The graceful art of tango

Dancing tango is life long journey. Tango is the dance of the people, you don't need to be an elite athlete or even especially fit. They say "if you can walk you can dance" this is the truth of the Argentine tango.
The graceful art of tango has captured many people from all walks of life from all over the world - it is not limited to Aftermidnight Argentinians. I live in Australia and there is good tango scene here despite the small population and huge distances.

I find tango to be a revolution, a big revolution. Quietly and gracefully bringing people together, some for just one short song and others for a lifetime of love and companionship.
Tango is more than just a dance, thinking on the big side...Tango is a spiritual compass for the sick world.
It has the power to take us to a better place for just one song or a whole life time.

Tango is lot like business, people have to collaborate to make things work - moving together and being on balance are core success markers for both worlds. Understanding, awareness and agility are your key tools and every move you make has an impact on the group as a whole.

As in business, Tango is about you, we and the I - the development of our self awareness is a crucial component. Taking time to think about how you are interacting with your dance partners is no different than most customer service and marketing modes in business today.

What about the rules? the systems? different levels and sizes? - Tango has them all. Tango is the rule for social interaction for society. You have to dance in specific direction to music - the same rules apply to all, we have to dance to the same music together - preferably in time with the music. However we are all free to improvise, pause, move fast and slow be creative, feel the music.

The business of tango and tango of business is something that has fascinated me for well over a decade.
I run a design and marketing consultancy in Melbourne Australia, we have enjoyed seventeen years of profitable business life. My company Design Post has certainly evolved and transformed several times over the seventeen years - some of my clients also say matured! However in becoming masterful at the practice of design and marketing (or marketing communication design to use a bit industry jargon) does have its issues.

Issue, problems, situations, difficulties - call it what you like... you know what I mean. How we react and deal with them is what it is really all about. This is what I like about tango and how it has helped me think big about what I do on the dance floor of business.

Having the grace and respect to acknowledge your mistakes quickly, helps everyone move on again to the music. Realising that risky maneuvers and getting off balance has ramifications on your partners and the people around you, makes you a sought after partner. So much of business life is spent being risk adverse and risk sensitive, this is not how a tango dancer approaches the crowded dance floor. Yes it is risky and harder to take care of your partner in crowded dance floor, but the risks are shared by all and we all work together to prevent bumps and toe stamping - collaboration and awareness - gracefully.

There are many lessons to be taken from tango for life, business and everything in between. This is why I like what tango does to people, I like the way people connect through movement and shared axis, but most of all I love the way it makes me feel.

My manifesto is a simple one, live, love, and work with all the passion and grace of a tango dancer.
I hope to see you on the dance floor.