Rick and Lynda Wilson have communicated through their dancing shoes for 17 years.
"The Argentineans call tango dancing a conversation without words," said Rick Wilson, an Argentinean tango instructor.
Tango first caught the Wilsons' attention when they saw a National Geographic special on Argentinean tango stars Miguel Zotto and Milena Plebs in 1992.
"We saw this couple tango dancing, and we were so struck by the quietness in the communication and the movement in their feet," Rick said. "We said, 'This is the one we want to do.'"
Rick said he and Lynda attended their first tango lesson in Atlanta shortly after they saw the National Geographic special.
The Wilsons started teaching Argentinean tango lessons in 1996.
"Argentine tango is the original tango; it comes from a particular region of Buenos Aires in the late 1800s," said Lynda, Rick's partner in tango instruction. "Ballroom tango is a modern departure that began in the U.S. in the '30s."
They differ in their vocabulary, posture and music.
"When you watch Argentine tango you really see a different art form," Lynda said.
Rick said the rich music of Argentine tango allows the dance to lend itself to improvisation.
"When you learn tango you learn direction changes, pattern changes and walking changes," Lynda said. "There is a lot of freedom in direction. It's a walking dance of improvisation."
The Wilsons want to bring the dance of improvisation that they love to Auburn.
"We knew a small core of tango dancers in Auburn from teaching in Columbus," Lynda said. "Last November in Montgomery, some of them recruited us to come teach in Auburn. We started classes in January in the Frank Brown Recreation Center with 12 dancers, and we've been going steadily ever since."
Mary Cho, an Auburn resident and student of Rick and Lynda, said the Auburn tango community is fortunate to have them.
"The tango dance population is very small in Auburn," Cho said. "We have four or five couples, and Montgomery has about two couples. The new beginners class has about five people in it."
Cho said she thinks everyone can enjoy tango dancing.
"It is great for your health, it's good for your mental because you have to memorize so many things, and it's exciting," Cho said. "It's just so pretty. It is difficult because there are so many layers, but there are so many things to learn that you can never stop."
Lynda said she would like to see more students in the tango classes.
"We have had a couple," Lynda said. "We would love to have more students. They bring a balance to the group because they are social, artistic and mildly athletic."
Cho said she agreed that the tango community would benefit from the addition of younger members.
"We need a lot more young people," Cho said. "Most young people like to do swing and ballroom. Tango is subtle; there is a lot of skill, and it's very challenging. I believe if we keep promoting, it will be more popular."
Rick and Lynda offer beginner classes Tuesday evenings at Dean Road Recreation Center.
For more information about the lessons, visit tangosalon.com.
Cho said people should not let their lack of dance ability or skills stop them from attending lessons.
"If I can learn, anyone can," Cho said.
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