Tango Mentor

I’ve been wanting to write about tango minimalism for a while, and yet my thoughts on this topic are so intertwined with other topics that whenever I start – I end up writing about other stuff. In fact, the nature of simplicity is that it’s connected to complexity in unpredictable ways: it contains everything and yet shows very little in form. It works for art – and it works for social tango as well, despite the fact that social dancing is not an art form. Dancing Simple Is Hard "I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” - Michelangelo People usually think that when you start with tango, your dancing is at first simple and then, as you gain knowledge, it … [Read more...] about Tango Minimalism: Small Steps to Heaven

Dear milonguero events organizers, I am sure you noticed that there is this perception among some dancers that tango milonguero is a dying thing; something which was something in the past and does no longer exist. Many think that the natural development of tango went into direction they call "tango salon", appropriated term which is basically toned down version of tango escenario. I believe that what they don't understand is that social tango (the real tango salon), or tango milonguero, actually is still existing and developing far away from what has been served to them. I'm not that long in the world of tango: my decade and a half long tango adventure is minuscule compared to some … [Read more...] about Open Letter to Encuentro Organizers: Produce Milonguero Videos

We have decoupled society from nature. We have decoupled sex from intimacy. We have decoupled thinking from feeling. We have even decoupled tango from human nature. I don't have to be an expert psychologist or sociologist to recognize that this cannot happen without causing damage and alienation, without creating defects, and without losing something essential. The dehumanizing direction we are all headed in as a society reflects how tango is danced as well. I'm not saying there's a single right way or an ultimate prototype of what tango should be. I'm simply suggesting that when I view tango in a broader context, it appears to me that it has the potential to be much more. If we were not … [Read more...] about Dehumanizing tango

Since I've started publishing articles every week, I guess you've asked yourself: does artificial intelligence writes for me and what is my AI usage policy? The short answer is “No, I do it all by myself.” But there’s more to it… This article, as I imagine it, will serve well as my AI usage policy - since I want to be intellectually honest with my readers. I write every day! It helps me with my mental discipline and also brings me closer to my goal of improving my English, as it’s not my native language. A few months back, I attended an encuentro and met Annie in person for the first time. She is one of the people who helped me with proofreading in the past. During our … [Read more...] about My AI usage policy: Robots are Confused About Tango

Why do some people think that milonguero is mostly danced by the elderly? You might assume it's because the average age at encuentros is slightly higher, but I believe it's because it takes experience and maturity to be comfortable in an intimate embrace. And it has nothing to do with the age. People dance as they are, but at the same time, by dancing, they can become their better selves. Tango is not just a dance; like any social activity, it often has deeper meaning that goes beyond just the form. It's a mirror that reflects who we are. It challenges us to confront our vulnerabilities and, by doing so, become better versions of ourselves. Of course, none of this happens if you don't … [Read more...] about Milonguero is Not for the Old, But for Emotionally Mature People

No matter your flavor of tango, I am sure we will agree that the connection is very very important. For me, it’s such a crucial aspect that I find myself discussing it in nearly every article. However, it’s important to clarify what I mean by “connection,” especially considering that different people have different idea about what it means. Countless discussions have left me realizing that often we agree on the essence, but our differing definitions cause misunderstandings. When I started learning tango, connection was presented to me as one of the basic techniques necessary for dancing. I began with the mindset of sending leads with my torso and hands, using “the frame” to guide, … [Read more...] about What Does ‘Connection’ in Tango Mean: From Practicality to Transcendence