On Saturday, March 23rd, Bodies Never Lie dance company had our second performance at the Carriage Barn Arts Center. After our sold-out Nutcracker Tea at the end of 2023, we were thrilled to be invited back for another performance.
The show was, ‘A Taste of Tango’, beginning with a tasting of wines from Argentina supplied by Red Grape Wines & Spirits. The Tango, a dance originating from the late 19th century in the Rio de la Plata region of Argentina and Uruguay, is more than just a series of steps and music; it’s a profound expression of emotion and connection. It’s no wonder that many have found in Tango a therapeutic avenue, particularly in exploring the healing power of love. The dance is an intimate conversation without words, where partners communicate through movement, leading and following in a synchronized harmony that can transcend the physical space between them.
As the audience settled in, we began with tango-infused contemporary ballet set to Gotan Project and Astor Piazzolla compositions including ‘Verano Porteno’ and ‘Prologue’, the later being a solo piece entitled, ‘The Wallflower’, done with a chair.
For anyone who has followed the work of BNL for a while, you know that we have performed to Verano Porteno with the Highline String Quartet at the Fever Productions of ‘Candlelight Ballet’ at the Williamsburg Opera House. We had to make some slight adjustments to performing in character shoes from ballet- suddenly jumps are a little harder- and with the music. Is it just me, or is every single rendition of this piece of music wildly different from the net? We had to reset a lot of choreography since the counts, the trills of the strings didn’t match our original soundtrack. Tango is the dance of love and I suppose it’s fitting that every love, every song is so different from the next.
The chair solo was my first return to dancing onstage since our AI Nutcracker in 2022 at Arts on Site, St. Marks in the East Village. I wore tennis shoes and my dexcom blood sugar meter. I’m fighting the thoughts that I didn’t match with the rest of the dancers, their quality and agility. We all have a different story to tell and I’m glad that I got up on stage and told a little of mine.
We then had a tango lesson with the audience. I told them a bit about my travels in Buenos Aires and we first clapped out the rhythm, with some of the audience getting up to try out the steps. This connection fostered by Tango goes beyond the dance floor, tapping into the human need for touch, companionship, and understanding. In a world where words often fall short, the language of Tango allows for a unique form of expression and understanding. The close embrace, the intricate movements, and the music itself serve as mediums through which dancers can express emotions ranging from love and longing to sadness and joy. This emotional exchange can be incredibly healing, offering a sense of belonging and a refuge from the isolation that many people experience in their daily lives. This was a highlight to me, as it is my goal to put more curiosity, movement, and lightheartedness into the world. I even got my boyfriend, Shane to get up and dance with me. He was warned beforehand that I was going to call on him. I’m not THAT mean.
Finally, the dacners performed Invieerno Porteno (another Candlelight Ballet highlight) and a new piece, a pas de deux between guest artists Lindsey Donnell and Derek Brockington from Dance Theatre of Harlem. Tango’s power extends to the physical realm. The dance requires a level of mindfulness and concentration that can help distract from the stresses and strains of everyday life, offering a form of escapism that is both productive and enriching. The physical activity involved in Tango can also release endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals, which can help reduce stress and anxiety. As dancers glide across the floor, lost in the music and each other, they engage in a form of meditation in motion, finding a momentary oasis of peace and connection in a fragmented world.
Through Tango, many discover not just the joy of dance but a powerful conduit for healing, connection, and the universal quest for love.
BODIES NEVER LIE 
This looks wonderful Jess!! I so wish I lived closer to see one of your shows in person!!
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