Social Tango Project : dance for one and all

Argentinian dance troupe Social Tango Project will be making its second appearance in Montreal on November 13^th. Performing on the stage of Théâtre Maisonneuve, the company is inviting the audience to share its love of tango and discover the unique impact of this social dance. An interview with the show’s artistic director and choreographer, Agustina Videla.

Ten years ago, in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires, tango dancer and teacher Agustina Videla, along with her collaborators, Ramon de Oliveira Cezar and Mayra Galante, launched the Social Tango Project troupe. Having long frequented milongas—traditional Argentine venues where professionals and amateurs alike gather to dance the tango—they wanted to use the project to demonstrate how this traditional dance is not just very accessible but also allows for a truly transformative human connection to take place.

“With Social Tango Project, we wanted to bring the day-to-day lives of amateur dancers to the stage, while also showcasing different styles of tango that are still rarely seen in performance. We wanted to show that it is a popular and folkloric dance that is truly accessible to everyone, regardless of age or origin. You don't need any special knowledge to do it,” explains Agustina Videla.

The social value of dance

The choreographer, who has taught tango for several years, hopes that the public can look beyond how difficult it may seem to practice this dance and instead discover a unifying artistic expression that can reveal people’s sensitive side.

“Our show is also a concept—that of tango through social expression. We want to show the importance of this dance in our daily lives and encourage people to be part of this community. Dancing the tango is about getting closer to people you don’t know and exploring possibilities, while developing a very deep connection,” says Agustina Videla.

In each city it visits, Social Tango Project invites local dance troupes onto the stage—an initiative that allows enthusiasts to share their learning with the professional dancers in the show. “We’re in contact with various tango schools and associations so we can have their dancers be part of our show. There’s a large tango community in Montreal that's been around for several years,” she adds.

An amalgamation of artistic mediums

Both intimate and universal, the show’s narrative follows the story of a woman who, upon discovering the world of milongas, falls in love with a tango dancer. To win him over, she learns to dance, despite the challenges she must face.

On stage, 12 dancers bring this love story to life through the rhythms of their steps, accompanied by four musicians and two singers performing traditional melodies heard in milongas. The show is a visually beautiful experience, as the audience learns more about the history of tango through a series of photographs and a documentary film by Argentinian photographer Nora Lezano. “The short film shown against the backdrop on stage immerses the audience in the milonga environment, while the black and white images show the city of Buenos Aires,” explains the choreographer.

Agustina Videla says she is very excited to have the troupe perform once again—on November 13 in Théâtre Maisonneuve—in Montreal, a city she feels is “fantastic and overflowing with culture” and whose audience welcomed the troupe in an “exceptional way” when it first performed here.