Cambridge Chronicle/Tab 01/08/03
By Susie Davidson
CORRESPONDENT
From its origin among humble West Indian villagers, the tango has evolved into a wildly popular dance form practiced throughout the civilized world.
The tango itself, which stems from the African tanganya dance (another theory holds the word as deriving from the Latin word tangere, to touch), is practiced in three forms: ballroom style, international style for competition, and the Argentinian, which its many adherents describe as an exceptional experience of both sadness and joy, encompassing sensuality, rhythm and warmth. Its success may be tied to the passion and the full range of feelings emoted in its historical depiction, through intense movement, of the Argentinian people. Far more than a mere physical art form, it is indeed a culture, a lifestyle.
Carried into Buenos Aires by European, African and other immigrants in the 1880’s, the dance was popularized as a way to capture the feeling of exclusion. Its wail, said to emulate pain, desolation and futility, characterized the sad state of its rugged perpetrators; ironically, it is today associated with dignity, high fashion and aristocracy.
On Jan. 14, Hillary Ross, who has taught the dance since 1997, will lead a class in Beginning Argentine Tango at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education at 42 Brattle St. in Harvard Square. The class will run for ten Tuesdays, from 7:30-9 p.m.
“My classes emphasize proper body mechanics along with music and partner connection while building an Argentine tango vocabulary,” she said. “The structure of the dance is examined so that students learn how to make the dance their own, and what is learned is always placed in the context of moving around a social dance floor. “
Ross, who began dance training in 1971, holds a bachelor’s of arts degree in Dance and English from Wesleyan University where she was awarded a Pendleton Scholarship for Outstanding Promise in Dance for her achievements as a modern dancer, choreographer and teacher. Over the past 14 years, she has danced in Boston with the Laura Knott Dance Company, Dupont Danceworks, Glendance Dance Company, and KRAUS AND; prior to this, she danced professionally in Connecticut with Partners: Martynuk/McAdams Dance.
Among organizations which have commissioned her choreography are First Night Boston, Dupont Danceworks, Banta Productions, and the Shared Choreographers' Concert Series. In addition, she has taught children's creative movement at the JP Firehouse Arts Center, ballroom, Argentine tango, ballet and modern dance at MIT, and modern dance at Wellesley College.
“I began studying and dancing Argentine tango in 1996; since then, I have made three trips to Buenos Aires to continue training,” she said. On the board of the Boston Dance Alliance for six years, three of them as president, Ross has performed Argentine tango at the Central Square World's Fair, the Harvard Square Business Association Gala, the Museum of Fine Arts and Longy School of Music, as well as at many private functions.
She teaches four sessions at CCAE per year, in the fall, winter, spring and summer. All run ten weeks, except for summer, which is eight weeks. Participants can join with friends, or alone. “No partner is necessary, as participants change partners throughout the class to enhance learning,” Ross explained.
Argentinian Tango Classes with Hillary Ross begin Jan. 14. The fee for the session is $145; registration is directly through the Cambridge Center for Adult Education. For more information, please call 617-547-6789 or visit www.ccae.org. Ross is also available for group and individual lessons and can be reached at 617-877-7625, or by emailing hrossdance@yahoo.com.