Ismael Choreography

Ismael Heljalil (1929-2018) was a revered figure within the milonguero community, known for his kind nature and gentle demeanor. Though details about his life remain scarce, his legacy endures through the dance videos he left behind, offering glimpses into his gentle character and profound love for tango.

What distinguishes Ismael Heljalil from his peers is his distinctive choreography, characterized by a seamless fusion of rock, retreats and rotations. A hallmark of his style is the rock steps with the left leg as the fulcrum to place his right leg behind, culminating in a graceful pivoting to the right. (Please click the links to watch on YouTube.)

This movement can be mirrored with the left leg by stepping back with his left leg and pivoting to the left. Ismael often combines walking forward in a circle and walking backward in a circle, either to the right or to the left. No one can alternate these circular movements with forward and backward steps as seamlessly as Ismael does. This remarkable ability hinges on his unparalleled musicality.

In essence, Ismael's dance style is characterized by a continuous rotation anchored in backward motion, skillfully blending elements of rock, back steps, and turns. This unique approach sets him apart, inspiring many to emulate his technique, yet few can truly replicate his finesse. What is difficult to copy is not his footwork, of course, but his comprehension of music, underscoring the depth of skill possessed by the master himself.

"If God could dance, he would dance like Ismael. He masterfully improvises what he feels in the moment. He walks, and oh…how he walks with intimate knowledge of every phrase and nuance of the music from his soul." - Jantango

Making Your Leading Stand Out

When leading tango, it is important to avoid cookie-cutter routines. Here are some tips to help you be a distinctive leader:

1. Embrace variety in your dance route: Instead of moving straight forward along the line of dance, dare to explore different directions and patterns, break away from monotony, frequent the change of direction, interweave different steps, and lead your partner in unexpected move patterns.

2. Incorporate backward steps: In tango, men mostly move forward and women move backward. If men could break the pattern and dance backwards, it would be a change for both parties and make the dance stand out.

3. Simplify your movements: In a world where complexity often reigns supreme, dare to stand out by embracing simplicity. Remember, less is often more when it comes to making a lasting impression.

4. Master the art of pivoting: In tango, it's customary for men to navigate the dance floor while women dance around men, often resulting in men relying on static steps. However, by integrating pivots into your movements to enable agile and fluid turns around the woman, your lead will truly shine.

5. Engage your torso and hips: Most men don't rotate their torso and hips very much when dancing. If you can engage your torso and hips more, your leading will reach a higher level. The rule of tango is that your torso must always face your partner, no matter which side of you she is on or moving to. The competence to swivel the torso and hips helps the man to maintain good connection and enhances his ability to use his torso to lead the woman.

6. Use a variety of rhythms：Most men dance too fast and in a monotonous speed. If you slow down the pace and use a variety of rhythms, your dance will stand out. Pause and slow motion are to dance what punctuation is to writing. They make the dance more expressive and interesting.

7. Lead her to turn in slow motion：Most women turn too hastily, either forced by men or due to their own habit of chasing the beat. But feminine beauty is, in fact, better revealed in slow motion. When leading steps that involve turns, such as molinete, ocho and planeo, if you can slow down her pace, that will make her movements look more appealing.

8. Dance to express, not to impress: Above all, remember that tango is a dance of connection and feelings. Instead of focusing on showcasing your technical prowess, dance with genuine emotion and feeling. Let the music guide you and inspire your movements. By dancing to express the music and feelings, you'll create a profound and unforgettable experience for both you and your partner.

Philosophies that Separate Two Worlds

Chinese philosophy is rooted in a holistic worldview, perceiving the universe as an interconnected whole rather than a collection of isolated parts. It embraces contradiction, not as conflict, but as a natural expression of harmony—seeing opposing forces as interdependent and complementary. Within this framework, humanity transcends individualism in favor of collective well-being, emphasizing cooperation and communal success. At its heart, Chinese thought values unity, balance, and peaceful coexistence—prioritizing collaboration over conflict and mutual benefit over the elimination of adversaries (see Understanding China: Yellow River and the Character of the Chinese Nation).

