Some nights after the last tanda in Houston, a clever and skillful tanguero named Alejandro Almanza, removes a camera from around his neck and starts to ponder the images he captured that evening. When it comes to describing his craft of tango photography, a thousand words seem inadequate. His photographs are as animated as the subjects themselves. He is adept at catching on film what we miss with the naked eye. That flick of the foot, the shy smile, the soft texture of a dress, it was all there but we did not see it until now. To see his work is to feel connected to the image in a way that you connect to your favorite tango or your favorite dancer.
Born in South Texas and educated in Michigan, his work is both local and universal with a cultural richness and a quiet respect for the natural landscape. Alejandro is well known among tango dancers, avid facebook fans, and he is often sought out to be the official photographer for tango festivals. In response to the demand for his work, Alejandro will open his first solo show in Houston tonight at Heights Beatniks. Aptly named “11th on 11th“, this show will feature some on his hand-selected pieces of tango photography. Pausing between dancing tango and capturing it on film, I had the opportunity to ask him about the show and what his work means to him.
When ask what the show means to him, he humbly said he was excited and honored to show his work to others. He wants to give Houstonians a taste of the tango community that exists in their neighborhood. People viewing his art for the first time will be moved by the sense of motion within the work. It is almost as if the figures are dancing off the paper. They capture the strength and emotion of the tango while remaining soft and intimate. His use of light is precise, deliberate, and luminous. The colors are lush and black tones contrast harmoniously with the other grays. The remarkable effect of perpetual motion is the result of both Alejandro’s keen eye and his acumen in deciding the perfect moment to push the shutter. Limited by the low light of the interior space and the restrictions on the use of flash, Alejandro has mastered the use of his equipment, the timing of the music and knowledge of tango.
My greatest inspiration for tango photography is the dance itself. The movement of the dancers and the sound of the music is enough to lure me away from dancing to photograph. -Alejandro Almanza
So where does tango photography fit within the greater story of the Tango? This artist sees the ever expanding role that tango plays in the community. He understands the value of photography in building and retaining the communities. When a new dancer sees themself on film for the first time, it is certainly a powerful moment and fortifies their involvement with other dancers. There is something thrilling and affirming to see that you have been tagged in one of his facebook albums. For tango veterans and performers, his art can take their careers to the next level. Above all, he wants the dancers to see themselves as they truly are, to see themselves in a way that is not possible from inside the embrace. The embrace can be such an intimate thing that the couple can get lost in a world of their own. Thankfully, Alejandro is there to capture that moment of public affection and personal identity.
In his work, we see a great deal of Alejandro himself. Trained as an electrical engineer and photographer, he has always been the artistic and creative one among his friends. He identifies with his work the way a quarterback identifies with a football. His art defines a great deal about him and therefore, he and his work are indistinguishable.
You see my art, you see me. – Alejandro Almanza
The next question I had to ask him, naturally, was if he had a favorite image? Like a parent trying to pick a favorite child, Alejandro chose a series of barefoot tango dancers. When stripped of all the external features; the beautiful dance halls, the fancy clothes, and the prized shoes, tango is reduced to the simplicity of a dance shared between two people. Without pretension, the barefoot dancers nurture our own fantasies of finding, within the dance, the true essence of tango.
Tango photography is an ever evolving art and it is appropriate to consider what the next generation of tango photographers will do. Alejandro is excited that more people are rediscovering the joys of analog photography in the age of digital photography and photo editing software. As his work proves, there is still room for the fine art of darkroom photography. To inspire future tango photographers, Alejandro recommends a course of study to learn the technical aspects of the art. He said “In photography, you are interacting with a machine with predictable results. Learn the limitations of your machine and it will become an extension of your sight”.
Learning is something we do all the time as dancers. And through his art, Alejandro is doing his best to teach others about tango and spread the “gospel of dance”. That is the message he wants people to get out of his work.
As tango dancers, we make time to dance on a weekly, and sometimes daily, basis. All of our bodies have an intrinsic desire to express itself by dance, yet we don’t do it enough. The message is to go out and dance. – Alejandro Almanza
What lies ahead for this inspiring and talented artist? If the show this Thursday is any indication, he will be very busy fielding calls from galleries interested in showing his art. His pieces are already found in private collections, galleries, and publications in Europe, North America, and South America. In January, he will be teaching a tango photography class at the recently announced Houston Tango Marathon. But for Alejandro, the answer is simple, the next step for him is to capture the next moment shared between dancers.
:Last tanda comments: To see more of Alejandro’s work, do not miss the Houston show “11th on the 11th” or view the donocelotl photostream on Flickr. You can also download his bio (.PDF) or email him at jaalmanza@donocelotl.com
