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January 2023

- Tango Argentino -

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I don't think anyone who loves to dance can resist the temptation of a stopover in Buenos Aires on a trip through South America. The idea of immersing oneself in the sizzling world of Tango Argentino is too fascinating – even if it's only for one night.

The small tango hotel, where the airport taxi dropped us off early in the morning, was outwardly no different from the surrounding buildings. But just looking from the dim corridor into the large dance room with wall mirror, chandelier and wooden parquet floor triggered a tense curiosity in me. Everyone was still asleep, but freshly ironed dresses were already swaying in the morning breeze towards the evening and high-heeled strappy sandals shone as if feverishly in anticipation of the coming night. Later in the day, hotel guests practised new steps in the dance room in front of the mirror in the arms of the dance instructors and in the evening there was a joyful tension dominated by the question 'Where to, where to?'.

Even today, you can see many couples dancing a Tango Argentino on the streets of Buenos Aires, and every day there are numerous dance festivals in the calendar of events, the so-called Milongas. But my husband and I opted for an ambience closer to home, because the long overseas flight was still in our bones. Just to have a look and dance a little bit, we said to ourselves.

The small dance hall was on the first floor of a business-like building. The tango music quickly drew us from stair step to stair step into a denser crowd of people. The room seemed divided into three parts. On the dance floor in front of the long bar, dozens of couples moved – devoutly absorbed in the music and the interplay of their bodies. To the left, the women sat at tables, to the right, the men. Here we found a free place for us. When the instruments fell silent for a short pause, the women and men returned to their respective sides to rejoin new couples as the music began. It was eye contact and signs of agreement that brought people together. Already strangers were lying in each other's arms, nestling their bodies close together, moving from distance to closeness, from closeness to distance. In Tango Argentino, couples communicate non-verbally through movement alone. Some of the best temporarily merged into one, both physically and mentally, for the duration of a wistful or powerful, yearning or passionate title. A love affair in three minutes! It was beautiful just to watch. And then, despite our limited knowledge, to dance along a bit too.

"But next time, we don't wear Globetrotter sandals with rubber soles," I teased Klaus as I painted a picture of dancing on a beautiful corner of the city the next day shortly before our drive to the airport. Will we ever return? We will probably always play with this thought – like all tangoaficionados who live and love the passion of Tango Argentino.

 

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