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Hugging Is a Basic Human Need — For Dancers It’s Much More
Without el abrazo there is no Tango
I am a tango dancer. Not a professional one, not a teacher. I don’t give workshops. No performance contracts hitting my inbox.
Simply stated, I’m a social tanguera.
It has been 16 months since my last milonga (party). To be clear — I get it. There’s a pandemic at hand, and bailar tango means to be in someone’s personal space for the span of three or four songs (the duration of a tanda). Clearly, not a situation that many of us would entertain, no matter how obsessed we might be with the art form.
A universal expression
El abrazo is a fundamental form of expression in many parts of the world. Translated from Spanish, it means a hug or an embrace. It is how we show appreciation for loved ones, a way to give affection to friends, an opportunity to share kindness with others. It is one of the most basic human needs — touch. And for me, it is doubly so: being Boricua (Puerto Rican), hugging is part of my culture, being a tanguera, it’s embedded in the dance.
Many outside of our community immediately associate tango with passionate lovers, sultry moves, and sexy clothing (among other images). I won’t deny there can be any combination of these; however, for us, it’s about so much more…
