LC Meridian

Issue date: 11/5/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment

You don't have to be from Argentina to appreciate the beauty, emotion, and grace of tango. A mature audience of all ethnicities turned out for "Tango Buenos Aires: The Four Seasons," including Lehman President Ricardo R. Fernández.

"Tango Buenos Aires" was held on October 15 at the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts. "Tango" is among the performances chosen as part of the center's "Latin Music and Culture Explosion."

For two hours, five men and five women slid across the stage as if they were on a sheet of ice. The men were dressed in black and their hair was slicked back. The women wore black stockings that complimented their narrow skirts. The slits on the skirts revealed the elegant line of the dancers' legs.

"Tango" has toured the globe, performing for enthusiastic audiences for over twenty years. It is dedicated to delivering a genuine interpretation and history of the dance. Choreographer Lidia Segni, a prima ballerina since 1977, has fused tango with subtle elements of ballet, ballroom, and modern dance. Critics and audiences are raving. The Washington Post praised "Tango" and describes it as "fast-paced tapestries of movement, laced with proud postures and sensual couplings."

Through dance, the evolution of the tango is told. Beginning at the start of the 20th century in the Buenos Aires bar scene, the dance was the creation of societal outcasts. Men danced with each other to perfect their movements. As the show progresses, the audience witnesses a powerful love story. It is through dance that the audience feels the desire of the lovers. It travels the course of the 20th century ending in modern times. One of the last performances is the "Libertango"- a fusion of jazz and tango.

Tango is traditionally a partner dance, but the dancers often performed solo and sometimes danced around each other. When the dancers came together, they exploded with an intensity that was evident in "Milonga del Àngel." Dancers Gisela Natoli and Gustavo Rosas played lovers who were coming together for the first time. They danced intimately. It seemed as if they were the only two people in the world.

It wasn't only the dancing that made the performance, the music also kept the pace. Julian Vat, the music director, has been the recipient of several prominent awards including, "Teatros del Mundo" for "Operatango." In the world of tango music, Vat is highly regarded and is considered to be one of the most skilled musicians, composers and directors of his time. Consisting of only five instruments - the cello, piano, accordion, guitar and violin - the music and dance seemed to blend as one, as though neither could exist without the other. But it was the "Solo de la Guitara" that seemed to truly resonate with the audience, as it was the most recognizable musical piece.

Though tango has evolved, the essence has remained true to form. Its long strides, intricate footwork, and sharp kicks were ever-present at the Lehman performance. From playful to passionate, the dancers and musicians of "Tango" displayed true dedication to the dance.

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