Tango Therapy

Wednesday, December 9

Gustavo’s eyes were dead or resting in pharmaceutical peace, while Mattias’s were hyper-wild and terminally giddy from years of cannabis and other drug practice.

The thing that stays with me is how well both men, wardees at  Jose T. Borda psychiatric hospital, dance tango.

The hospital is in Buenos Aire’s Barracas barrio and I assisted in the bi-monthly tango class on a Wednesday afternoon. Dr. Guillermo Honig is the psychiatrist in attendance, though he doesn’t participate in the class.

I arrived, not knowing what to expect, but eager to help out. A group of us, including Silvana Perl, a dancer and psychologist; Sol, a doctor-in-training; and Christina, a tanguera from France, began cruising the ward in a decrepit wing of the hospital asking everyone, “Want to take the tango workshop?” Responses ranged from indifference to affirmative. The class is in a new modern wing. But the ward where mostly men were lulling is dismal with ancient cots, old, cracked, crumbling walls, smell of dirty hair and urine, broken floor. Residents’ artwork on the walls attempt to prettify and I have to say there was a certain serenity and I never felt threatened.

Silvana led the hour-long class, her strong raspy voice booming a question: “What do we need to dance tango?” And the attendees booming back: “Attitude!” Applause followed. A sort of pep rally. A wardee was in charge of the music – mostly DiSarli who is easy for beginners to dance to.

She taught the 8-count basico or cruzada. I worked with Gustavo who had very little to say but who picked it up in about 10 minutes. After working in partners for about 15 minutes, each couple showed the class how they did the basico. After each couple went, Silvana asked the group to critique them: on ritmo, tiempo, coordinacion, improvisacion. The group was kind but honest – telling one woman she was back-leading. Gustavo and I got loud applause and high marks on all counts. He gave a weak smile.

Mattias and Christina went last (“He dances like a king!” Christina later told me.) Mattias is going to teach a class there. To me this all says, what I’ve believed always, that tango is like love, like solar energy, like god-consciousness. You can not destroy it. Brains cells are helpful but tangential. Clearly.

At the end of the class—the energy was high. Silvana handed out lyrics to A Media Luz by Carlos César Lenzi and we all sang way out of key, but from our hearts and souls.

If you want to come and participate, next class is December 23, starting about 12 pm with a little show. Email me for help getting there: [email protected].