Find the Music You Love
This book is for tango lovers who have the beat in their blood or for those who are new to the dance who still feel compelled to dance to every song the DJ plays. I can't help thinking it's a bit like rock climbing. I constantly feel pressure to “try everything” and to like the same routes as my fellow rock climbers. The truth is, as with most things in life, and as Kent so keenly puts it, “There is no one right way.”
If you're new to tango, this book will give you a bird's-eye view of the genre from its Old Guard, early 1900s roots to the last mid-century classics to the new and experimental styles popping up today. It's an excellent overview for the newcomer, who might not know where to start in finding music they enjoy dancing to: “I liked that one song but not that one...but how do I find more of the former? What even WAS that song?” How often I would've liked someone to take me by the hand and lead me through the annals of some genre of music or other—this is handheld guidance for exploring tango music and finding what makes you want to move the most.
Peppered throughout are expert tips by Kent, who is a longtime dancer and teacher himself—and it shows! These tips fill in the blanks for the tango aficionado and the newbie alike. With so much music available to us, how do we discover what we love? And (and perhaps the biggest question): Is it okay NOT to love everything that makes it to the dance floor? The answer from every page of this book is a resounding YES. It's okay not to like everything—so dance to what makes you want to move. And Kent argues that you will actually improve your dancing (rock climbing? work life? reading life? intimate partnerships? thoughts my own) if you explore all the options and then choose to engage in the style of music that suits your skills and tastes.
Extra fun stuff: Ever wanted to be a tango DJ? Ever thought, Gee, how does that DJ play the right song every time? Find out in this book.
Overall, this series is invaluable for its in-depth exploration of tango in a way that is at once approachable and highly informative, filling in the gaps and answering the questions we were too cringe to ask (hint: “Never be afraid to ask a stupid question.” This book is a nice addition to the series.