party Latins, you'd loosen up joints, especially at hips and shoulders, and use them with more flexibility. Got to be careful not to pull a muscle or anything, though. Use warm up.
Thanks to the switching, mixed dance party can give you a good workout and some sore muscles the next day.
But I like it.
