Kindness cuts both ways in tango

Meet six people who made tango what it is today: Enrique Santos Discépolo, the orphan whose lyrics earned him the nickname “the philosopher of tango”; Osvaldo Pugliese, whose orchestra kept playing beside his empty piano, marked by a single red carnation, while he was imprisoned; ... Show More

Why do some dancers seem to hit a plateau while others continue to grow year after year? In this episode, we explore two fundamentally different ways of understanding tango movement: downward spirals and upward spirals. We'll examine how each system organizes communication betwee ... Show More

How much should a leader determine, and how much creative space should a follower have? This question lies at the heart of one of tango's most fascinating debates. In this episode, we explore the spectrum between precise leading and open, collaborative dancing. On one end, a lead ... Show More

<p>In this banter I explore the (un)friendliness of the social tango scene and the different camps that people fall into regarding this topic. The topic was sparked by a recent article (https://therhinestone.medium.com/i-went-to-my-first-milonga-lets-talk-about-it-2a4a93192d2b ... Show More

<p>Today I dive into a difficult but important conversation about power dynamics and respect in the tango world. Prompted by a recent public incident during a performance, I explore how moments like this expose deeper issues within professional and social tango relationships.</p> ... Show More

<p>What limits us social dancers most is not the technical stuff, but rather the psychological and emotional stuff. Tango is notorious for causing conflict and many couples break up after starting to learn this dance, at least that’s what happened for me.<br/><br/>In this episode ... Show More

<p>Tango is famous for confusing people to the point that you might forget how to walk for a second or two. In this banter Alex and I cast a wide net as we talk about the parallels between tango and art. We then explore a few of the tango concepts that cause the most confusion an ... Show More

<p>In this episode, I explore the role of performances in tango, especially from the perspective of social dancers. While many tango enthusiasts find performances irrelevant or even off-putting, there’s a deeper conversation about how performances and social dancing intersect.</p ... Show More

<p>Have you ever been caught in the whirlwind of conflicting advice from tango teachers, each one claiming to hold the ultimate truth? In this reflective episode, we explore how the diverse styles of tango—Milonguero, Salon, and Nuevo—shape not only our movement but also the way ... Show More

<p>In this episode, I explore the topic of jealousy in tango. I reflect on my personal experience with jealousy and how it has affected my relationships. I discuss the different types of jealousy that tango dancers experience, particularly focusing on the insecurities and fears t ... Show More

<p>Tango seems so fancy at first, so many moves to learn, so much technique. But you talk to any seasoned dancer and they will tell you it’s really not about the moves… it’s really something else.<br/><br/>What is it that we are after on the dance floor? And what value do we brin ... Show More

Tango is Argentina’s most iconic cultural tradition. But for a hundred years, tangos have only been written from the perspective of men. The conductor of “La empoderada” or “The Empowered,” Argentina’s first all-female tango orchestra, is trying to change that. A transcript of th ... Show More