Tango is not only a fascinating dance but also a fascinating philosophy, culture and lifestyle. The search of tango is the search of connection, love, fellowship, unity, harmony and beauty, i.e., an idealism that is not consistent with the dehumanizing reality of the modern world. The world divides us into individuals, but tango unites us into a team, community and species. In tango we are not individualists, feminists, nationalists, Democrats, Republicans, etc., but interconnected and interdependent members of the human family. Tango calls us to tear down the walls, to build bridges, and to regain humanity through affinity, altruism, cooperation, and accommodation. It is a dance that teaches the world to love.



September 3, 2009

Close Embrace and Open Embrace (II)


Close embrace tango and open embrace tango are really two different dances with so little in common in their structures, techniques, feelings and philosophies that people who have learned one dance are not able to dance the other dance without learning it. I knew this from personal experience. When I first tried to dance close embrace tango after three years of studying open embrace tango, I had no clue on how to do it because everything, including posture, connection, axis, balance, space, movements, and the way to lead and follow, changed. (See The Styles of Tango.)

In fact, open embrace tango has more in common with ballroom dances than Argentine tango. As in ballroom dances, in open embrace tango the two dancers are apart by an arm's length without other physical contact except the contact of the arms and hands. Each partner is on his/her own axis independent of the other, so the two do not rely on each other for balance and support. In case they need such support they resort to using their arms and hands, causing heaviness and discomfort. Theoretically the man is supposed to lead with his torso, but since there is no torso contact, his lead is sent through his arms and hands, and the woman receives the lead through her arms and hands instead of her chest. The feeling of dancing open embrace tango is exactly like dancing a ballroom dance. No intimate physical contact between partners. No exchange of feelings through direct torso comminication. No comforting sensation of the two connected bodies moving together in sync to music. No emotional commitment and involvement. The fun of dancing open embrace tango mainly comes from a broader range of movement possibilities due to the increased space between the partners. Each dancer focuses on his/her own performance. They do not enjoy the physical existence of the other person.




I enjoy dancing open embrace tango no more than ballroom dances. Yes, it is spectacular, intricate, dazzling and showy, but that is not the reason I love tango. The reason I love tango lies in its closeness, intimacy, comfort, soulfulness, sentimentalism and romanticism. In close embrace tango the two partners lean into each other chest against chest and cheek touches cheek. His arm encircles her body. Her breasts press against his chest and arm holds around his shoulder. In such closeness the two partners literally feel each other's body, hear each other’s breath, smell each other’s odor and sense each other’s impulse. They rely on each other for balance and support. Because there is no distance between the partners, their movements are a lot more compact, with intent physical interactions and emotional exchanges. The man leads the woman with his torso against her torso so he does not need to use his arms and hands. The woman receives the lead with her chest. She closes her eyes, surrenders herself to him, relishes the caress of his body and enjoys his attentive ride. It is a very comfortable position in which to be and to dance. (See Close Embrace and Open Embrace (III).)





4 comments:

  1. you are right :)

    nice blog generally

    please increase your range of observations into other areas of tango :)

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  2. I agree with you on your observations on the closed embrace. However, when there is a big difference in lenght between partners, closed embrace is often very difficult, not to say impossible. I cannot look over my partners shoulder with my 150 cm and his 180cm. It does not mean that there is no intimacy, physicality or coziness. For me, these things have also to do with the stage you're in. If you're in the fourth stage than a not-completely-open but also a not-completely-closed embrace can have this all. It's the interaction between the two dance partners. I love to dance with a guy that is more than 2 meters (I can rest my head against his belly :-D ) because of the attention he gives to his follower.

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  3. In close embrace, I can't comfortably move when a turn is led. I have to gently open the embrace and the leader must allow this. Some leaders don't allow it, so I feel trapped and it's physically uncomfortable.

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    Replies
    1. The milonguero style of tango, also know as tango apilado, or reclining tango, is danced in a leaning position, which is not something that a woman will come naturally but must learn.

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