Grounded in collectivism, Chinese philosophy places the well-being of society above individual gain, advocating for social harmony through public morality. Human rights are understood not merely as personal entitlements but as responsibilities toward the collective good, aiming to ensure safe, equitable, and harmonious living conditions for all. While Chinese law protects individual freedoms, including the right to pursue wealth within legal bounds, it also curtails the unchecked influence of special interests to safeguard the broader interests of the people and society as a whole (see Understanding China: Geography, Confucianism, and Chinese-Style Modernization).

Economically, China promotes the vision of “common prosperity” through a hybrid model that integrates state-owned enterprises, private ventures, and market mechanisms. This system encourages individual initiative while ensuring that personal success aligns with public welfare. The state plays a crucial role in regulating capital to prevent it from undermining social equity and long-term stability.

Politically, China stresses the central role of the state in uniting the nation, managing diversity, protecting vulnerable groups, and investing in infrastructure and the common good. It adheres to the principles of democratic centralism and national cohesion, rejecting excessive partisanship and decentralization. Chinese democracy—often described as “people’s democracy”—is consultative and consensus-driven, contrasting sharply with the adversarial nature of many Western electoral systems. As a “whole-process democracy,” it involves citizens in policymaking, implementation, and oversight, ensuring that public decisions reflect broad consultation and careful deliberation. By minimizing partisan strife, Chinese governance aims to foster shared prosperity, social harmony, and egalitarian development.

On the global stage, China upholds five guiding principles: mutual respect for sovereignty, non-aggression, non-interference, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. It advocates for international cooperation, peaceful development, and a shared future for humanity marked by global prosperity and mutual respect.

In contrast, Western philosophy tends to embrace an atomistic worldview, interpreting the world as composed of independent and self-serving entities. Western individualism views people as autonomous actors with conflicting interests, heavily shaped by Darwinian notions such as “the struggle for existence” and “survival of the fittest.” This perspective fosters a “law of the jungle” mentality, where defeating or overpowering others is seen as a necessity for survival (see Darwinism and Confucianism). Western culture emphasizes self-interest, personal achievement, and strategic advantage, often at the expense of collective well-being and moral responsibility. Its rhetoric on human rights is highly deceptive. While professing to promote universal freedom, it in fact only serves the interests of a privileged minority, enabling them to dominate legislation, the economy, media, military, and foreign policy to their own benefit.

Economically, Western nations champion unrestrained capitalism, driven by competition and self-interest. While this approach may spur short-term growth, it often results in rampant inequality, unchecked greed, and systemic injustice. Capital gains precedence over national welfare, benefitting only a small elite at the expense of broader society. The result is that the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and for most people, "the pursuit of happiness" has become an illusion. The prioritization of profit over production inevitably leads to the hollowing out of the economy, eventually triggering systemic crises (see America Is in Big Trouble).

Politically, Western democracies often beset by partisanship, polarization, and social fragmentation. Despite formal democratic structures, these systems can devolve into political theater, rife with empty promises, ideological extremes, and sensationalism. Politicians, frequently funded by special interests, tend to serve their donors more than the public, reducing the role of voters to a periodic ballot with little real influence (see Democracy vs. Plutocracy).

In international affairs, Western powers often adopt a hegemonic posture, relying on tactics such as divide-and-conquer, sanctions, military interventions, and regime change. These actions have destabilized regions, perpetuated global conflict, and undermined prospects for lasting peace. The success of the West historically hinges on the conquest, colonization, genocide, exploitation, and plunder of weaker nations.

For a long time, the Chinese struggled to comprehend Western behaviors, yet they have now come to understand its underlying logic. Unless Western plutocrats alter their philosophical outlook, global peace remains elusive. This sentiment was succinctly expressed by the Chinese delegation during the Sino-US talks in Alaska: "We overestimated you and assumed you would adhere to basic diplomatic norms. We must clarify our stance: You lack the authority to assert dominance over China." Despite the potential dangers inherent in this worldview, Western plutocrats are unlikely to relinquish it. It may require the collapse of the existing paradigm before humanity can aspire to construct a new world.

Thankfully, it’s becoming increasingly clear which philosophy holds more promise for humanity. As the world undergoes profound transformation, a new possibility is beginning to emerge. The rise of China and the relative decline of the West have given the Global South renewed hope. Many now glimpse the possibility of a new world order—one grounded in civilized values, peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, equality, fairness, justice, and win-win cooperation. This stands in stark contrast to the existing system, dominated by self-interest, inequality, exploitation, and aggression (see Pluralism vs. Monism).