Why tango? A love letter to the dance that changed everything
Welcome to our first-ever blog post, tucked into this little corner of the tango universe. We’re Pali and Marcelo—tango dancers, teachers, life partners, and now… blog writers! Grab a coffee (or a glass of Malbec), and let’s dive in. 💃🏽🕺🏻
How we met
They say tango finds you when you’re ready.
When people ask how we met, you’d think two tango dancers—married, teaching, performing, competing, obsessed—would have met in a smoky milonga somewhere in Buenos Aires. You know, the classic love-at-first-embrace-in-a-milonga story.
But nope.
For us, tango snuck in through the side door—we met in salsa. A totally different rhythm, vibe, and community. Less brooding glances, more hip action (especially from Marcelo).
And yet, step by step, tango pulled us in.
Our tango story didn’t begin with a sweeping pose or a dramatic embrace under the spotlight. It began quietly and humbly.
Marcelo, Argentinean by birth and therefore expected to have tango in his blood, had all of two group classes under his belt (yes—two). Pali, Thai and always up for an adventure, had about a year of tango experience. Naturally, we thought, “Let’s dance together! How hard could it be?”
Reality check: it was very hard.
Between the two of us, we were barely halfway to knowing what we were doing. Different cultural quirks, different rhythms, and wildly different ideas of what “just follow me” or “trust the lead” means. There were many "wait, was that a lead?" moments.
At times, it felt less like a dance and more like international negotiations. Yet somehow, we thought we were nailing it! We went to milongas with confidence—we were seasoned tangueros now, right?
Looking back, we chuckle at how blissfully oblivious we were of our own mediocre tango skills…the good old days!
The Beauty and the Bumps
Tango wasn’t love at first sight. It was love earned. When your dance partner is also your life partner, things get... spicy. 😅
Learning tango for us was not a sudden spark—it was a slow burn. The humble pie was served weekly- a wobbly journey of toe squashing, followed by toe-saving reflexes, and the occasional existential crisis mid-pivot. We stumbled (often), we grew (gradually), and somewhere between all the missteps and the giggles, something beautiful started to take shape. We slowly began to dance not just with our feet, but with our hearts. It’s where two people, from completely different backgrounds, find a shared language—not with words, but with movement through the music. (And sometimes, pretending that accidental move was totally intentional.)
There were awkward steps, miscommunications, silent standoffs in the studio (we call them “creative differences”), and the occasional shoe thrown across the room (gently… lovingly). Tangled feet, tangled feelings, and the occasional dramatic sigh (or door slam) became part of our rhythm. Some days, we’re just two tired humans arguing about who’s leading—literally and metaphorically.
What started as curiosity quickly turned into obsession (the mostly healthy kind). Tango became the language we didn’t know we were looking for—the one that helped us say what we couldn’t quite put into words.
Maybe it was the quiet intensity. The poetry in the pause. The way it demands presence and rewards patience. Or maybe we were just ready to slow down and listen—to each other and to ourselves.
Tango didn’t just teach us how to move—it taught us how to connect, to trust, to surrender, and to show up even when it’s hard.
And somehow, through all the tangled feet and emotional untangling… we found each other again and again.
So no, we didn’t meet in tango. But tango is where we truly found each other.
Why This Blog
Tango has taught us more than how to dance. It’s taught us how to listen. How to let go. How to stay when it’s uncomfortable. How to lead and follow—not as roles, but as ways of relating. And how to work together, even when it’s messy.
For us, tango has never just been about steps, music, or elegant movement. It’s been about connection, vulnerability, trust—and sometimes, heartbreak.
It’s a mirror. A beautifully honest one. It’s finding an inner world that we did not expect.
This blog is an invitation into our world—not just the curated highlights, but the behind-the-scenes bloopers, breakthroughs, and bare-bones truths. A space to get real—not just about tango, but everything that comes with it.
The ups, the downs, the “oops, sorry I kicked you,” the vulnerability of trusting each other in new movements. The emotional tension that can arise in sweaty rehearsals. The weird fights that start with “your balance was off” and end with “are you even listening to me?” These are the days where you want to quit…and then you have the small wins– the fights that turned into breakthroughs, the blissful moments where everything clicks and you fall in love with tango all over again.
This blog is about the messy, magical, maddening, silly, very human tango life we live every day.
Sharing is caring
We’ll be sharing what we’ve learned (and are still learning) about tango partnerships—on and off the dance floor. Sometimes it won’t be comfortable to write about. Sometimes it won’t be romantic. A few might be a little uncomfortable (for us to write and maybe for you to read).
But all of it will be honest. Because we believe tango isn’t just a dance—it’s a way of life, a teacher, a therapy session with music.
If thousands of hours of tango has taught us anything, it’s that the beauty is in the process. We learn, grow, fall apart, and come back together—again and again.
What’s Coming
We have so much more to share—stories from the studio, the dressing room, the competition backstage and the quiet in-between moments no one sees. In upcoming posts, we’ll open up about the things we talk about after practice, at the late night meals with friends post dancing, and on the sofa when we’re too tired to tango but too in love with it to stop thinking about it.
Here’s a little taste of what’s to come:
✨ Navigating power and vulnerability in tango partnerships (hint: it’s not always what you think)
🌿 Balancing masculine and feminine energies—without falling into dusty old stereotypes
😬 Facing the inner shadows: doubt, fear, jealousy, burnout (yes, we’ve danced with them all)
💬 How tango has sharpened, softened, and redefined how we communicate in real life
💔 The joy and grief of growth—and why we keep dancing anyway
We don’t claim to have it all figured out. Some of this will be messy. And the best part? We know we’re not the only ones on this messy-beautiful path. It’s not always pretty. Sometimes the dance reveals parts of ourselves we’d rather keep backstage. Tango has this sneaky way of showing you all your stuff—exposing your soul, the good, the beautiful, and the “oh no, not that again.” It doesn’t hide your ego, pride, fears, or old hurts. It brings them right into the spotlight—center stage, no filter.
But when we breathe, stay curious, and choose each other again and again—we grow. As dancers. As teachers. As humans trying to live and love with a little more grace (and the occasional eye-roll).
We hope that by sharing our imperfect journey, you’ll feel a little more seen in yours.
We’ll also take you deeper into the tango world—always with respect for tango as an art form. From time to time, we’ll feature some of the inspiring friends and maestros we’ve had the pleasure of learning from. Their wisdom continues to guide us.
So here’s to the dance behind the dance—and to the borderless passport tango offers. One embrace, and we’re home. On almost any continent, we can find kindred spirits and make lifelong friends.
Thank you for being here
If you’ve ever felt like tango is whispering something deeper to you… you’re not imagining it.
It’s speaking to all of us. Tango reminds us that we are never truly alone—we are always in conversation, even in silence. And we’re listening, one step at a time.
So if you’ve ever found yourself awkward in an embrace, frustrated at a class, or spiraling into a minor existential crisis mid-cortina—we see you. We’ve been there. Sometimes we’re still there.
But hey, that’s what makes tango (and life) worth it, right?
We’re learning, growing, sometimes stumbling—but always dancing. We’d love for you to join us as we explore the highs and lows, awkward pivots, and everything in between.
With love and a warm abrazo,
Pali & Marcelo