Cual es tu Tango? - What is Your Tango?

Two views:

First: An unedited post from Tango Zen master, Chan Park

"Tango, a Special Gift to the World from Argentina"

"Tango, un regalo especial para el mundo desde Argentina"

As I have said many times before, Tango is a special gift to the world from Buenos Aires, Argentina. This is what I believe. First-hand, this dance has provided people around the world with the opportunity to embrace, to touch someone in a way that might otherwise be restricted, impermissible, or simply unavailable in their own culture. This firsthand experience has greatly benefited those who have studied tango worldwide.

However, this opportunity has also led to unique subcultures and amusing interpretations. Different communities have reshaped tango in ways that reflect their own cultural habits, often with surprising or humorous results. Here are some entertaining variations I’ve witnessed or heard from friends.

My friend R in Switzerland once told me she goes to milongas not necessarily for the dance, but for the sense of acceptance. Tango, for her and many others, is secondary to the environment of socialising, embracing, and catching up with familiar faces. People primarily dance with those from their own tango school, reinforcing a sense of community rather than exploring the wider tango scene.

During my own experience in Switzerland, I noticed how people were unfailingly polite—perhaps because they had to be. When I arrived at a milonga in 2012, I felt disconnected, uninterested in dancing. A woman approached me and asked me to dance. I smiled and declined, but she persisted, assuming I was a shy beginner. "Come on, I can teach you!" she said enthusiastically. That was my cue to leave.

My friend C from the UK described a particular phenomenon in European encuentros (Tango get-togethers). Many retirees move in tight-knit groups, attending one encuentro after another, meeting the same people every other weekend, and dancing only within their circle. Tango has become their way of socialising, travelling, and maintaining a sense of continuity in their post-retirement lives. It’s a fascinating tango subculture—part dance, part social club, part lifestyle.

My friend L from the US, specifically Texas, no longer dances in his local scene. When I asked why, he explained the unique culture of Texan tango. According to him, many dancers there embrace a distinct attitude: "I don’t care how Argentinians dance tango. We dance tango our way—the Texan way." It’s an approach filled with confidence but also an oblivious disregard for the tradition of the dance. It reminds me of George Bush—let’s just say, boldly unaware yet self-assured.

ED: Plenty of Australians feel this way too.

Another friend, J from the UK, approached me for guidance on connecting tango with Zen. I encouraged him to embrace the essence of tango—presence, connection, and flow. Instead, he got swept up in the growing trend of tango competitions. He changed his practice venue, entered a competition, and didn’t even pass the first round. But for some, the competitive mindset is hard to shake. They spend their lives competing with others, with themselves, never quite able to let go and simply enjoy the dance.

The different tango cultures I have witnessed highlight a common struggle—the resistance to simply being in the moment. Whether it's the Swiss treating milongas as social clubs, Europeans forming their exclusive tango caravans, Texans confidently rewriting the rules, or the rise of tango competitions, the essence of tango often seems lost.

My hope is that tango communities around the world will transform. That more dancers will embrace the moment, open their minds and hearts, truly listen to the music, and enjoy the dance for what it is.

After all, tango is not about proving anything. It’s about surrendering to the moment, embracing your partner, and simply being.

Second: Tango Bassist and composer Horacio Cabarcos. Interviewed by Tango musician, orchestra leader, Tango historian, founder of Tango Via music preservation and the Tango orchestra School. ( Note: This interview is in Spanish, for your practice)

Horacio Cabarcos Biography