The series of dances begins with "Verdemar", a song which is rarely danced, due to its raw power of grief and sorrow. “She was snatched away from us in the prime of her beautiful life,” cry the lyrics. The second song is "Ella es asi", a loving hymn to a woman who shone so brightly and who was never afraid to be her true self. The meaning of the title is simply, "That's how she is". The musical genre isn't a regular tango, but rather a milonga, tango's irreverent, playful younger sister. Finally, "Yo te amo", a beautiful classic tango selected for its joyful mood and its rare feminine voice. "I love you, my heart, for your gift of empathy and affection", sing the lyrics. For over 20 years, the non-profit Wasatch Tango Club has been engaged in a mission to bring great tango to the Salt Lake Valley. The club is run entirely by volunteers who endeavor to preserve the music, dance, and culture of Argentine tango while encouraging growth and fostering deep connections between people who love tango.
This performance was dedicated to the memory of Jenna Rosenberg, a TEDxSaltLakeCity volunteer and tango enthusiast who was taken by a tragic accident in the prime of her life. In a series of 3 dances, Wasatch Tango Club explores the emotional range of tango, from inconsolable grief to joy and exuberance to the warm glow of nostalgia and healing memories. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx