Musings on Tango, Sensuality and Spirituality
aydan.tango 
For those of us who are at risk of despairing in these dark times, consider the inspiring words of Leonard Bernstein, the famous Jewish-American composer and conductor, who spoke defiantly in the face of the rising spectre of Nazism: “This will be our reply to violence: to make music (and dance) more intensely, more beautiful, more devotedly than ever before.”
This is the dance within the dance.
It is the conversation between the dance partners. It moves not to the rhythm of the music but to the melding of beating hearts. It is shared in silence, communicated not with words but with an attitude of gentleness, subtle shifts in posture, a tender touch, a reassuring smile, a soft gaze.
Mutuality is, for me, what makes tango so alluring. It is this element, even more than the music or the intricate movements, that keeps me wading through the limitless learning (and accompanying humiliation).
Because of its preciousness and rarity, my heart is forever grateful to those who bring to the dance floor their vulnerability, sensitivity and openness to the moment, who in the shared movements of gentleness and trust shape the dance in elegance and beauty.
Ever wonder why Spanish romance songs always talk about el corazon? Does the latin temperament know something about human nature North Americans don’t?
A journalist once asked Albert Einstein:“What is the most important question we can ask?” Albert’s reply: “Is the universe a safe place?” That is a big question. I have no idea what Mister Einstein meant by it or how he would have answered it. I am not sure how I would answer it. I love … Read more
Guest blog Apr 6, 2016 01:21 PM By Lizette Borreli @lizcelinebWe get up on the dance floor and try to synchronize our bodies to the rhythm of the music. The toe taps, wrist flicks, and questionable twerking are transformed into a graceful physical performance. The brain is able to orchestrate these movements, signaling our joints when … Read more
Guest blog from Oxygen TangoIn my own exploration of tango, I have found the practice of yoga to be a mindful form of “cross-training” that enhances and supports my dancing. A regular practice on the sticky mat might help fill in the gaps in your tango education when questions about posture, balance, and alignment come … Read more
improves coordination, balance, and posture increases muscle tone and flexibility reduces stress and anxiety improves cardiac health lowers blood pressure improves memory, focus, and multi-tasking enables creative and emotional expression builds greater ease in social situations imparts that dancer’s aura: standing tall, radiating confidence is increasingly used as therapy in a wide variety of applications: … Read more
Tango is a metaphor for life and a great vehicle for practicing many life lessons and relationship skills, such as learning how to carry your own weight without depending on another – while at the same time, staying connected. It is about staying centered and present in your own self, listening with your whole body to another’s whole body, and then moving together in harmonious partnership.