The Tao of Tango

by Johanna Siegmann

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Trafford Publishing (on demand), 2000 $12.00 1-888-232-4444 sales@trafford.com

When we walk to the edge of all the light we have and take that step into the darkness of the unknown, we must believe that one of two things will happen: There will be something solid for us to stand on, or we will be taught to fly.

-Marcrina Wiederkehr (A Tree Full of Angels)

The Tao of Tango takes as its point of departure a daring act, the author's taking her "First Step" (the title of the book's first chapter - out beyond the familiar, predictable world she had tried to cling to, and into the enigmatic light/dark mystique of Argentine tango dancing. As the author makes indelibly clear in this and each ensuing chapter, her bold and unanticipated leap onto the dance floor, though it does have much to do with tango dancing itself, has everything to do with life - and with the evolution of human consciousness.

The book reads as a personal narrative of the author's journey beyond old limiting beliefs (about herself, about man/woman relationships, about morality, etc.). In telling her story of metamorphosis from woman-who-unwittingly-overpowers-men to woman-who-finds-both-balance-and-ideal-boyfriend, she unequivocally endorses Argentine tango dancing as a venue for personal transformation. She views it as a legitimate "holistic" health practice, which can involve--and potentially integrate - all the layers of mind/emotions/body/spirit.

In each chapter, the narrative moves from the particulars of tango dancing itself ("The Basic Step," "The Body," "The Posture," "The Attire") to the application of each tango topic to life, in general; and finally to a brief commentary on the life lesson to be learned. For example, in the chapter on "The Posture," we discover that as one learns to find physical balance through shifting weight toward or away from one's dance partner, (s)he can, at the same time, learn the lesson of listening to her instincts: "Our challenge is to tell the difference between our instincts and our ego and to respond to what we instinctively know to be right. This is the principle of Tao - to surrender to the natural balance of things."

As is implied in the book's title, this is a book that views tango dancing as a kind of peaceful (yet passionate!) martial art. I am reminded of the push hands practice I learned as a student of Tai Chi. The power is in surrender to the natural flow, to the natural order of things. Harmony is found in the relinquishing of control, the trusting of a grander choreography to guide the subtle, mystical dance of personal connecting.

As a tango aficionado myself, I can only concur with Ms. Siegmann that immersing oneself in the practice of Argentine tango can lead to profound personal changes. "Soft" men such as myself typically become more balanced and yang; self-described "tough" women such as Ms. Siegmann can become more healthfully yin, as they discover their natural strength as conscious followers of the male's dance lead.

The Tao of Tango is an enjoyable read for anyone interested in learning more about this alluring, intriguing dance and its potential as a healing art. The author's anecdotal evidence for tango's transformational value is, at times, very convincing. Indeed, with tango, if we can but dare to step off the edge into the unknown, as Ms. Siegmann suggests, we can learn how to "fly" again, while at the same time standing on "something solid - our own internal axis. Moving out from there, we can joyfully express our unique creativity.

Review by Barry Sultanoff, MD
Editorial Panelist, IJHC
Barrysult@aol.com 

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