The Tango is more than just dancing; it’s a connection
The Tango Center in downtown Eugene provides
a venue for Tango enthusiasts to hone their passion
BY KRISTEN GERHARD
PULSE REPORTER
Marisela Rizik's tiny frame betrays
her authority. She stands in the center
of the dance floor at Eugene's Tango
Center and speaks in a firm, insistent
tone with an accent hinting at Domini
can Republic roots.
"Tango is about connection," she
announces, rotating smoothly on the
heel of her right Tango shoe. "You must
connect with yourself and your partner.
You must learn to communicate with
out using words."
The connection Rizik's verbal com
munication has made leaves little room
for interpretation: Another crop of Tan
go enthusiasts has just been brought
into the world.
The Tango Center—a non-profit,
community-operated dance hall locat
ed at 194 W. Broadway—has been
open for nearly two years. According
to Greg Bryant, executive director of
the center, the 1,500-square-foot dance
floor has seen more than a few thou
sand pairs of feet in that time. In fact he
believes Eugene is a perfect fit forthe
dance, which explains why the "Tango
movement" as he calls it has taken on
such a strong following here.
"Tango doesn't really work unless
you're interested in communicat
ing," Bryant said. "So, people in Eu
gene, well, let's just say they're not
here forthe economy. They are here
to discover things about themselves
and to find where they'd like their life
to go in an area where other people
are doing the same thing. Tango is a
dance that has those very qualities.
It helps you discoverthings about
other people and about yourself."
The dance itself has a complex his
tory. It primarily originated in Buenos
Aires, Argentina in the late 19th centu
ry. However, historical events within
the country, such as economic depres
sions and changing governments,
caused the popularity of Tango to wax
and wane throughout the 1900s. Ac
cording to Bryant when the military
dictatorship that implanted itself in the
'50s and outlawed all public gatherings
was ousted in the '80s, the under
ground Tango movement experienced
its most recent revival.
"There was a lot of energy around it
and a lot of interest in it there," Bryant
said, "and so, it slowly got rekindled
and exported."
Despite its international appeal,
Bryant said there are few places in the
world outside of Argentina where Tan
go has experienced so powerful a re
vival as right here in Eugene. Large
numbers of dancers come to the cen
ter each Friday and Saturday nightfor
the milonga—a place or event where
people dance the Tango—and after
speaking to any one of them, it be
comes clear how passionate they feel
about the dance.
Andrew McCollough, a graduate
student at the University, made his
decision to come to Eugene in part
because of the vibrant Tango scene.
He teaches a number of Tango class
es in the area, including lessons atthe
Tango Center. He said the most diffi
cult thing about learning to Tango is
figuring out how to balance it with
everything else in life.
"I sleep less, dance more," he
said, describing himself and others
in the Eugene Tango movement as
"Tango junkies."
Vicky Ayers, a faculty member
who teaches Tango lessons at the
University, explained that University
students make up a large portion of
the Tango scene. She believes they
are often drawn to the aesthetic
appeal of the dance.
"It looks great," she said. "Cou
ples swirling, people talking and
laughing as they sit and watch. It is a
very exciting scene. But underneath
the glitter, the best part is that every
one feels welcome."
Erica Whitty, a full-time adminis
trative faculty member and student
atthe University, was originally
drawn to the Tango Center by the
soft glow of icicle and mood lights,
and the sounds of a live Tango band.
She stayed, however, because of the
bond she quickly formed with other
regulars atthe center.
"Tango is all about connection,"
she said. "It's like experiencing a di
alogue but you're not saying a word.
Kristen Gerhard | Pulse reporter
Greg Bryant,
executive
director of
Eugene's Tango
Center, and
University
sophomore
Amanda
Rondeau dance
a set at the
Center's milonga
Friday night
You can just have these really per
sonal moments with somebody —
some of us like to call them Tango
moments — where you're complete
ly relaxed and just really tuned in to
that telepathic connection."
There are a lot of traditional aspects
of the dance, such astrading partners
after a set of four songs and making
eye contact with people before you ask
them to dance. Also, beginners who
need to communicate verbally with
their partners should avoid the main
floor. However, Whitty said Tango is
also about improvising. Contrasting
sharply with more traditional types of
dance, Tango has more of a vocabulary
and less of a structure.
Members of the Eugene Tango
community recommended that Uni
versity students interested in Tango
try the lessons atthe Tango Center
or stop by for a milonga. The center's
dance floor is one of the best in the
world, Bryant said, and most people
who come to Tango stay all night,
dancing from 9 p.m. until the center
closes at 1 a.m.
