Book Review - A Passion For Tango, by David Turner
This book was recommended to me, many times, by a friend. I kept on waiting to borrow it from her, but she kept on finding excuses not to lend it - so I bought a copy myself. On reading, I can well see why she kept hold of it; and I've certainly retained my copy, typically by snarling at anyone who wants to take it from me, It's not perfect, but for an English person trying to get to grips with Tango, it's pretty damn good. Unlike most dance books, this one I kept returning to.
Structurally, the book is clearly-organised, into well-labelled chapters (with titles like "Ochos", "El Sandwich and the Planeo", "Navigations and endings", and so on. ). It deals with the typical trials and tribulations of each common area in turn, and there are a lot of insights, which have helped me understand on many occasion where I'm going wrong.
The book starts by briefly discussing the history of tango, the types of tango, and the schools of teaching tango.
It then talks about technique - the basics of lead-and-follow, the embrace, the connection and the walk.
It then spends some time on different steps - ochos, giros, ganchos and that sort of thing.
It then discussies the music, briefly touches on Vals and Milonga, and gives some more technique tips, finally ending with a lovely description of a visit to Buenos Aires, and the tango scene there.
So yes, there is some linear progression throughout the book, but it is also perfectly possible to dip in and out of chapters at will, absorbing little nuggets and allowing you time to think about what's being said at each point. I've read through it several times, but only in brief snatches with each reading.
Every page is clearly-written, with humour, humility, and humanity. It's also very readable in tone. There's very little of what I call the 'hippy stuff' - the waxing lyrical about the Wonders Of Tango which seem to infect some people's writing. There are also very few mystifying allusions to people and places we've never heard of, which makes a pleasant change. David's writing is not at all mechanical, however, and his passion does indeed shine through.
A good excerpt, showing this balance is when he talks about the music:
For a long while I simply couldn't grasp why, at times, on the same night I could fly while at others I felt I danced like a brick. I was aware, because I had avidly read interviews, that some older tangueros would say "You can't dance to Gardel" or "I love to dance to Pugliese", or some such, but I never gave these stories much credit. To tell the truth, I thought it was snobbery and posing, and, I must admit with some sadness, there is a little bit of that in tango. I have, however, learned better as I found myself becoming sufficiently competent to stop thinking about technique and relax into the music. It just hits you after a while. The music is different and it makes you feel different things, so you try to dance to suit.
When you first start being moved by the music, certain tunes stand out as old friends. They appear to resonate with your particular mood, and maybe that of your partner. That one dance is bliss; not just fun, not just good enough, but sheer bliss. At the end of the dance you seem to take a breath and laugh as if you had been teetering over some giant chasm and reached the other side.
Niggles
There are a few minor niggles I have: there's no index, sub-headings titles within chapters are not emboldened to make them stand out, and it'd be lovely to have some space for notes - like my friend, I found myself scribbling my notes in the margins.
Summary
I'd definitely buy a sequel to this book, there's a lot more he could cover - but as it is, I think I'll be returning to and re-reading this book for several more years. I'd highly recommend it.
And no, you can't have my copy. Snarl.
- David Bailey