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 altruism, connection, cooperation, accommodation, and compromise. It is a dance that teaches the world to love.

April 30, 2011

Tango as a Philosophy


Tango is different things to different individuals: for men, it is leading; for women, it is following; for beginners, it is steps; for seasoned dancers, it is the expression of music and feelings; for lovers, it is a relationship; for attention seekers, it is a show; for heterosexuals, it is a gender expression; for homosexuals, it is a gender-neutral play; for social dancers, it is a dissipation for personal pleasure; for professionals, it is a job to entertain audiences; for casual enthusiasts, it is a recreation; for devoted milongueros, it is a lifestyle; for foreigners, it is a simple interest or fascination; and for Argentinians, it stands as a deeply ingrained emblem that bears their history and culture... We all dance tango differently because of who we are and how we understand tango.

Tango philosophy involves issues that make us different. The following is an incomplete list of such issues. Each may have many answers. Some answers may be more or less correct or incorrect, others may just be personal preferences and neither right nor wrong. But collectively these opinions and preferences decide the way each of us dances and behaves, and divide us into diffferent categories. Studying and exchanging views on these issues can help deepen our understanding, learn from each other, improve our dance, and, hopefully, achieve mastery through a comprehensive grasp of all aspects of tango.

1. What is tango
2. Why people dance tango
3. Social tango vs. performance tango
4. Tango styles
5. Artistic sublimation vs. vulgarism
6. Cultural bias and impacts
7. The relationship of the two sexes
8. The gender roles in tango
9. Gender neutrality vs. gender expression
10. Independence vs. interdependence
11. Feminism and its impact on tango
12. Individualism and its impact on tango
13. Individual performance vs. teamwork
14. Tango as a skill vs. tango as a fellowship
15. Elitism vs. populism
16. Steps vs. chreography
17. Close embrace vs. open embrace
18. Embrace-oriented style vs. step-oriented style
19. Movements vs. feelings
20. Romanticism vs. gymnastics
21. Prioritizing look vs. prioritizing essence
22. The unity of form and content
23. The danceability of tango music
24. Classic tango music vs. alternative music
25. Dancing steps vs. dancing music
26. Dancing to rhythm vs. dancing to melody
27. Three theories on leading
28. Self-centered leading vs. partner-centered leading
29. Active follow vs. passive follow
30. Simplicity vs. complexity
31. Elegance vs. fanciness
32. Progressive dancing vs. spot dancing
33. Imitating steps vs. developing skills
34. Reform vs. tradition
35. Comfort vs. beauty
36. Creativity vs. standardization
37. Liberty vs. milonga codes
38. Cabeseo vs. verbal invitation
39. The freedom in tango
40. Tango and the outlook on life
41. A dance that teaches the world to love



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