Tango - A bridge between Argentine culture and the journey of dancer Alice Thanh Phuong

In the cozy atmosphere of the press conference organized by the Embassy of Argentina on October 2, Vietnamese reporters had the opportunity to learn more about the culture and spirit of the Tango dance - the symbol of the South American country. The meeting is part of a series of programs promoting Argentine culture in Vietnam, leading up to the Tango performance and experience event that will take place on December 11 at the National Library of Vietnam, 31 Trang Thi, Hanoi.

Argentine Ambassador to Vietnam Marcos A. Bednarski shared: “Tango is not just a dance – it is the soul of our country. By organizing the event at the National Library and the Embassy, ​​we want to bring that spirit to the hearts of Vietnamese people, where culture, emotions and connections are always appreciated.” The Ambassador also expressed his surprise at the development of the Tango community in Vietnam from parks, squares to small clubs, showing the enduring vitality of this dance in a distant country.

During the exchange, the Ambassador expressed his respect to dancer Alice Thanh Phuong, who represented Vietnam at the World Tango Championship and reached the semi-finals – Vietnam's first milestone in this international arena.

Sharing with the press, dancer Alice Thanh Phuong, the first Vietnamese to reach the semi-finals of the World Tango Championship, said: “Tango is not only a performing art, but also a journey of personal development. It teaches people how to listen, harmonize and find balance in life."

After the exchange with the Argentine Ambassador, Alice Thanh Phuong - the first Vietnamese dancer and coach to reach the semi-finals of the World Tango Championship, left many impressions with the story of her journey of nearly two decades with the dance.

To better understand the experiences, challenges and philosophies she found through Tango, Travellive reporter had a private conversation, recording Alice Thanh Phuong's sincere sharing.

PV: Did you ever think Tango would completely change your life?

I don’t think so. At first, I had no idea, nor was I interested. Back then, there was no social media or communication like today. I just saw Tango as a movement, practicing one hour a week because I was busy with other things.

It was only when I realized that Tango helps two practitioners balance that I gradually became convinced that it brings harmony to people. At first, it was just a preliminary feeling, but it was the seed for me to develop later. When I saw students change and come back to share with me, that belief became stronger. If it was just me who changed, I was not sure if it was because of Tango or not, but when I saw most of the students had positive changes, I was sure that I was on the right track. During my days in Argentina, there were times when I was so desperate that I wanted to give up everything, but it was my belief and clear purpose that helped me stand firm. The most noticeable change was the way I dressed, everyone who practiced Tango became more cheerful and conscious. It was like a small reward that helped me forget the difficulties and keep going.

PV: How long did it take you to realize the true value of Tango?

At first, I didn’t notice anything, I was just passionate and practiced instinctively. After two years, I started teaching, but at that time I only conveyed the spirit, without understanding deeply. Only in recent years – especially the COVID period – was a turning point, one year equals ten years ago. When I had enough awareness, the reception became very fast. Before, even though I had been to Argentina, I still only saw Tango as “physics” – learning movements to bring back. Only today, I truly understand its profound value. That is my own growth year by year.

PV: Besides practicing or performing, what nourishes your artistic soul in daily life?

Tango does not require strenuous training, but is cultivated through daily life. I used to be very hot-tempered, but in Tango, being hot-tempered is bad. Even when balancing on a motorbike, or cooking, cleaning the house - that is Tango. What I like is that this subject is closely connected to life, inseparable, and my students often share similar experiences.

PV: As you shared, you used to be a very hot-tempered person. So how did you identify that change?

In Tango, there are two people, but only two feet are allowed on the floor. If I am hot-tempered and expect my partner to do what I want, it will be a disaster. That requires me to gradually learn to create harmony. My hot temper has to calm down, it cannot be completely gone, but compared to before, it is probably only 1%.

Many couples who learn Tango also tell me that they understand each other better, respect each other more. You have to learn how to harmonize both sides, you cannot develop your own ego. In the process of practicing, it will lead to something, and most students have positive feedback, so I have a lot of faith in that.

