"...staccato, flirtatious flicking of the legs...Valdes emotional commitment, this dance (El Internado) was a stand out..."

By Kylee Pike - Pike has an MFA in dance performance and choreography from SUNY Brockport     

            Tango Buenos Aires, a music and dance company from Argentina graced the Nazareth stage Friday night before a full house.  Joining traditional Argentine movement and song with contemporary movement variations, the performance was an exciting experience.  The dancers displayed an overall perfected technique and the musicians carried the intensity and passion that is the Argentine Tango.

            Some of the most visually appealing moments of the evening occurred when a single duet appeared on stage.  Early in the concert “El Internado”, danced by Carlos Barrionuevo and Mayte Valdes, revealed the passion and intensity of this art form.  Combining the staccato, flirtatious flicking of the legs and Valdes’ emotional commitment, this dance piece was a stand out in the first act.

            In the second act, “Recuerdo”, performed by Soledad Buss and Cesar Peral was my favorite piece of the evening.  Besides the dancers being highly skilled and intense performers, the choreography by Lidia Sengi was beautifully crafted.  The rhythmic intricacies of the foot and leg actions, the unique partnering, and the quick traveling through the space made this piece memorable.  Buss and Peral revealed the pride inherent to the tango with the high carriage of their upper bodies, contrasting the quick, grounded movements in the lower body.  The differences in high and low levels were also appealing in this dance piece.  The dancers showed distinct differences between lifts moving in the higher levels, and assisted turns at the lower levels.  This duet appeared to be the most complicated in this concert.

            The solo band pieces were also a highlight of this night.  The musicians displayed the heat of the tango in their faces and in their body language.  The audience clearly appreciated the work of the instrumentalists (they performed through the entire concert), showing gratitude in the applause at the conclusion of the concert.

            Though most of the concert was extremely satisfying, I have just one criticism.  At moments throughout the concert some of the dancers did not complete the lines in the arms and legs.  Specifically in extensions, the legs were not always stretched, leaving an incomplete line.  This was disappointing, as the tango requires such precision in each movement.

            Overall Tango Buenos Aires delivered an energetic and dynamic performance.  The company easily brought the audience into its world and created many different experiences through the costuming, lighting, staging, and performance.  The Rochester community is lucky to have a venue that brings in companies of all dance forms, which allows the audience to engage in various cultures.