Performers of “Tango After Dark”, Photo by Federico Paleo
Tango is sexy is a pretty banal observation. It absolutely is, though. So sexy. Why, specifically? I mean, I can’t answer for you; but for me, it goes beyond the performative sensuality. My favourite aspect of the dance, what really does it for me, is the assertiveness! I love the precision, the brazen intimacy. The full dynamic potential of the form is explored in German Cornejo’s Tango After Dark, presented in Toronto by Show One Productions.
Performed by eight dancers and accompanied by a six-piece band—keyboard, double base, drums, guitar, violin and bandoneon; this celebration of the tango is inspired by and features the music of world-renowned creator of the “New Tango,” Astor Piazzolla. Choreographed by Cornejo in collaboration with the dancers, he is joined in the lead by fellow World Tango Champion Gisela Galeassi.
Split into two acts (a little unnecessary, but more on that later) the many segments offer a broad range of moods, from playful to sombre. All structured dance conveys intention, of course, though it doesn’t always have narrative purpose. There are some episodes here that suggest subtle, abstracted little stories that play out in a gestural language. Is that a romantic picnic turned sour? A feverish threesome? A group of men celebrating their friendship? One of the most visually striking moments occurs during that threesome, which opens with some elegant play with a length of fabric that tethers them.
Antonela Cirillo provided sultry vocals for many of the segments and, like the rest of the company, is sporting a new outfit for each appearance. Designed by Cornejo and Alberto Mauri, this gorgeous, richly textured array of costumes is quite stunning. In a simple yet luxurious aesthetic, the band and dancers are flanked by red velvet curtains. In the first act, a set of exposed-filament bulbs create an atmosphere of scintillating nightlife; the second act features a backdrop of ribbons that glisten in the light. A consistently striking motif of Charlie Morgan Jones’s lighting design is the white backlight that throws the dancers into relief at the end of each segment—a classic, effective button.
Coming back to my issue with the length: when the red dresses appear, the first intense colour that pops, it does seem like the finale, though the performance goes on to include an extended musical interlude and several ideal yet missed endings that tested my patience. This neither tapers to a fine point nor explodes in grand spectacle so much as persist until the audience decides how much of the extended encore they are willing to abide.
Despite an unwarranted running time and untidy finish, Tango After Dark is an exhilarating showcase of incredible talent.
Tango After Dark
running ((in Toronto) March 14 to 16, 2025
Winter Garden Theatre (189 Yonge St.)
running time: 2 hours (with intermission)
Performers of “Tango After Dark”, Photo by Leo Mason