Tango: The king of all dances Teacher sees dance as entrée to a cosmopolitan milieu BY LARRY RAPPOPORT Correspondent Fausto Bermeo knows the steps to happiness. And if you talk to him, you just might agree those steps lead right across a dance floor - more specifically, a tango dance floor. SCOTT FRIEDMAN Fausto Bermeo leads as a student practices the art of tango, a dance he considers to be "the king of all dances." Fausto Bermeo, you see, is an authentic Argentine tango instructor who believes in the power of tango. According to Bermeo, tango is more than a dance. It's an "elegant symmetry," it's a "silent dialogue," it's "a lifestyle." "Tango is a sublime expression created by mankind to express a feeling," Bermeo said with an accent revealing his Latin American roots. Tango emerged 125 years ago as a mix of dances from Italy, Spain, Cuba and Uruguay. Bermeo has been drawn to the dance since he was 15 years old. Born in Quito, Ecuador, he learned from the Latin culture that happiness is not about money. It's about having a rich social life. And he's seen firsthand the dance's profound effects. At an upscale restaurant in downtown Matawan, he tells the story of a woman who went on a cruise, but did not know how to dance. She was sidelined while watching others having fun and enjoying life. Dejected, she returned from the trip and called Bermeo for dance lessons. A few lessons later, she's now dancing, getting invited to tango events and is part of what Bermeo calls a larger "cosmopolitan social culture." "You don't want to be a witness in life," Bermeo said. "You want to be a participant." Bermeo has been teaching tango students in Monmouth County how to be participants for the past five years, including a stint as a Brookdale Community College tango instructor. He started teaching after the post-Sept. 11 business environment forced him to leave his career as a business owner and importer after 32 years. One of the first things Bermeo shows students is how a rhythm, the most "excitable and temperamental" element of tango, becomes a dance. He pulls a sheet out of his briefcase depicting the silhouette of a man and woman standing face to face in an embrace. At the top of the sheet are the words "Rhythm … is the Great Organizer." From the moment you meet Bermeo, it's clear that he is not only passionate about the dance, he is fascinated. "It begins as a harmonious sound," Bermeo said, pointing to the ears on the figures of the man and woman. "That sound then navigates a sensual journey to the heart and soul. That feeling motivates us and travels to our legs where it finds expression as the movement of the body. It then coordinates itself with the movement of the feet and is ultimately projected into the mind where the dance is organized [choreographed]." Sound simple enough? But to make it all happen, Bermeo also explains the four essential elements of tango. It starts with a man and woman gazing directly and passionately into each other's eyes. They embrace and wait. There is no talking; talking dissipates the power of the dance. It's about expressing a feeling to your partner - without words (referred to as "the silent dialogue"). Next, both faces should be stern. The lyrics of tango music are sad. For this reason, tango is sometimes called "the sad music we dance." Third, all dancers should follow "the path of the sun" (clockwise pattern around the dance floor). And last, the man must lead with conviction. "She likes to be led, he likes to lead," Bermeo explains. "Tango is an elegant symmetry." Bermeo attests that all good tango dancers combine art and sensuousness. This is the goal in the multiple levels of classes that he teaches. In each class, the emphasis is both on "techniques" and "steps." Techniques are needed to coordinate precise movements of dance. They also can be used to embellish a dance routine. For instance, students first learn how to walk on the dance floor, which is quite different from walking on the street. "Bring your shoulders back," Bermeo prompted. "And position your hands behind your back." Steps are also a primary focus. These are complex dance movements. He teaches 12 steps in the introductory course and offers tips throughout to enhance the dancers' performance. For example: "You'll need to pay attention to your center of gravity and shift your weight to your back leg." As students progress, they can improvise by combining the steps and techniques. The emphasis that tango places on improvisation and intuition is another reason Bermeo calls it the "king of all dances." But it's not easy, as any new student will attest. "It keeps you challenged, learning all the different kinds of dance steps," said Nicole Moppins, a student at tonight's session. And the challenges of tango have Bermeo touting all sorts of benefits. "It's the best exercise in the world," Bermeo said. "And it offers emotional gratification as well for both man and woman." As for the future, Bermeo has great hopes for the tango in Monmouth County. A Monmouth County resident for 35 years, Bermeo has seen the demographics of the area change in recent years to a more diverse cultural mix. "Tango reflects a cosmopolitan social culture," Bermeo said. "I want the culture of tango to contribute to the cultural change and make Monmouth County a happier place to be." Bermeo may be reached at tangofor life@juno.com.