© Carole Edrich www.tangocommute.com Learning Tango in London (from 2006) Carole Edrich reviews

This was the launch of TangoCommute, a cooperative initiative by many of London’s tango schools that entails an early evening’s hour of dance on London Bridge. Part of the Mayor’s Big Dance 2008 which is designed to get the city dancing, TangoCommute will be held on July 7th to commemorate the London Bombings, and hundreds of tangueros will dance on seven bridges and seven stations during the evening rush-hour.

Silent to onlookers, the dancers will share music through special connectors, purchased from the organisers. The idea is to have fun, to fill the bridges with tango dancers of all ages and levels and to “bring joy, respect and compassion” to Londoners as they wend their way home. The tango schools of London are providing classes for those who’ve not danced tango before and Thomas the organiser says it’s not a flash mob but a “distributed experience” as people will dance to music through connectors that enable them to share music they have procured for the occasion. Everyone’s welcome and there are special lessons all over London for beginners who would like to join in.

The knowledge of so many surprised rush-hour onlookers made me want to tango well, but the way the rough pavement clung to my shoes like Velcro made me feel more like a lumbering elephant than a dancer. Dancing to shared music on headsets also meant that feeling the rhythm and moving together was far more of a challenge than in a milonga or outdoors when the music is played aloud and judging by the number of times that Simon declared “Oops!” I think he felt the same. But we got the hang of it soon enough and were surprised to find how many tangueros had arrived and joined us when we looked around in a break between tracks.

The hour was over too quickly and I wouldn’t miss the next one for the world. This preview was shown on TV after the day’s London Evening News and the next will go global as it’s going to be covered by Reuters. Come join us. Dance tango on the bridges and stations of London and be part of something new.

More details at: www.tangocommute.com