PV: What lesson did you learn about harmony in Tango?

Tango is just a means, the person is the center. Meditation or yoga is the same, it helps us become more gentle, harmonious and mindful. I used to be very hot-tempered and tried many ways, but practicing Tango forced me to be gentle, otherwise the rhythm would be broken.

PV: During that journey, what made you want to give up?

Because I was a pioneer, no one went before me. I had to do everything myself: research, organize, connect. There were times in Argentina when I felt like I couldn’t take it anymore. But every time I hit rock bottom, someone pulled me up – international friends, colleagues. I cried all the time in Argentina, every night because I was angry, sad, and criticized. I studied for 7-8 years, then when I went there, the teacher told me: “You have to throw everything away and start over.” It hurt so much. But I kept going because I believed in what I was doing.

I believe Tango chose me, not I chose Tango. If I did, I would have quit a long time ago.

PV: Have you ever thought that you have such strong inner strength or is it because of the encouragement of people around you?

No, no one is that strong. Sometimes I ask myself: “My life is peaceful, why do I rush into difficult things that don’t bring me money or any benefits?” I used to cry, complain, even get exhausted, no longer have the spirit or health to continue. But then there was a certain “fate”, people encouraged me, gave me faith and opportunities, like a rabbit seeing a carrot, giving me the motivation to continue. Many times I wanted to give up, but that “carrot” pulled me forward. If I had only relied on my own will, I probably wouldn’t have been able to go this far.

PV: Have you ever thought you would set foot in Argentina?

I never thought about it, I didn’t even dare to dream about it. I just focused on what I was doing, and the result was completely unexpected, like winning the lottery, I didn’t know in advance, didn’t predict or plan anything. That’s why when I received the letter to go to Argentina, I was really shocked because I wasn’t prepared – the amount of money and the plan for the trip were beyond my prediction. This made me realize that there are many things in life that I can’t control, from the results, failures or unexpected risks. Therefore, the most important thing is to do a good job at the present, and the future will come unexpectedly.

PV: Do you want to develop Tango in big cities?

Tango does not necessarily develop only in big cities. I am very proud that Quang Tri - a poor, remote province - is the place where the Tango community is most flourishing in the Central region. The flourishing here is not about quantity, but about the development in the spirit that I expect and cherish. I was the first person to establish a club there, and up to now, after nearly 6 years, they still maintain the humanistic spirit of Tango, even developing more strongly than Da Nang or Hue. That shows that development does not depend on urban scale, but on the way of communication and reception of people. If going in the right direction, Tango can touch anyone's heart. It can still develop in remote places, so there is no reason why it cannot be done in big cities. The problem is just whether we have the conditions and the way to do it.

PV: What is the "right direction" in Tango according to your wishes?

It is to create a community with human values, healthy, fun, connected, and make life better. Tango still exists and flourishes strongly in Argentina, if Tango did not have enough value, it would have died long ago. In the digital and illusory world, people tend to look for natural and genuine values. Tango brings people back to nature, to real connection, that is why it is increasingly accepted and spread by many people.

PV: What has helped you persevere on this path for nearly two decades?

I used to be a dancesport and salsa teacher. But when I taught Tango, I saw its value. Its deep humanity is much greater than other subjects, in that it connects the community. And connecting the community is not just for fun, it brings about life improvement. I once witnessed a couple about to divorce, thanks to learning Tango, they became happy again. It is a happiness, the feeling of contributing to making someone's life better, more precious than any beautiful item or delicious food. When our life is not only focused on ourselves, building a family, if we can contribute to society, life will become much more meaningful.

PV: What do you wish for the development of Tango Vietnam in the future?

I want to build a Vietnamese Tango School, following the model of Tango University in Argentina with a curriculum, certificates, and systematic training. I do not teach for “fun”. I want to lay a solid foundation, so that this subject is officially recognized, becoming a part of Vietnamese art education.

Article: Hai Anh, Photo: Hai Anh, NVCC