The Pure and the Powerful
I hear conflicting opinions about the role of passion in tango. Many regard tango as a passionate dance. Others say that it has nothing to do with passion or that they are surprised to hear passion and tango mentioned together.
Depending on the context of the remark, either opinion could be correct - or completely inaccurate. Unfortunately, such ambiguously qualified half-truths can create confusion about what tango is and how it should be practiced.
What's Your Passion?
Passion is universally understood as a powerful, driving affinity for some person or activity. But the objects of our passion can vary widely. Consider the following examples:
1. Sensual passion between consenting adults - love, lust, and longing.
2. Non-sensual interpersonal passion - respect, admiration, communication, non-sensual intimacy, camaraderie, fellowship, partnership.
3. A passion for doing something well, a drive for constant improvement, for refinement of the skills of dance and artistic expression, along with the pride that that grows from a sense of well-earned accomplishment.
4. A passion for creating and sharing meaning and significance, for creating and sharing beauty, for communicating openly with a partner and/or an audience.
The pursuit of Argentine tango could involve any of these types of passion. It's not uncommon for dancers to experience several of them at once.
Sensual Passion
As an example of sensual passion, imagine dancing with your true love to music that you both enjoy. Imagine a special anniversary dance with that person, perhaps in a private setting after sipping some wine. Clothing optional. Most likely, you would feel some passion for that special person as you move across the floor in their arms.
We must, however, take great care to avoid bringing this type of passion on to the social dance floor. This type of passion is acceptable only with a significant other or with some person with whom we have made an agreement of open intimacy. Sharing these feelings with anyone else is unacceptable - and, quite frankly, creepy.
I've heard/read comments from people who claim that they like to dance because they enjoy cuddling. It's sounds harmless enough, but unless the other person agrees to subject themselves to this treatment, keep your cuddles to yourself. Unwanted affection is never acceptable.
Non-sensual Passion
Non-sensual intimacy is an area where Argentine tango shines. We can share a beautiful, sensitive level of communication, admiration, and joy with a wide variety of partners, with whom we have no desire or opportunity for a sensual relationship. This type of passion transcends age and gender. Two heterosexual men (or women) can enjoy the feeling together. It's pure and clear, and it is based on mutual respect as well as a mutual respect and love for the dance, its culture and music.
A Passion for Doing Something Well
Every dancer whom I have ever met shares this passion, the passion to improve, to be able to perform challenging movements and to dance them beautifully. We believe in our hearts that being better dancers will enable us to have more opportunities to dance and express ourselves more fully. We might dream of giving performances or dancing effortlessly in some impressive venue. It's a natural inclination, and I would be very surprised to meet ANY dancer, of tango or any other dance, who doesn't not share this passion to some degree.
A Passion for Communicating and Sharing Meaning
Just about every tango dancer has felt this passion (or dreamt of it), whether it's sharing a quiet, supportive moment with that one person in your arms or sharing a beautiful improvisation of choreography with a roomful of people.
What role does passion play in Argentine tango? A complex and important role. A role that varies from partner to partner and situation to situation. A role that we need to understand clearly if we are to communicate effectively with our partners and/or our students. A role that should never be dismissed or denied in an ill-conceived comment.
¡Buena suerte amigos, y muchas gracias!
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