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 with the woman and enhances his ability to use his torso to lead her.

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 embraces a holistic perspective, perceiving the world as an interconnected whole rather than fragmented parts. While acknowledging contradictions, it emphasizes harmony as the ultimate outcome, with opposing forces being interdependent and cooperative. Humanity, in this context, transcends individualism, focusing on communities where collective success arises from collaboration. At its core, this philosophy values unity, balance, coexistence, and mutual benefit, steering away from conflict and adversary elimination, and prioritizing cooperation (see Understanding China: Yellow River and the Character of the Chinese Nation).

Rooted in collectivism, Chinese philosophy prioritizes societal well-being over personal gain, advocating for social harmony grounded in public morality. Human rights extend beyond individual entitlements to encompass the collective good, emphasizing peaceful coexistence and equitable living conditions. Chinese law protects personal freedoms including the pursuit of wealth within legal boundaries, while placing restrictions on special interests to safeguard the interests of all people and society as a whole (see Understanding China: Geography, Confucianism, and Chinese-Style Modernization).

Economically, China promotes "common prosperity" through a blended model of state-owned enterprises, private business, and market mechanisms. This approach encourages personal initiative while ensuring a balance between the successful and the general population. It aims to blend market-driven growth with social equity. The state intervenes to make sure capital doesn’t harm broader societal interests.

Politically, China emphasizes the role of the state in fostering unity, managing differences, protecting the vulnerable, building infrastructure, and promoting the common good. It champions democratic centralism and national unity, rejecting decentralization and partisanship. China's democracy is described as a "people's democracy." It focuses on consensus-building through consultation, contrasting with the competitive, often divisive nature of Western electoral systems. It is also described as a "whole-process democracy," where citizens are involved in policymaking, implementation, and oversight. Decisions affecting people's lives are carefully deliberated and implemented with public input. By avoiding partisan strife, Chinese politics operates without catering to special interests, aiming to build an egalitarian and harmonious society where shared prosperity and happiness are prioritized.

On the global stage, China adheres to five key principles: mutual respect for sovereignty, non-aggression, non-interference, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. It promotes international cooperation, peaceful development, global common prosperity, and the creation of a community with a shared future for humanity.

In contrast, Western thought embraces an atomistic perspective, breaking the world down into separate, competing entities. Western individualism sees humans as independent actors with clashing interests, drawing on Darwinian ideas of the "struggle for existence" and "survival of the fittest." This perspective encourages a "law of the jungle" mindset, where defeating or suppressing opponents is considered essential for survival (see Darwinism and Confucianism). Western culture emphasizes self-reliance, individual achievement, and personal success. People often focus more on their own needs and strategies than on moral considerations and collective well-being. The Western human rights rhetoric is highly deceptive. While ostensibly promoting universal freedom, it in fact only serves a privileged minority, enabling them to exploit competitive advantages to defeat the disadvantaged majority, thereby controlling legislation, the economy, media, military affairs, and foreign policy to benefit themselves.

Economically, the West leans heavily on capitalism, self-interest, and competition. While this approach can spur growth in the short term, it often leads to unchecked greed, inequality, and social injustice, allowing capital to dominate national interests, 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, freedom has become an illusion. This approach of prioritizing profit over production will eventually lead to the hollowing out of the economy, triggering systemic failures (see America Is in Big Trouble).

Politically, Western systems are marred by partisanship, social division and polarization. It is merely a formal form of democracy, driven by partisan interests, sensationalism, empty promises and ideological nonsense. Politicians funded by special interests work more for their donors than for ordinary citizens, leaving voters with limited influence beyond casting a ballot every few years (see Democracy vs. Plutocracy).

In global affairs, Western elites often adopt a hegemonic mindset, employing strategies like divide and conquer, imposing unilateral sanctions, inciting conflicts, and waging wars. These actions disrupt global stability and create turmoil around the world. 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. The world is undergoing unprecedented transformations. The ascent of China and the decline of the West have given countries in the Global South renewed hope, allowing them to glimpse a possible new world order characterized by civilized values, peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, equality, fairness, justice, and win-win cooperation—an alternative to the current system dominated by self-interest, inequality, bullying, exploitation, aggression and war (see Pluralism vs. Monism).