"I think everyone should dance,"
McCollough said. "A day spent without
dancing is a day wasted."
For more information, visit the
Tango Center's Web site at
www.tangocenter.org.
kgerhard@dailyemerald.com
Discover the new-age healing properties of old-fashioned pampering
Local day spas offer massages, body treatments and
skincare services as ways to escape life's stresses
BY AMY UCHTY
PULSE EDITOR
With fall classes already in full
swing, life has become more and
more stressful, and it's easy to forget
what it's like to be pampered. But
taking a break from the pressures of
everyday life is important for health
VW.P/jOCI—C.;ner*a.*.C-Om
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492 E. 13th 686-2458
For thi wlck starting FRibnv. October 14th!
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ash for Doctors without Borders. _
and (tie tottowmg setectioo ot Sms from
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status in the earty 70s! Rash Gordon-30s Saturday matinee serial!
Magical Mystery Tour-1967 Fab Four special'
The Beatles at BudoKan-Live concert in Tokyo's Buttokan Hall.1966.
Theater-goers may tee) free to stay and watch the on-screen offerings
or come out and enjoy the festivities in the lobby, as the mood strikes
them. Please join us for a celebration just dripping with nostalgia1
alM'FiM
5:00,7:10 & 9:20 (10/17-5:00 only) Sat & Sun Mat 2:50
THUMBSUCKERgd
5:20,7:25 & 9:30 Nightly Sun Mat 3:15
ArchaeologyFest Film Series: Best of 2004!
THE the
deep enigmas present in the prehistoric remains found
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SEARCHING FOR BLUE A young indigenous painter
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Weekend of the Living Dead
FRI. 10/14: NOISEFERATU!
SAT. 10/15: NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD
SUN. 10/16: PLAN 9 FROM OUTERSPACE
11:30 pm Fri, Sat & Sun nights
The A ri sloe rats un&ffl
11:40 pm Fri, Sat & Sun nights SAT MAT 3:30
and well-being, and, of course, it's
always fun to relax in a comfortable
and soothing environment. Eugene
is home to quite a few day spas that
can provide this atmosphere and a
peaceful and pleasurable outing for
both men and women. Following is a
look at just two of the many day spas
in the area that offer varied types of
tranquil treatments.
Chikara Salon & Spa, located at 134
Oakway Center, offers many opportuni
ties for pampering. From body treat
ments like the Moisturizing Body
Masque to skincare services like the
Double Oxygen Facial, there is some
thing for everyone to enjoy.
"We provide a really nice, relaxing
opportunity to come in and just enjoy
yourself and have a great day—both
Walking Ute labyrintk i» on andent form of prayer
and meditation tkat Kat been revived in recent yearr.
Sunday, October 16
6 - 8 p.m.
Ike Wetiey foundation
1236 Kinkaid 5t («*( b &e (JO fcoobbre)
Come and 30 ol anytime
during the above hours.
Questions can be directed b ieremy
at 346-4694 or jefemyhp@uore30n.edu
«wwiindiocred3found4d
male and female," Chikara manager
Stacey Krivchuksaid.
Although Chikara has a majority of
female spa customers, Krivchuk
emphasizes the importance of the
male client.
"A lot of people tend to think that
spas are strictly for women, and
they're not," she said. "Massage, fa
cials, manicures— men tend not to
do those kinds of things because
they think of them as 'girlie.' But men
definitely have skin that needs to be
taken care of and hydrated, cleaned
and exfoliated. And manicures and
pedicures are important, too. I mean,
if you think about it as a woman, do
you want someone with rough, ugly
hands touching you?"
Chikara, which Krivchuk describes
as having an "industrial-urban chic
look," provides individual spa treat
ments that can run as low as $45 for a
DAY SPA, page 11
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BLUES STffr^9‘PM
SAT OCTOBER 15
MARY FLOWER
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HIP HOP 10:30 PM I
HIED OCT 19
A CELEBRATION OF
WflWN WS
POETRY READING 8 PM
WED OCTOBER 19
TOBY KOENIGSBERG
UO JAZZ JAM 6:31 PM
THURSDAY OCTOBER 13
INTERACTIVE ART & MUSIC
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„DM1 KKE03 057J
IELEVENEYES
LUNA Late Night Menu Tuesday to Saturday
Next to Adam’s Place Restaurant
Dinning Room open 5 pm to 9 pm weeknights 10 pm weekends