Tango is passion

I’ve been very busy since I came back from Buenos Aires. I had plans to be in BA right now, but so much is going on that I am still here.

Writing about Tango was the one thing I missed the most, among many other things.

In the meantime, all that kept me busy—mainly teaching new students—gave me new experiences, approaches, and thoughts about how to present Tango to those who were curious about it and showed up to a Tango class for the first time.

Tango is a passion

A new student asked me in the middle of her first private class if I thought she was going to be able to dance Tango. I answered that we were dancing to the music of the Juan D’Arienzo Orchestra, recorded between 1940 and 1943, with Héctor Mauré singing and a 20-year-old Fulvio Salamanca at the piano.

I told her that Mauré used to be a professional boxer until a bad punch made him quit boxing and dedicate himself exclusively to singing. I told her that if she gets to love Tango to the point of finding that information really interesting, relevant, then she would dance, otherwise, not. I could not order her to “love it” as it would not be possible to oblige someone to fall in love with someone. Whether she falls in love with Tango or not is nothing I can do much about except to love Tango myself the way I do.

I cannot oblige my students to be passionate about Tango, but I can share my passion with them.

Some may judge me as crazy, obsessed, or neurotic, and I would reply that you cannot dance while you judge.
Dancing Tango implies dancing every single note, every nuance in the expressivity of each song’s musician. It takes knowing those songs and those musicians as you know your closest relatives and friends.

I am satisfied if a new student learns, at least, to respect Tango for what it is.

I am very patient. Tango made me so.

You do not have to rush to get to know Tango. Tango is infinite. Also, you have to enjoy your path to becoming a real milonguera or milonguero; enjoy it the way you enjoy a tasty flavored meal, even when it may get too spicy.

I will not say, “I told you that already.” I will always present the concepts you need to know and apply them as if it were the first time I presented them to you. Repetition is needed, but we can make repetition non-boring if we do it to the wonderful music that Tango is.

I promise not to say:

“Just”. Sometimes, I’ve been in the situation of explaining a move that is simple in appearance, and the student says, “Just that!?” or “Ok, just that”, or something similar. Every single move is very, very, very important. Every little part of a move is something you have to feel fully.

“I got it.” Understanding each move in Tango takes decades. We must begin somewhere, and I will patiently show you the move. But you probably won’t be able to see it all. So, please, do not undervalue it.

You need to be very humble to learn to Tango.

You need to be very humble to learn Tango. Please accept that you start from ignorance and have respect for the one who shares with you something he loves a lot. It is like introducing you to my family.

I remember a joke: One boy tells another boy – Look at that woman! She has a moustache!!!

The other boy responds – She is my mom.

And the first boy clarifies –The mustache looks very good on her!!!