Essence Tango
These are Ricardo Vidort’s thoughts on The Essence of Tango.
The body doesn’t think, the body feels the music as a way to move and walk, and if we put our attention to what our body is feeling, we will see that we are moving. We only need to walk with elegance, transmitting to our partner in the embrace the energy we have from our chest (the heart chakra or energy zone of the body). If you do it in this way can you transmit your energy to your partner. Improve each step and you will have the cadence of your own style.
You see we old milongueros like something special, and we all are special since we each dance our own style. That means feeling in our own way the rhythm, cadence, embrace and moving the body. When we have this and transmit it, then we are milongueros.
Nobody can teach you how to feel, but some of us can teach you how to hear the music, how to walk with it, and the rest will come alone. We can tell you how your weight works in each step, how to turn, how to walk with elegance, but only if your body feels the music. You can learn a hundred steps and figures, but you will never be a milonguero unless you improvise each step with feeling.
Nobody is the owner of a step, but you are the owner of your feeling; and that, no one can copy. I am not saying that technique is not necessary, but only after you have danced in a salon, not before. because there is no technique to learning feeling. The inspiration for this is the music and the woman.
We old milongueros only ask that of those who are coming to tango all over the world not to forget the essence, the codes, the friendship, without being envious and try to always give all of yourself when you dance because the only thing that will remain when we milongueros are no longer here is what we have taught and given from our hearts…tango.
Published in El Once Tango News — Winter 2004/5 December-February No. 45 and reprinted with permission.
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Essence Tango — workshops with Jantango for social dancers and teachers
1. The Music — learning how to listen and distinguish the various styles of orchestras; the rhythms, instruments, singers, and what makes a good tanda for a milonga.
2. The Embrace — it’s more important than any steps you do; the milonguero embrace; surrendering and being present in the moment.
3. The Codes — everything you’ve always wanted to know, but were afraid to ask your teacher; floor etiquette; history of the codes; why the codes are still in practice today in the milongas.
4. The Dance — tango is a feeling that is danced; finding your personal style; dancing your best is enough; simplicity, elegance, and musicality–the three elements in every milonguero’s tango.
Call 4941 6669 to schedule an appointment for one or all of these workshops or leave a reply below with your phone number.
