By VozEs
There was a time when the tango was considered a scandalous dance. In the late 19th century, as it grew in the working-class neighborhoods of Buenos Aires among immigrants, laborers, and dockworkers, many conservative sectors rejected it because of the physical closeness between partners, the sensuality of its movements, and the social milieu from which it originated. Over time, what was once seen as something marginal eventually became one of Argentina’s most important cultural symbols.
Today, far from Buenos Aires, tango continues to find new ways to survive.
Roxana Marinoff and César Dávalos, founders of R&C Tango, have spent several years building their artistic careers in the United States, specifically in South Carolina, where they currently live and share not only a dance style but also a unique perspective on human connection, migration, and art.
They arrived in the country after the pandemic, a time that profoundly transformed the arts world and, in particular, the performing arts. Both had previously worked with tango companies and shows in various countries, but the closure of theaters and the cancellation of events during the health crisis forced them to rethink their professional future.
“Throughout the entire year of the pandemic, we were thinking about what to do,” César says. That’s when the possibility arose of returning to the United States, where they had worked briefly years earlier teaching ballroom dance at various dance studios on the East Coast.
However, getting back on track didn't happen right away.
As they explain, their early years were focused more on building a name for themselves than on generating income. They attended milongas, connected with tango communities, and sought to build relationships within the American arts scene before they were able to work formally as they do today.
“It was about showing who we were,” explains Roxana. “Around here, if people don’t know you, they won’t hire you.”
Over time, new opportunities began to emerge. One thing they both highlight is the existence of small tango communities scattered across various U.S. cities, often led by people who aren’t necessarily Argentine but are deeply passionate about this cultural expression.
For them, tango is much more than just a dance routine.
César describes traditional tango as an improvised conversation between two people. Unlike other, more structured dance styles, tango does not rely on a set sequence of steps, but rather on constant communication between the dancers.
“These are steps that build on one another. It’s a conversation.”
That idea comes up repeatedly during the talk: tango as listening, connection, and presence.
Marinoff points out that people often believe that dancing well means performing complex or spectacular moves, when in reality the most important thing is still the connection and trust between the two dancers.
“If a man has a good hug and a good connection, I don’t need a million steps,” she says.
The couple also discusses how the experience of migration shapes cultural identity. Although they came from Argentina, over time they began to connect with Mexican, Colombian, Honduran, and Latin American communities in general, discovering unexpected cultural similarities among different migrant experiences.
In addition to tango, they both enjoy other dance styles such as salsa, bachata, and rock, although they acknowledge that much of their time is still devoted to training and professional practice. Their bodies, they say, are their primary tools of the trade.
During the conversation, a recurring theme in her classes also comes up: the fear of dancing.
César mentions that many people, especially men, often say they “have two left feet” and believe they could never learn to tango. For him, dancing starts with something much simpler.
“If you can walk, you can dance the tango,” he says.
Perhaps that is one of the reasons why tango continues to resonate with so many people around the world. Because beyond technique or performance, it remains a profoundly human practice: a form of communication in which the body learns to listen to the other.