In my free time, I relish the experience of fishing. While many people find joy in the serene beauty of nature, my true thrill comes when I feel the tug of a fish on the line. If the fish aren’t biting, the peaceful surroundings alone don’t satisfy me. Fish, however, can be quite unpredictable. Some days, I leave empty-handed, but on most days, I catch two or three in an hour. Then there are those exceptional days when the fish go wild, biting with unrestrained enthusiasm. Just cast your line, and they eagerly strike. In a matter of hours, you can reel in dozens. It’s these rare experiences that keep me hooked. On reflection, my passion for fishing is rooted in the anticipation. In truth, miracles don't happen every day.
Tango shares a similar allure. The elegant venue, soft lighting, smooth floor, enchanting music, and impeccable attire create a beautiful setting—but without the right partner, they amount to mere decoration. Then, one night, unexpectedly, you meet someone whose height, skill, musicality, temperament, and presence align perfectly with yours. As if fate has conspired to bring two souls together, you move in harmony, sharing a dance of seamless cooperation and individual expression. It is a revelation—transformative and unforgettable. From that moment on, you return to the dance floor again and again, hoping to capture that magic one more time. Yet, like in fishing, such encounters are rare. In my fourteen years of attending countless milongas, I have experienced this only a handful of times. Yet those few dances are enough to keep me coming back. Tango, like life, is the pursuit of a dream, and in both, miracles are rare.
We often forget that imperfection is life’s default setting. To truly enjoy life, we must find beauty in the ordinary. Voltaire once said: “What is tolerance? It is the consequence of humanity. We are all formed of fragility and error; let us pardon each other’s folly—this is the first law of nature.”
Yet, the pursuit of excellence is also inherent in our nature. Transcending the ordinary requires perseverance. It is through embracing routine, the mundane, and imperfections that we achieve greatness. So let us encourage ourselves to be resilient. Miracles may come—not as gifts of luck, but as quiet rewards of dedication.
Postscript
I wrote the above nine years ago. Since then, as my dancing has matured, so too has my experience. Most of the people I dance with now are seasoned dancers, and the extraordinary moments I once longed for have become more frequent. When two skilled dancers meet, even if they are strangers, magic can happen. That is the true beauty of mastery.—February 22, 2025
