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The dramatic lunge, bodies intensely fused and eyes exchanging fiery glances of desire evoke a sultry passion that is characteristic of only one dance — the tango.

Carried off by dignified-looking men in sharp suits and seductive women swathed in provocative gowns executing brisk and swooping movements, the tango is a delicious game of sultry flirtation.

World-famous Argentine tango master Roberto Reis, who has danced in competitions, performed and taught tango for 20 years, has seen the lure of the dance take effect in the 53 countries he has visited, from Italy to Japan.

“When I started, it was Argentine tango,” Reis said. “Now, I cannot say it is Argentine anymore because everybody is dancing the tango.”

Indonesia is one of the many Asian countries that has jumped onto the tango bandwagon, with enthusiasts forming communities such as the Tango Bali Club and Tango Jakarta Club, which hold workshops, performances and milongas , which is Spanish for tango dance parties.

Tango is a dance that needs to be experienced to be appreciated, said Stefani Kanginnadhi, a dance teacher and founder of the Tango Bali Club.

“When you are with a person you have never seen in your life, and there is no common language that you can communicate with, only the music connects you,” Kanginnadhi said.

“You start to become one person and you move together as one,” she said. “Once you have felt this special experience, you never want to be without it.”

Tango Oriental, the organizer of tango events in the Asia-Pacific, held its first monthlong TangoBlitz festival in May 2008 to promote regional interest in the dance. Events included performances and workshops by tango masters in Manila, Singapore, Jakarta and Bali.

At this year’s TangoBlitz, Reis was invited to perform at fX Lifestyle X’nter in Senayan with his partner, Natalia Lavandeira, from Buenos Aires.

These performances were popular in the tango community, said tango student Ratih Soe Kosasie.

Ratih is just one person intrigued by the tango and sees a similarity between the dance form and matrimony.

“Tango is different from other dances,” Ratih said. “In tango, we have to give and take. We cannot just do what we want. As a lady, we have to follow the male lead, as in real life. We also have to compromise when we are husband and wife, so it helps me with that too.”

It is the connection with a partner and the music that makes the tango so unique and captivating, says tango master Reis.

In tango, the man bears a large responsibility, as he dominates the dance. Men must learn the steps to the dance but also how to lead.

For the woman, the most difficult thing, Reis’s parter Lavandeira says, is to learn how to follow. “I have to follow the man but also be able express myself and my own style.”

Lavandeira says, “Every woman dances in a different way. They have different bodies and different weights. So the man cannot always lead in the same way.”

“And for the ladies, it is a similar dilemma because every man has different steps and a different style,” she says.

However, Reis often reminds his students that fretting over technique can be a hindrance for beginners. The tango, he said, is a natural dance.

“Street people created the steps and the dance,” Reis said. “People go crazy about technique but there is not one single technique in tango. It is not like ballet where you have to follow the rules. Little by little you have to create your own techniques and your own rules,” he said.

Tango was developed in South America at the start of the 1900s and spread through migrant workers to Europe. There was an explosion of interest from the upper classes following World War I. Tango has since found its way to Asia and within the last two decades has become well established in Korea and Hong Kong, as well as Japan.

The dance is usually favored by a mature crowd, perhaps because the lyrics in tango music often speak of love, broken hearts and a hard life — things young people have limited experience with.

“To dance the tango, you need to suffer a little bit beforehand,” Reis said, laughing.

Whether or not suffering is a prerequisite, that has not stopped the tango from becoming Argentina’s hottest export and one that can be enjoyed by anyone at any age, Reis says.

“I have seen old people who can barely walk, but they go and dance,” Reis said.

“It is good for your soul. Some people are very alone. In tango they can meet people, have friends, share something and embrace somebody.”


For details about tango classes contact:
W9 Club
Jl Wijaya IX no. 21
Kebayoran Baru
South Jakarta
Tel: 08788 0918 126
email: tangojakarta@gmail.com

For more information on tango visit the Web sites:
www.tangojakarta.com
www.tangobali.com
www.tangoblitz.com