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Journalism of Courage
The pairs stroll into the restaurant in succession,the men in white shirts and formal trousers,the women in swirling dresses of red and black. Unlike other diners,they carry a cloth bag from which emerges a surprising item dancing shoes! Soon,as a melancholic strain fills the air,the diner is transformed into a milonga a meeting- place for tango dancers,where the couples are locked in an embrace,lost in a Zen-like meditative state,their feet sliding smoothly over the floor as they glide past. In Argentina,where theres somebody dancing the tango every moment,every street has a milonga every day. In Delhi ,however,a small group of enthusiasts is carrying the flame for the Argentinian dance form. Called Tango Vida (Vida means life in Spanish),the group was founded two years ago and is a meeting point for Delhis tangueras and tangueros as well as foreign enthusiasts during their visit to the city.
We meet every Monday to close our eyes to the world and dance the evening away. All we need,is our music,our shoes and our tango spirit, says Madhu Chawla,an entrepreneur and co-founder of Tango Vida. Its a sensual dance, stresses Chawla,which should not be confused with sexual. From the process of choosing a partner through subtle signals of eye contact to leading or following through the three-set dance routines that make up tango,everything is understated and gentle, she says. In fact,it is tangos lack of flamboyance that makes it a less popular cousin of the salsa,another Latin import,or even Ballroom tango,a watered-down American version. In September 2009,the UN declared tango as the worlds Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In India ,there are only a handful of tango dancers and even fewer teachers.
It could take three months to get familiar with the basic tango walk. You need to connect with yourself and your partner at a more spiritual level than in any other social dance forms, says Saket,an entrepreneur who has been dancing for the past five years.
Given the intensity of the dance form,it is not surprising that most members in the group are above 35 years,though there is a sprinkling of youngster. Every weeks milonga sees at least 20 people,including embassy officials,graphic designers,entrepreneurs,travel professionals and health workers from the US ,the UK ,Israel and Germany . We started as a group of 20 friends who had picked up tango at workshops in Delhi . We would meet at friends houses and at restaurants,which had a wooden floor perfect for tango. The group became popular with expats,and tango teachers on vacation in Delhi began conducting workshops with us. We also started to receive invitations to participate in tango festivals across the world, says Chawla,adding that membership is free.
Saket says that Tango Vida has also been a stepping stone for many homesick expats keen to connect with India . Alessandra Ceresa,an Italian travel consultant married to an Indian in Delhi,says she learnt the dance form in Delhi four years ago and honed her skills in Argentina . Tango is a less elaborate and a more complicated dance than salsa,which I have been teaching for a while. As a result,it was a different kind of challenge for me, she says,adding that she always takes out time for her weekly milonga. In the US and Europe as well as Asia ,tango is fast rising in popularity. Im hopeful about India , she adds.
The next milonga will take place at Ai in Metropolitan Mall today. Check http://www.tangoindelhi.blogspot.com
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