Jan-2014
The passion of Buenos Aires
Nora la profesora
It’s eleven in the morning and I have an appointment with Nora Schvartz at her studio. Nora is “la profesora de Tango”, or in other words, a Tango teacher.
Nora has completely transformed one of the apartments of Buenos Aires into a Tango studio. When I enter the studio I hear a stereo playing old Tango songs and I see a big window at the end of the room. From my point of view it kind of has the same set up as a ballet studio, with the pole attached horizontally against the mirror which is then placed against the wall and there is an amazingly beautiful wooden floor to dance on.
Two other dancers (Pablo and Noelia) are there waiting for me too. They are going to help me learn this typical dance from Buenos Aires together with Nora.
The Tango walk
Let me start by taking of my flip-flops and putting on something a bit more comfortable. I brought my roll-a-sole shoes with me which seem to be perfect for my Tango dance lesson. Nora shows me the way I should stand during Tango to begin with. I have to let myself fall against the mirror with both of my hands and practice this thing she shows me which is a bit difficult for me. Nora tells me to push my hips more to the back and to stand flexible with my knees. Your feet have to be standing together.
As soon as I more or less get the position right it’s time to try the tango move. I would call it the Tango walk.
Nora holds the pole hanging against the mirror and walks backwards as I have to follow her and do the same. I am sure I look like the Pink Panther because I have a hard time with the just using your toes when you walk and putting your feet down as they come together again. After a couple of minutes I get it right and we can finally start practicing the actual dance. “Before you can break the rules, you need to learn some rules.” Nora tells me and she is so right! She had just explained me the posture and will now show me some footwork, so that later on I can combine things and make it my own.
You’re a goddess
Pablo and Noelia are Tango dancers who help Nora during her classes today. Pablo is the one that is going to lead me while we dance and I know I’ll have a tough time letting a man lead, as we all probably do. Pablo studies at the Tango University and I find that really amazing. Can you imagine studying at an actual Tango University? Noelia already finished her Tango studies at the University and is now a qualified Tango dancer! I am kind of jealous! Nora always works with very skilled assistant Tango dancers who have been trained by others and by herself mostly. In that way they will work with the same methodology as Nora uses.
You’re not a piece of meat, but you’re a goddess allowing this man to dance with you
Nora tells me. I should not just hang in the guys arms but I should stand proud as she shows me the way to dance the Tango together.
Cross your feet
We first start with the basic steps, which is walking a few steps and then balancing from left to right on the spot. Pablo tries to guide me through the entire room and it seems to work as I notice that we have just danced/walked in a circle and are now back at where we began. “Don’t stick out you bum!” Nora tells me. I don’t know why I do that, but maybe it’s something Dutch?
The next step is to make one… two… and to cross my feet. Okay, here we go. Left, right, cross and right. Sometimes the crossing is a bit slower and other times quite fast, it all depends on Pablo, because he is still leading me. Nora has to tell me several times to wait for Pablo to “make the move” before I already decide that it’s time to move my feet.
We add another step to it and that is to move to the sides instead of walking in one direction. Afterwards we also change it in a way so that I am not the only one walking backwards anymore as we dance. With four combinations of the steps we try to now actually dance Tango.
I guess it goes quite well actually. I am so happy! I can imagine that people want to learn more steps every week. Now that I’ve learned four steps within one and a half hour it is really nice to be able to practice it. We dance two more songs and I now know that I definitely want another Tango lesson.
Tango is a lifestyle
Even when Nora shows me a simple looking example of a tango step she looks passionately. She’s completely in love with the Tango. That is definitely one of the many reasons why Nora Schvartz is a good Tango teacher. She’s passionate about her job and it’s not just a career, it’s her lifestyle.
About Renate Rigters
Ever since I left my home country I felt at home at any other place I went to. I enjoy getting to know more cultures by talking to strangers and hearing their philosophy about life. Speaking with gestures when you can not find a shared language, finding places only the locals go to and learn about their customs and values. Hanging out with local people makes me happy. The experience of every new place is a step out of your comfort zone where I like to wander around until it feels like a second home.
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[…] in Buenos Aires? Try a tango lesson and meet a new dance partner! You’re in Brazil? Go surfing and hang out with your surf […]
Buenos Aires is zooooo cool inderdaad. Wij waren er een paar jaar geleden ook: http://travelersmagazine.nl/vakantie-naar-buenos-aires-argentinie/