Musings on Tango, Sensuality and Spirituality
Deep attention is one of the most precious treasures we can give to someone. Looking and listening with respect, even reverence, in unconditional acceptance and with warmth and gentleness, is the most deeply humanizing activity in which we can invest ourselves.
The national day of tango commemorates the birth of two legends of tango: the immortal legend Carlos Gardel, perhaps the most famous tango singer of all times, and genius orchestra conductor Julio de Caro: both born on Dec. 11th.
An amazing quality of Tango is that it allows us to explore relational dynamics in a safe and controlled venue. We have the opportunity to unlearn anti-social or abusive habits and scripting, and replace them with behaviours that support healthy non-sexualized connection.
I believe that dance generally and tango specifically, is an effective corrective to the oppositional, polarized, sexualized nature of our society, and by extension to domestic violence. It teaches an entirely different model of relating, one which affirms cooperative and complementary effort. Both parties should leave the dance floor with a smile.
It is our pursuit of beauty, meaning, joy in the midst of atrocities that will transform our soul and the soul of humanity into one of compassion, gentleness, understanding and tolerance: One in which the immigrant is always welcome and those wounded in love and war find solace in a warm embrace and soft turns on the dance floor. This is the alchemy of tango.
It is no secret that the Tango raises issues, pushes buttons, brings to the surface deeply submerged feelings of self-doubt and insecurity, sensuality and sexuality – all of which tend to trip us up, both in our dance or relationships.
Dancing Argentine Tango is like a moving Focusing practice. It requires staying centered and present in one’s own self, and at the same time listening with your whole body to your partner’s motions and emotions. ThIs requires flexibility, adjustment, and adaptation, always in an environment of safety, trust, respect, honesty.
In my mind, all the involved, technical maneuvers that we practice and execute on the dance floor are merely the medium for experiencing the most tantalizing dynamic of tango, that of expressing feeling in and through our bodies.
The secret of Tango is this moment of improvisation that happens between steps. It is to make the impossible thing possible: to dance silence.” Carlos Gavito:
