Tango is a process of self-discovery

TOUCH

Dancing Tango is sympathetic - the dancers physically experience (feel) one another, in motion, giving and receiving information through touch, proximity and electromagnetism

OBSERVE

Watching Tango is empathetic – watching the dancers stirs up emotions sufficient to draw tears or hold one’s breath

RECIPROCAL EXPERIENCE

Tango is a three dimensional, active art form. It is expression – expression can be experienced through both sympathy and empathy

CLARITY – ABSENCE OF NOISE

Clarity is what separates Argentine Tango from casual partner dances. Communication is subtle, precise, gentle and yet strong. Clarity – the absence of interference – is what makes a dancer good. The combination of subtle, clear and precise communication makes the dance sensual through the lightness of touch, but requires that the dancers acquire extraordinary skills of self-discipline in balance and movement.

ROLES

Leader and Follower have very different roles although both give and receive information through the subtle clarity and precision of their movements but the Leader guides the dance through intention and invitation whereas the Follower must submit to the dance, allowing her movements to accept and complete the energy from the leader

MISCONCEPTION

In tango our objective is not to acquire a number of patterns, steps in specific sequence, to memorize and reproduce on command

OBJECTIVE

In tango our objective is to practice and learn the skills, the art of physical self-control, to share in movement whilst in the arms of another. The harmony obtained through focus and skill of both dancers allows for improvisation, expression in three dimensions, in real time – to infinity

EUPHORIA

The ability to focus on so many elements, internal and personal as well as the external aspects of the information between the partners, simultaneously, actually delivers us and separates us from daily life.  We leave behind almost everything that consumes and surrounds us, including our incessant stream of conciousness (thoughts), to truly experience the present, the connection, the floor and the music. The floor is the canvas and the music the pallette of colors we use to create our expression

Improvisation

The leader is in charge of developing the dance. While there is a certain type of accomplishment in pulling multiple patterns from memory, accomplished tango dancers will generally agree that it is superior to acquire the skills that will provide the forum for improvisation.

Each single step provides the opportunity for another. At any time the leader can switch between systems (parallel to cross systems) by changing weight, to provide a different perspective. Movements can change from linear to circular or circular to linear provided the set up is correct. Invasions can occur at virtually any time. The only element that restricts or prohibits improvisation is the preceding step. Each move that ends without attention to precision of the alignment of the axes limits the alternatives that can follow. Sloppy dancing tends to dictate subsequent less challenging moves and exiting through the salida and even resolution to regroup.

Complexity in improvisation demonstrates skills in imagination too but the underlying ability is technique: Technique that keeps the frame intact, the axis of both leader and follower uncompromised, and the practiced skill of reading subtle body language.

The Competition

Argentine Tango traditionally is a cultural, social dance; danced for enjoyment, fulfillment of the soul and replenishment of the spirit. It calms the nerves, soothes emotional upheaval, provides a ‘safe place’ to be intimate and feel love. The dance floor is where individuals meet. They leave restored. Results are temporary so dancers return regularly to re-capture the sensation of love which is a virtually indescribable sensation that combines physical closeness with an ethereal connection. The ultimate objective is the exquisite, intangible connection. The conduit is a combination of many elements: music, physical touch, movement, expression, respect, submission, and gentle protection.

We can establish the elements with ease, set the stage as it were, but achieving the essence of Argentine Tango is not so simple. An occasional successful ‘connection’ encounter cannot be accurately described because no words suffice to adequately interpret the experience.

In America today people are not interested in the physical and emotional intimacy aspects of Argentine Tango. They prefer not to feel vulnerable and do not want to expose their innermost self with complete strangers. And yet at the same time they seem rather emotionally hollow, disconnected, and believe that intimacy is exclusively carnal sexuality.

Sadly, the dance of Argentine Tango is now following the course of other couple dances. The elements that once clearly separated Argentine Tango through its disciplined excellence are now almost completely avoided. It has been reduced to The Competition.

If the true heart of Argentine Tango is the rather esoteric unifying of persons otherwise unknown to one another, being able to express themselves in a combination of movement and music, in perfect harmony, exhibiting an intimate, ethereal connection, competition has no way to filter out the winners from the losers.

As one of the greatest proponents for technical acuity I believe dancing skills can be measured as they are visibly apparent to the observer or judge, but technical skills alone do not constitute the entirety of the dance. The level of connection achieved is something private and known only to the dancers.

Many well meaning people will argue that Argentine Tango can be taught through the written word: books, others through visual media: video.  Maybe a combination is their ideal solution.  I differ from these opinions.

Tango is a physical experience.  The written word is insufficient to teach a physical sensation that is not based on steps.  What really has to be taught is ‘how’ not what or when.  The sensation is passed from one person to another physically.

The best Argentine Tango dance experience is not about the dance per se: the steps, the combinations or sequences.  What may be remembered is the music that inspired the physical experience.  But for many the music and dance drift into an ethereal experience of pure expression.  Incredible and impossible to explain.

This does not include stage tango, show tango, tango fantasia, tango escenario, tango nuevo etc..  I am referring to the fundamental source from which all these variations evolved.  The aforementioned all involve steps, patterns, sequences and learned practices that may be led and followed but are not purely improvised expression.

For the purists, tango is an art form.  It therefore presents the same challenges all artists face.