Chelsea eng- TCF 2004-2014

"I loved wearing my red jumpsuit, letting my hair down and dancing these 2 pieces. 

On both macro and micro levels, this CITA performance experience brought an inner shift vis-à-vis my need for approval by men. 

First – the macro: We had wanted to perform at CITA for some time. But this door had been held closed by a small group of Argentine male tango dancers who pointedly did not want us sharing their stage. We could wager various guesses as to why, but our being American women dancing tango together was likely paramount. For this door to open was no small thing – it was huge. Sociology teaches that institutions are typically slow to change. This door opening represented a Change with a capital “C” in the ‘male tango institution’ at the highest level of the art form of Argentine tango. It also meant that we, Tango Con*Fusión, had persisted through winds of self-doubt and reached our goal. 

Now to the micro: I had a running infatuation with a certain young Argentine tanguero who frequented CITA. He was a rising star on the tango scene. I thought he was the cat’s meow and the dog’s bow-wow all rolled into one. I put him on a pedestal and dawdled after him doe-eyed. The night of this performance at Niño Bien, he was sitting cross-legged on the edge of the dance floor; he was at our feet as our audience! I caught a glimpse of him there as we took our places. On reflection, I realized, “Hey… He’s watching us perform at CITA! I have my own strength. Maybe I don’t need to pedestalize this guy anymore…

Both pulsing and lyrical, this abstract piece looks at individual strength relative to the pulls of partnership and community. Flowing violet tunics lend a power color visual. Musically illustrative of a top Tanghetto milonga track. Tanghetto founder Max Masri calls Tango Mistico “a great choreography… the audience loved… fresh and new” and “part of the tango queer revolution”. 

"I choreographed, and danced in, this piece for 4 dancers to a song that captivated me on contact. Tango Místico is from Tanghetto’s album “Mas allá del Sur”, which was nominated to the Gardel Awards, and is a fan favorite amongst milonga cuts by the band. 

To choreograph and perform work to music by Tanghetto (in this case live onstage at the Sala Zitarrosa theater in Montevideo, Uruguay), was for me a dream come true. 

What I did not bank on was my coming down with a dreadful head cold shortly before this performance. I recall feeling a blur of elated and ill! But mostly I felt grateful to the band’s visionary founder Max Masri for supporting what we, as Tango Con*Fusión, were doing.

As for the costumes: My fashion proclivities lean toward those of a 6-year-old girl – I am a persistent fan of purple and sparkle! I also see purple as a high vibration color, both tranquil and strong, holding mystery and magic. For Tango Místico I chose purple flowy costumes that were at once distinct and monotone. Each tunic bore a unique neckline and understated rhinestone details. We wore these atop cropped leggings and Pedinis. I wanted to highlight the movement of our arms and legs, to accentuate each turn with a swish of fabric.