After a few days of staying in bed sick – the winter in Buenos Aires is wet and cold, and the apartments here don't have proper heating or insulation – we're back in the studio training with Francisco. Here is a clip from a variation we choreographed to the tango "Pasional" by Osvaldo Pugliese with the singer Alberto Morán. We're still working to improve the quality of movement, the alignment and the timing, but we wanted to show you an early stage of the process and how we train. If you're wondering what a variation is, read the explanation after the video...
Variation: This is a term in both Tango dance and Tango music that refers to the most energetic part of a Tango, and it usually comes at the end. You can recognize the variation in the music by fast, improvisational and embellished melodies in the bandoneon, although it is sometimes played by the piano or the violins. In the dance you can recognize it by fast turns with boleos, ganchos, kicks and jumps/tricks, ending in a final pose.
Click to hear a traditional variation on Mala Junta by Color Tango
The observant reader/listener might notice that there's no traditional musical variation in "Pasional", but there is a buildup to an energetic highlight in the music and dancers can emphasize this by dancing a variation, adding to the energy in the music. As a dancer you can either try to transmit what is already in the music, you can show your interpretation of the music or you can add to the music – almost like being an extra instrument.
About choreography and improvisation: There are many ways to approach a Tango performance. You can freely improvise the entire tango or you can make a full choreography, where every step is carefully put to the music. You can practice concepts or movements that you might want to include in an improvisation, or you can practice improvising freely to the music to get the music under your skin. Some dancers even like to avoid practicing the music they are going to improvise, to keep the improvisation fresh and inspired. One option that might be new to some of you is choreographing parts of a Tango, like an opening, an adagio or a variation – and improvising the rest. This is what we're trying to do with Pasional, to combine the qualities of improvising to the music in the moment, and being able to give the performance even more contrast and power in the variation. Hopefully we can show you how it turns out later. Stay tuned for that...