Tamás Huszár is a very cheerful guy who fell in love with tango while studying music in Budapest.
Now working as a therapist, he adds his personal perspective on his perception of tango and beyond.
As a tango teacher and dancer, let's find out in a very sensitive and very simple conversation.
Few words about yourself?
I was born in Gyor, not in Budapest. I started to learn and play classical guitar music.
Because of that I went to the conservatory in Budapest. I finished the high school level and then I learned Economy in the field of marketing to a master’s in business development, business analysis and finally I went to a Family System Therapist School.
I started to danse tango during the time I was learning classical guitar because I had a girlfriend at this time who never learned to dance before. She wanted us to do something together.
She was a piano teacher. Because of our agenda the Monday was the only free day for us. That day only Argentinian Tango and Salsa was possible. Because we already played Piazzola music and we loved it, we thought dancing tango would be great.
We joined Bartolovic Josip and Kulik Johanna training. Unfortunately, the relationship with my partner stopped but the tango is still part of my life. I was 20 years old.
Why do you think young people are still interested in dancing Argentinian tango today?
I started to learn to dance Argentinian tango because of the music. The young people I teach is sometime because of the wedding ceremony. I knew a couple they started to dance tango, they were 16 years old and after 5 years they get married.
And I have only 1 couple because of the wedding ceremony they continued dancing after their wedding because they realized how deep was this dance and the feeling of intimacy.
What do you like in tango?
The connection. The connection with the partner. If I am correct, I was the only one person in Hungary at this time, I had a blog, and probably the first one who name tango, the art of the connection.
What about connection with the music? Or connection with communities? Or even connection to yourself as a human being?
It’s a tricky question. The human being able to build his own personality because of his connection to another person. First, it’s very important to relate to yourself, your memory, your feelings… reactions, body, neural system… I can feel the music, feel better my body and be better in the milonga.
I know you are a therapist: do you consider Argentinian tango as a therapy?
Argentinian tango is not a therapy but a dance. It’s a dance that create intimacy and connection at a high level. But the way we can use it for ourselves can be used and affect the person like a therapy. A therapy needs a therapist who create a safe area.
Argentinian tango is just a dance nobody cares of the other like a therapist would do. Tango partners are peers, they are equal. A therapist has a different authority. The connection between the therapist and the patient is not a peer connection at all. The contract is different.
Some couples have problems, in their relationship, in their marriage and they tried to danse tango perhaps to try to reactivate their connection. Why not but it can create more conflict can be good if you have the tool to solve the conflicts.
Based on your experience, was it difficult to start dancing tango?
I can answer, as a person who is dancing for 18 years.
Tango is a beautiful, fantastic, amazing danse. As simple as it is possible to move 2 persons together. But to be simple as a human being it is difficult. Learning how to be and move simply is difficult. Difficult is not probably the good word. It’s challenging.
So, learning how to move in a so natural way, so obvious is challenging. So, everybody can danse, but it is challenging.
Today I got 2 hours dancing and practicing with my tango partner, Pálmai Adrienn. What I have learned was a revolution. Every time we practice, I learn something new. Just repeating, practicing every week is a chance to learn something new. Even dancing with my students – they are beginners – provide me new ideas, new point of views, about how should I move, what should I check…
When I started to learn tango, I was happy to learn something not so strict. The gift I had from this dance was to feel free because other dances have basic steps. As for example ballroom dancing is very strict, same as classical guitar I used to learn. No improvisation at all. I was shining in my heart and that makes me happy.
I am remembering how difficult it was for me coming back from ballroom dancing to something more natural like tango Argentina. Because I had reflexes from the ballroom dancing it took me years to change that.
Who were your teachers?
Johanna and Josip were my first teacher.
But sometimes when it was necessary I was like an assistant for them in the case they need me. It was around 2006. But I learned from lots of teachers as for example Gustavo Naviera and Gisele Anne I was continually watching videos. With Johanna we have being working for 7 years and then later I participated to workshops in Europe. I was crazy about Chico at that time. His explanation was extraordinary. I learnt a lot from Antonella Terrassa as well. How she transfers her knowledge is awesome. Fernando Galeira was the last master I met in Budapest.
Fernando is a brilliant teacher. I organized a workshop with him; later he came with Mariana Montes too. Fernando is not so famous but has a lot of influence: he teaches to some of some who win the BA Tango Championship.
I have never been to Buenos Aires. I come from a poor family. When I was leaving in Budapest at the beginning I was staying with my aunty. Then I book a very small room and start to study and make some little money to survive. I was very busy with all my activities I was running, and I tried to save money to go to Bueno Aires. But finally It was cheaper to stay in Europe and visiting the big maestros with the money I saved.
How do you see the teaching of tango?
The first objective in dancing tango with a lady as a leader, is the movement of the partner. The objective of the leader is to affect the movement of the partner. The result is the most important. At the same time, it’s cooperation and the inspiration. The inspiration I have with a lady help me to propose a movement.
About the tango scene in Budapest? Are you satisfied?
The Budapest tango communities is going in the good way with good teachers and organizers (events…). It is increasing. The level is better and better compare to the last 10 years ago. It’s more balanced than in the past too. I see less competitions than in the past too. It’s good. At least most of this people are respectful with each other’s that’s the most important in a mature community.
Project for the future?
I want to restart the Jack and Jill Tango © dancing competition and tango festival next year.
It’s a competition you don’t know who your partner will be, but you must adapt to win. So, it’s about improvisation. Partners are changing. The winner is not only the first based on a jury. The judge are the partners who are ranking other partners they are dancing with.
Finally, Judge can score, partners can score and even the audience can score as well.
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