La Casa de Carlos y Alison

Life is made up of details.  At times the details can be so tiny that they can't be seen. This doesn't make them any less important. This blog today is about shining a light on details and events that were definitely a significant part of my trip and did very much make up the journey.  For this story, I'll be taking you into the home of Carlos & Alison. I took lessons with them from the middle of Sept until the end of Oct. After that they went off to toronto form two months to teach at some workshops as well as to perform. I didn't get a chance to see them again or take lessons before I left Buenos Aires but just because I've spent little time with someone doesn't give them any less place in my heart.

Being in their home and chatting with them before, after, and during my private lesson helped shed light not only on tango but on the culture of Buenos Aires. Carlos is a succesful lawyer who is native to Argentina and Alison is a filmmaker who's roots are right here in Victoria, B.C.  I met them while taking one of their workshops here at Cafe Casablanca in Victoria. It was during the summer and at that point, I already had confirmed plans to go to Buenos Aires so I let them know I was coming.

Even though we had only met for the first time and didn't know each other well, in the coming months I got messages on my facebook wall from them that gave me a sense that they were welcoming and anticipating my arrival to Buenos Aires. Messages like "Much love Angelina! We await you here in BsAs".  Already I could feel the openess and the hospitality which very much makes up the Argentine spirit.

Often in our society, success often means that life gets complicated.  People feel the urge to create busy schedules and to get caught up buying things and trying to add things to their life. That's why it was such a joy to have the chance to meet Carlos & Alison. It is such a pleasure to be interacting with people who do obviously have success but have made keeping life simple and uncomplicated a high value in their lives. Their home is decorated tastefully with art pieces and tango memorabilia. But what got my attention wasn't the things in their home, it was the rich energy and vibe that you can feel the moment that you walk through those doors.

Taking tango lessons with them in their home was one of the best investments I ever made. Not only did my tango progress in leaps and bounds in just 6 weeks, but being with them and chatting with them really helped introduce me to the Argentine culture and way of life.  One of the greatest things that they've taught me about tango and about life is about the beauty in simplicity.

Their encouragement to me was that it was better to learn a few moves really well and to get the fundamentals down pat than to try and do a whole repertoire of fancy moves that I really don't know how to do well.  I definitely plan to make private lessons with them a part of my life and schedule whenever I am in BA. The next time I am there, I hope to see them at Plaza Dorrengo dancing tango like they do every Sunday night.

Alot of tourists and people outside the tango community have this idea from watching TV that tango always has to be something dramatic.  What people need to understand is that here in Buenos Aires, there is a difference between the type of tango done for performances and the type of tango that is danced socially. Both are beautiful in totally different ways. And Carlos & Alison demonstrate such a fantastic example of a tango done with class, elegance, beauty and simplicity.  Watch.....



http://www.carlosyalisontango.com/

 "More and more I am finding that tango is not just a dance, it is a way of life in this city even for those that don't dance tango.  The city has a way of wrapping it's feathers around me to comfort and ease all loneliness and thoughts of home and the people there.  Like a mother hen, it soothes me safe and & warm under it's wing."

  -Angelina