My Relationship With Tango
When I started Tango, I never imagined that I would become a professional Tango dancer. It was just so much fun and I enjoyed everyday practicing for being able to dance with good dancers, like everybody else does. That feeling of fun has never changed even after thirteen years, but as I got deeper and more serious about Tango, Tango changed my way of life.
Before I met Tango, I never asked my heart “what do I want?” or “how do I feel?”. Living in Japan as one who was studying and/or working, the first and the only thing we were taught was how to get along with people and society. Not about getting along with yourself. I didn’t realize the existence of my will and my heart back then. I didn’t know why Tango was so fascinating to me, I just couldn’t stop searching for that something that was hidden in it. So, I moved to Argentina. Being in Buenos Aires for years struggling with Tango and life (Yes, life in Buenos Aires is not easy...), I still had this feeling of uselessness, and was tired of looking for something that I could’t see.
I had many magical experiences in my Tango life, but I strongly remember the moment with two of my Maestros, Carlos Perez and Rosa Forte—they are well known as Maestros of Tango Villa Urquiza— changed me just with an embrace. One day, after taking hours of classes and listening to the stories of their lives, Carlitos held me in his arms with a sense of true acceptance. My heart suddenly woke up and started crying out, and I understood why I dance Tango. Tango is not in the steps, not in the form we dance, but it is in the human communication based on love. In the embrace we are transparent, we are naked as a naughty children in front of the mother, and still we are loved. That sense of being loved allowed me to accept myself and to stop trying to be a different person/dancer.
Shortly after this experience of opening my heart, I discovered that, even if I did my best for other people, it wouldn’t necessarily make them happy even if it was at the sacrifice of my own happiness. Tango lets us find out who we are, good things or even bad things in us. Tango makes me face and accept who I am. I might not be able to dance well with everybody and I might not be able to have good relationships with just anyone, but I accept that. While constantly trying to reach and connect with more people’s hearts, I treasure every step I make as if it were my last.
Click here to read more articles:
1 My Philosophy, My Teaching Goals
2 My Relationship With Tango
3 My opinion about Tango Styles
4 Treasures of Tango
5 Biography
Before I met Tango, I never asked my heart “what do I want?” or “how do I feel?”. Living in Japan as one who was studying and/or working, the first and the only thing we were taught was how to get along with people and society. Not about getting along with yourself. I didn’t realize the existence of my will and my heart back then. I didn’t know why Tango was so fascinating to me, I just couldn’t stop searching for that something that was hidden in it. So, I moved to Argentina. Being in Buenos Aires for years struggling with Tango and life (Yes, life in Buenos Aires is not easy...), I still had this feeling of uselessness, and was tired of looking for something that I could’t see.
I had many magical experiences in my Tango life, but I strongly remember the moment with two of my Maestros, Carlos Perez and Rosa Forte—they are well known as Maestros of Tango Villa Urquiza— changed me just with an embrace. One day, after taking hours of classes and listening to the stories of their lives, Carlitos held me in his arms with a sense of true acceptance. My heart suddenly woke up and started crying out, and I understood why I dance Tango. Tango is not in the steps, not in the form we dance, but it is in the human communication based on love. In the embrace we are transparent, we are naked as a naughty children in front of the mother, and still we are loved. That sense of being loved allowed me to accept myself and to stop trying to be a different person/dancer.
Shortly after this experience of opening my heart, I discovered that, even if I did my best for other people, it wouldn’t necessarily make them happy even if it was at the sacrifice of my own happiness. Tango lets us find out who we are, good things or even bad things in us. Tango makes me face and accept who I am. I might not be able to dance well with everybody and I might not be able to have good relationships with just anyone, but I accept that. While constantly trying to reach and connect with more people’s hearts, I treasure every step I make as if it were my last.
Click here to read more articles:
1 My Philosophy, My Teaching Goals
2 My Relationship With Tango
3 My opinion about Tango Styles
4 Treasures of Tango
5 Biography