The Walk

“Tango is the easiest dance in the world, but it has a learning curve that goes on forever.” 

Why so easy? Because tango is a walking dance, and you learned to walk when you were a year old. In a sense, you already know how to tango. You’ve done it for years. You just need to get better at it.

So why is it so intimidating for so many? Because people make it complicated. It’s not. It’s simply a matter of paying attention to what is and walking with intention. It’s walking, yes, but it’s not about the steps. It’s about the connection.

Imagine yourself and a partner on a date. You’re holding hands and walking together through an art museum enjoying yourselves. You’re happily paying attention to the beautiful paintings and sculptures as you turn here and there and pause to observe. But most of all you’re enjoying and paying attention to each other. Are you paying attention to your steps? Of course not! And neither should you in tango. 

Sure, there is a definite tango quality to the steps (more about that later). The walk is minimal in its movement, soft and easy, staying connected and walking as one. Knees are flexed like little shock absorbers, and the feet slide silently across the floor as though approaching a sleeping baby. 

The tango walk is meditative. It’s a walking meditation similar to that practiced in a Zen temple. Slowly and mindfully placing one foot in front of the other, smoothly transferring the weight of the body as though rolling on wheels or floating through space. And we do this together.

Try it. I think you’ll like it. Questions/comments?

Photo by Sarah Cervantes