Paola Tacchetti

Zhou Dunyi (1017-1073), a Confucian scholar from the Northern Song Dynasty (AD 960-1127), wrote a beautiful essay, On the Love of Lotus. The following is the English translation.

"There are many kinds of lovely flowers and plants. Tao Yuanming of the Jin Dynasty only loved chrysanthemums. Since the Tang Dynasty, affection for peonies has become a fashion. But my favorite is the lotus, which comes out of the mud but not stained, washed by clear waves but not looking coquettish. An emblem of purity, modesty and perfection, it stands there quietly, allowing its fragrance to waft far - something to be regarded reverently from a distance, and not be profaned. To me, chrysanthemum is the hermit among flowers, peony is the plutocrat among flowers, and lotus is the gentleman among flowers. Alas, few have loved the chrysanthemum since Tao Yuanming, and none love the lotus like myself, whereas the peony is a favorite with many people."

I was reminded of this essay when I watched Paola Tacchetti dance tango. I only saw her dance once many years ago in Buenos Aires. She was still very young at the time, dancing socially at Salon Canning. In a pool of sophisticated dancers, she was like a fresh lotus protruding from the water. Her partner, a prominent milonguero, kissed her hand to express his admiration for her after they danced, which left a deep impression on me.

Recently, I was reminded of the essay again when I watched some Paola Tacchetti's dancing videos taken around the same time. I like her style because she is a natural, without any pretense. Her dance has a pure and intrinsic beauty that is in sharp contrast to the affected fashion of today. Such innocent dance style is rare nowadays.

Tango conveys a person's character, values, aesthetics and taste. True beauty is gentlemanly - natural, simple, implicit and genuine, rather than pretentious and conceited. I hope the prose quoted above can inspire more dancers to become like Paola Tacchetti, especially in this age of ostentation and artiness.