Argentine Tango

What is the attraction of Tango?
Perhaps it is the sexy, slinky movements;
or, the beauty of the music.

However, these elements are present in dances
other than Tango;
so what makes Tango unique?

Most ballroom dances have a rigid form, with the man leading and the woman following. In Tango, the partners take turns expressing the dance. The uniqueness of Tango lies in the intimate exchange between a man and a woman.
The variation lies in the nuance similar to the difference between language and conversation. Language is the transmission of ideas, events and emotions through the use of symbols. Conversation is more than the exchange of ideas; it is the give and take of social interaction. It creates a tangible connection between two people. Tango can be experienced as a physical conversation. It is an exchange of energy between partners where one takes initiative and another listens perceptively.
Tango is a language that dissolves boundaries. In the realm of music and movement social barriers melt away and disparate individuals find an intimacy almost unexpected. A satisfactory partnering requires a trust that, if one listens, one will also be heard.

Tango is a more than just steps; it is an intimate, creative conversation between a man and a woman about music, movement, and intimacy. The basis of the conversation is clarity of intention, expressed through the axis of the man’s body; and, the woman’s corresponding ability to “hear” the man’s intention. After the man invites the woman to a pattern, he creates time for her to finish the move, and often to embellish it, without rushing her. While she completes her pattern and embellishments, he becomes the listener. In his listening, he senses, or “hears,” her weight changes and her embellishments.
To listen well requires a relaxed, connected readiness inside the body. It is a state of heightened awareness; but, without tension. To listen well, we must let go of our own agenda - then patiently open to the other’s intention. Sometimes the leader will pause -
as he waits for the music or inspiration to move him; and the follower will subtly dance in place as she waits and listens.

Tango is a language filled with subtlety, and nuance. Men in Buenos Aires used to practice for hours with each other - exchanging lead and follow roles back and forth - before they would venture out to a milonga. In these modern days, few men would be willing to go to such lengths; but, their example inspires and informs us about the joy and the complexity of Tango. As partners learn to relate to each other with subtlety, precision and awareness, Tango becomes an ongoing journey of discovery and exploration.

Each new partner, each new piece of music, is a vast and unexplored territory. As partners start to move as one, perceiving with a kinesthetic sense, and sinking together into the rhythm of Tango, we finally solve the age old quest for oneness of being. Our analytical left brain and our intuitive right brain function as one.
As we become more and more conversant with the beautiful and complex language of Tango, we relax into the conversation. First, the give and take becomes a flow; and then the flow becomes a dance-and finally, the dance becomes Tango.

© Written by Yulia Maluta. Edited by Russell Jenkins. For more articles visit us at