Why Tango?

Art work by Joachim Machado

A couple of years ago, seeking feedback to help improve my tango classes, I asked the students to fill out a questionnaire. One of the questions was “Why Tango?”. The answers that came back where as varied and interesting as the people who provided the answers, from “why not?” to “it is my inspiration for life”. What is obvious is that tango means different things to different people and it never ceases to amaze me how people from a variety of walks of life come together and connect in a magical tango way.

There are of course all the “sensible” reasons why we dance tango. Those solid unarguable health reasons; physical exercise; cognition; spirituality and mindfulness; social satisfaction and emotional health (check out the Tango for Health page). But these are the added benefits, tango isn’t sensible. It is a sensual, passionate and intriguingly playful art form that ignites the soul. It is about creative self expression and movement through time and space. It is about losing oneself in an endless moment.

“…tango isn’t sensible. It is a sensual passionate and intriguingly playful art form that ignites the soul”.

We all know the saying “It Takes Two to Tango” but there is a third player, an extra element to tango, the music. The rich soulful sounds of the bandoneon, accompanied by the violin, piano, double bass and guitar, calling us to join them in creating something wonderful as we express the way in which the music makes us feel. For many people the reason they started dancing tango is because of the incredible distinctive style of the music, which grew out of the African slave populations and European immigrants of Argentina. Not always easy, finding and interpreting the rhythm is important if you want to become an accomplished tango dancer. Added to the rhythm, is the melody and sentiment which calls for a higher level of musical expression. Each tango dancer has their preferred rhythms, tango orchestras and musical styles, and for many dancers, tango is a feeling danced through expression of the music.

“The music goes in my ears, is filtered through my heart and comes out through my feet” El Flaco Dany Garcia

A Tango Story

I would like share a little story from my early tango days. I had only been dancing for a couple of years and had not yet come to understand the real depth and meaning of tango. I was at a milonga (an event where tango is danced) in Buenos Aires, very excited to be there. I understood and appreciated the traditions and etiquette of the milonga, including the traditional way a man invites the lady to dance, the cabeceo. The cabeceo is a fascinating subject and we will talk about it in depth another blog, but quite simply, standing at a distance, the man invites a lady to dance by an enquiring nod of his head. The lady then has the opportunity to return his nod or simply turn her gaze away.

This particular milonga was a new one, run by a highly respected milonguero, it was set up with the men on one side of the dance floor and the ladies on the other. It was at a time before tango had really taken off again and the majority of the leaders were locals. I felt honoured to be there. I had been to ask dance several times (by the cabeceo), and was feeling reasonably comfortable. As the evening wore on, the crowd thinned and diagonally opposite to my right, I noticed a distinguished milonguero who had glanced my way a couple of times, but spent most of the evening without dancing. As I said, I was new to tango, and hadn’t yet come to understand and appreciate that this is quite common. Often people will go to a milonga to simply sit, appreciate the music and watch the tango dancing while enjoying a glass of wine or a coffee. It can be a most enriching experience.

Eventually, using the cabeceo, the man did ask me to dance. We seemed to move well together and at the end of the second tango he complemented me on my dancing. I looked at him and asked “I have been wondering why you didn’t ask me before, you have been sitting watching for such a long time”? Now, I know that was forward of me, but I really wanted to know. As we took the embrace for the third tango he said quite matter a factly. “The music wasn’t right”. It was a good lesson for me and something I have come to appreciate more and more. I only wish I could remember which style of orchestra it was. I have a feeling it was Carlos di Sarli.

If you would like to share your special reason for “Why Tango”. I would love to hear it, please email me at tangodi@icloud.com or you can comment below

I have included a profoundly inspiring clip from Orquesta Romantica Milonguera playing Todo es Amor.