What? How is it that the people who typically have the least social skills are the ones who are most popular at a Milonga?
Well as it turns out persevering is also necessary in any business endeavor and that is precisely why we find so many engineers and mathematicians at Milongas.
I’ve known it from the beginning, learning tango improves so many aspects of life. From the very first lesson you realize that you are going to have to persevere if you are ever going to be any good.
So if your University offers dance classes in tango, be sure to sign up for lessons! It worked for Sope, read more of her story below:
Sope Otuyelu — a WPI grad who was introduced to tango dancing by Mr. Hakim — already had a global perspective, having moved to the U.S. from Nigeria a few years ago. Though tango further exposed her to other cultures, it also made her a better electrical engineer, she said.
“Being able to function effectively in an uncomfortable environment is essential to working well in a business environment, especially in team settings,” said Ms. Otuyelu, now an electrical engineer for Raytheon.
She said the very act of being thrown into something totally new benefits people, especially in her field. “Improvisational skills and openness to learning are things that are not necessarily taught in an engineering classroom,” she said. “These help me bring new and innovative ideas to the table, making me a more well-rounded engineer.”
Mr. Hakim discovered the tango on a trip to Argentina nine years ago and now makes annual pilgrimages back there, and to other countries as well, for further training. He offers tango lessons to students for fun and for course credit. He organizes dance events on campus, often for charity, and started the social dance club student organization.
About 400 students are involved in the various dance ventures now, with $40,000 worth of student government funding each year being split among the social dance club, Mr. Hakim, and the ballroom dance team, which travels to competitions.
It isn’t easy for many engineering students to get on a dance floor, Mr. Hakim said. Some are nervous about handling a female partner until that confidence kicks in. He said Ms. Otuyelu is an excellent, all-around dancer, though she admits she was nervous at first.
“One of the things I struggled with was getting comfortable in my own skin, and getting over not looking stupid,” said Ms. Otuyelu. With a good grasp on the tango, she is now also studying capoeira, a dance-oriented martial art from Brazil.
It’s true; you can be a nerd anywhere else and still be a God of tango, with women anxiously awaiting your nod toward the dance floor. Don’t believe me? Drop by a Milonga (tango dance party) and observe how many beautiful women there are and then notice how many of them are dancing with partners who are not exactly..um..John Travolta look a-likes. Yes you will be amazed and encouraged, in fact you may even be inspired to join in – don’t! At least not until you’ve learned some basic tango navigation and floor craft.
Read the full story of Mr. Hakim and his philosophy of tango here:
via Worcester Telegram & Gazette – telegram.com – Transformative power of the tango at WPI.