Sway Me Now: It Takes You to Tango
Intoxicated by the spirit of the new year, I deluded myself into thinking that tango would be painless – easy, even – and signed up for a class on a whim.
Keep in mind that I’d never taken dance in my life, much less tango – which I imagined to be an elegant, exotic dance that involved clenching a rose between your teeth.
It was my friend who first gave me second thoughts.
“You’re doing tango?” she asked doubtfully. “I went once. Couldn’t take it seriously. The movements are just so unnatural.”
Cue instant panic. By the time Thursday rolled around, I was a shaky mess.
The instructor Michael loomed by the door, wearing tiny spectacles and a solemn smile. I stared at him skeptically. Monstrously tall and thin, he looked more like my high school librarian than a tango teacher.
But his gawky demeanor vanished the moment the dramatic tunes came on. He began gesturing impatiently, exuding a sudden air of confidence. “Come on, pair up! Now step. And step. And step …”
I was flustered – and honestly, tempted to bolt from the premises. Michael had so far explained nothing. What beat was I supposed to follow with my feet? Where was I to put my arms?
I was just about ready to give up when Michael ordered us to form two rows in the back of the room. He explained what we’d been doing wrong, and repeated the steps slowly in front of us. It was all about keeping the upper body straight, controlling the hips and pausing at the right moments.
We followed his lead, first without and then with the music. What started out as a frustratingly impossible task soon became manageable. After one successful round, Michael looked pointedly at me.
“I’m very impressed,” he said. “Some of you show promise.”
I felt a tiny surge of pride, and was shocked to find I was enjoying myself. I quickly began to grasp the rhythm, and with it the beauty of the dance. It was so controlled, yet it flowed. So sensual, yet subtle.
Near the end of the hour, Michael brought in a fellow expert dancer. They twirled expertly around the room, throwing their heads back, pushing each other back and forth – a battle of the sexes. We watched in silent awe, inspired and hungry for more.
After this performance, we threw ourselves into the dance with a new vigor. It was still easy to forget the steps, though, especially when you were paired with hesitant partners.
Michael would swoop in between the couples who looked like they were struggling. The second you gave him your hand, you could close your eyes, and just feel the direction he was pulling. And all of a sudden you, too, would be gliding.
Beijing Tango offers classes every Thursday at 8pm at the Sino-Chu Wine Bar. Register at beijingtango@hotmail.com
