Tango is not just a fascinating dance—it is a rich philosophy, culture, and way of life. The search of tango is the search of connection, love, fellowship, unity, harmony, and beauty—an idealism that is not consistent with the dehumanizing reality of the modern world. The world divides us into individuals, but tango brings us together as a team. In tango we are not individualists, feminists, nationalists, Democrats, or Republicans—we are simply human, intertwined and interdependent. Tango invites us to tear down walls, build bridges, and rediscover our shared humanity through connection, cooperation, accommodation, and compromise. It is a dance that reminds the world how to love.
September 10, 2009
Close Embrace and Open Embrace (III)
The experience of dancing close embrace tango is profoundly different from that of dancing open embrace. The enchanting music, the comforting embrace, and the rhythmic movement of two intimately connected bodies create a hypnotic effect—so blissful and immersive that dancers often don’t want to wake up when the tanda ends. (see The Cradle Effect).
In this embrace, the man feels the soft, supple, sensitive responsiveness of the woman’s body. She nestles into him, surrendering herself fully, becoming part of him. As they move together, her body twists in his arms, her muscles relax and engage, her torso gently rolls along his, her breasts rub his chest, and her form adapts fluidly and femininely to his changing posture and movement. All of this generates an exquisite, deeply satisfying sensation. He feels a real, living, breathing woman. The beauty of her body and her femininity excite him. He enjoys dancing with her because only she, as a woman, can awaken within him the feelings that affirm his own masculinity—strong, needed, in control, dependable, and protective—just as only he can stir within her the sensations that she cherishes as a woman. His masculinity, strength, support, care, and protection make her feel safe, loved, and beautiful. In his embrace, she reconnects with her womanhood. Only in that moment can she fully surrender to the joy of being a woman, something real life so often demands she suppress in the name of independence. (see Tango and Gender Interdependence).
Tango is often called a refuge—and that refuge is most deeply felt when danced between opposite sexes. When danced by same-sex partners, something essential feels absent. The mystery, the magic, the polarity of masculine and feminine energies that make tango what it is—disappear. To me, that’s not tango. I know some will disagree. But, that’s me. I like women and enjoy a dance that contains the beauty of both masculinity and femininity.
And that's not all. If close embrace tango is sensual and physical, it is also romantic, poetic, and soulful. No one has expressed this more beautifully than Eugene Grigoryev in his short essay What Is Tango? I share his words here in full, because I could not say it better myself—and no portrayal of close embrace tango is complete without his poetic rendering of its deeper, dreamlike essence:
“Tango is more than just a dance or a sequence of steps. It is an expression of our emotions, an inner reflection of who we are and what we experience, a way to channel what we feel through movement. Tango is a language of expressing what we feel through motion, stirred in us by music, in unison with our partner. It comes into your life in many different ways—as a simple interest, a hobby, or a fascination… and ever so slowly it becomes an addiction.
A simple look, a gesture, a smile, an eye contact, his invitation to lead, her acceptance to follow, all done without any need of verbal communication. As the music compels them, she comes close to him, they embrace… they feel each other breathe, they feel the passionate song unfold, it flows through their bodies, invigorating them, stirring emotions, which they both share… They can be strangers in real life, but as long as they are in this tango moment, they can be anyone they want… You don't have to know the person or even want to know them. Time ceases to exist during this moment. Both dancers are moving to the music, listening for it to tell them what to do… They slow down, pause, accelerate, suspend, all in the moment… almost as being possessed by the music. Outside of this moment is the real world, with its everyday problems, solutions, responsibilities, deadlines… but not here, not now… Now it is only tango, a refuge, a moment of surreal experience of desire, longing… words are not meant to describe it.
The social aspect of milonga is fascinating. It holds anticipation, surprise, heavenly music, moments of contact and separation. The challenge and satisfaction of rhythmically moving in unison with another person is what lures us to Tango. The experience is both physical and surreal. In three minutes of a song, you can experience a rollercoaster of emotions, but you will not experience them alone. For in those three minutes there will be a person embracing you, sharing what they are feeling with you… all without a single word being spoken… pure, raw emotions expressed through motion.”
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Very nice Paul! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post. I enjoy your blog so much!
ReplyDeleteEverything sounded great until I got to this line: "In his embrace she returns to her womanhood and childhood again. Only in that moment she can truly feel and enjoy being a woman, as in real life she has to be less." Paul, you are reaching and speculating. You are not a woman, and you are just flat out wrong. I am a woman every second of the day, and every second of the day I enjoy being a woman, and at no time or place do I feel less, nor do I have to be less, nor could I be less. Let me tell you what I feel, as a woman, dancing tango in close embrace. I feel the unison of the masculine and feminine energies, and the harmony that those two energies create when we move as one and in time with the music. I trust my partner in his lead and this trust allows me to submit both to his lead and to the music. I don't feel anymore or any less a woman that at any other time of the day. What I do feel is enveloped in the sensuality and rhythm of the music, in the unity with my partner. Do I feel sexy sometimes when I'm dancing? I don't think sexy is the right word...I think its more sensual...I sometimes feel sensual, raw, powerful because the uniting of both the male and female energies can be really powerful, but these feelings are already inside me and every woman and we carry them around all day long. Tango is not the only thing that brings these things out and it certainly doesn't create them. A woman who allows herself to feel the amazing connection of tango, is a woman already in touch with her femininity and her womanhood and she relishes both every second of the day.
ReplyDeleteI like what you beautifully said about yourself as an individual. But I don't think myself, or any person in that matter, as merely an individual, but a part of the whole, without the latter the former is incomplete no matter how wonderful he/she is from his/her own perspective. I do not dispute with he who appreciates his own being, but if he regards himself as everything and can be so without others, I do think that is narrow-minded and arrogant to say the least. Tango is not about the individual. It is about the whole.
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