Years ago, 1995 if you care about keeping time, we made a commitment to become a clearinghouse of feelings and emotions, the kind that Argentine tango provoke in those who come close enough to be touched by it. For almost 8 years El Firulete became the independent voice of Argentine tango in the United States. There may be a few out there who have kept tabs, and know about our dedication to fulfill that original commitment as promoters, publishers, teachers, and since November 2007 best selling authors.
Big deal, one may say. For us it is because every tick of the Rolex of our lives marks the inexorable passing of time. We only live once, and if we play it right, once is all we need. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Do the things you fear, and the death of fear is certain.” It is human nature to deal with fear every time any task is undertaken. Fear of ridicule, fear of failure, and one of my favorites, fear of exclusion. Imagine a recurring nightmare where they’re throwing the biggest milonga in the world, and you are not invited. How about the fear of dying before they play La cumparsita?
Every time we teach tango, we emphasize our belief that to be able to be a good tango dancer, one has to have an attitude.Tango is about attitude, pride and poise. The sanitized version of the tango being practiced in our times still carries the competitive element and the quest for supremacy characteristic of the early days. Interestingly enough, the sociological aspects of the tango have crossed the boundaries of nationalities and idiosyncrasies as if there was some sort of common basic instinct that drives people to develop good and bad tango attitudes regardless of their places of origin.
This phenomenon continues to puzzle sociologists and others interested in understanding the anthropology, the politics, the economics and the passion of the tango.
It seems that when tango fever strikes an area, a group appears that takes over the development of activities. Rules and models of behavior are established, and for a while the association of tango aficionados is smooth, exciting, and enjoyable. Sooner or later, people begin to break away from the order like seedlings of wild flowers. Alternatives are explored and new ideas are pushed forward. The rituals of tribal association take over as new entrepreneurs sprout, and many gospels compete for the souls of the tango faithful.
Nervous hand wringing and worrisome thoughts about the cracks in the harmoniously set establishment share center stage with shoulder shrugging, head shaking, and personal infighting intended to protect territories. These territorial battles simmer behind the guise of political correctness and the fear of confrontation. Never mind the claims that nobody owns the tango, or that there is no right or wrong in the tango because a different tango plays for every individual. It is a way to channel feelings and emotions. It’s about life, survival and supremacy. And that is the good news, because that is what tango is all about. That is how over a century ago the music, the song, and the dance competed for the souls of an alienated society, when loneliness drove people to where they could find solace, to places where they could hold somebody close to their hearts without a single word being spoken, and without false or empty promises.
For those who love tango with a passion, you are blessed if you are surrounded by a vibrant and active tango population: a population large enough to compensate for conflicts, clashes and ego bruising; a population with enough maturity to tolerate competition, attitudes, and bitter disputes. You may be lucky enough to have great milongas spiced with sexy shows, cozy potlucks and torrid romances. You are provided with the opportunity to experience a real kaleidoscope of feelings, human expressions about who and what you are. You are part of a tango community, alive and kicking, authentic in its intense dedication to enjoy life, freedom and the pursuit of happiness. That is some kind of American dream, to dance until your limbs fall off. So what are we waiting for?
