Philip Robert

Tango Argentina

Finally I managed to make it to the free Sunday Tango classes in Ashland. The first Sunday I made a mistake on the time. Last Sunday I was in Portland. This Sunday I made it and had a great time. The steps in this dance are simple, you can learn them in a day… Be careful though, this is a very deceptive simplicity. Learn the steps in one day, then spend a lifetime learning to master them.

Our instructor Clay Nelson walked us through some basic steps. Some quick-quicks, some step-togethers, and some check steps. We practiced in a practice embrace, and he was continually encouraging us to try a close embrace. The close embrace was nearly my undoing today.

My first partner was an older lady. The steps were simple and we moved comfortably in a close embrace. The music was a slow tempo classic Tango piece and quickly I felt myself daydreaming about how much my ex-girlfriend would have enjoyed doing this. I was daydreaming about how powerful this dance would have been had I been dancing with her.

It is possible to dance the Tango with a complete stranger and become very close to them over the course of a song. Imagine the feelings, the intimacy, the desire and passion if you danced this with the love of your life. I wonder if my partner could sense any of the feelings I was projecting as I closed my eyes and imagined that I was dancing with Kate. I wonder if she could feel my emotions flow into the sad tango music?

I look back and imagine dancing a slow sweet tango with Kate in our socks and pajamas in the kitchen. Playing out our attraction and desire for each other over and over while the dogs looked at us like we were crazy. Take your partner and tango. Tango in, tango out, tango in your pajamas and socks in the kitchen. Just Tango!