Tango maverick Marcos Ayala dances defiance in Israel

In a cultural moment defined by absence, when the calendar of international visits to Israel remains conspicuously scarce as many artists choose to stay away, the arrival of a world-class artist sometimes feels less like a performance and more like a declaration.

It’s a show that has already captivated audiences around the world, and Ayala’s decision to proceed with a nationwide tour, at a time when many international performers have chosen to postpone or cancel appearances, stands as an act of both artistic courage and personal conviction.

For Ayala, the reason is clear and deeply personal. “What motivates me to return to Israel is the success of our shows and the incredible response from the audience,” he says, referring to his previous visits to the country.

Ayala, the acclaimed dancer, choreographer, and artistic director, has devoted his career to dissecting the anatomy of tango and then fearlessly rebuilding it. His artistic philosophy centers on a single, deceptively simple principle: the embrace. To him, it is not only a physical movement but a ritual, a form of human reconnection that grows ever more vital in the digital age.

“It’s the secret of tango, in this age of constant connection yet emotional disconnection,” he explains. “It’s about stopping for three minutes, putting down your phone, saying nothing, and simply feeling the other person. That simple gesture between two people is one of the most powerful forms of communication. With one embrace, we can connect and break through every language barrier.”

For Ayala, this return to intimacy lies at the very heart of tango’s endurance. His choreography preserves the raw, sensual pulse of the dance, born in the taverns of the Río de la Plata, while propelling it toward the theatrical and the contemporary.

His productions do not abandon tradition; they stretch its boundaries, inviting new audiences to rediscover the beauty and tension that define the form.

The production draws inspiration from the Greek myth of Hades and Persephone, a story of darkness and renewal, of separation and reunion. In Ayala’s interpretation, a creature from the underworld, incapable of love, rises to the world above and chooses a young woman. Against all expectations, love blooms between them, transforming both their destinies and bridging the chasm between shadow and light.

Through this mythic lens, the tango becomes more than a dance; it is a living metaphor for human experience. Every step, every turn, every charged pause between two dancers tells a story of desire, loss, devotion, boundaries, and the enduring strength of the soul.

For Ayala, the drive to innovate is inseparable from the need to keep tango alive. “I feel that my shows have already explored the traditional side of tango, and now they seek new horizons,” he says.

The ability of the Marcos Ayala Tango Company to deliver this intricate fusion stems from the remarkable background of its founder. Ayala is a true titan of his craft, a former Tango World Champion (Japan, 2006), lauded as the “Revelation of Tango” for his performance in Chantecler Tango.

This wealth of experience enables his company to command the stage with astonishing emotional depth and visual precision. Each performance unfolds as both a dance and a drama, a dialogue between shadow and light that transcends language and culture.

The upcoming tour here will offer a rare opportunity to witness firsthand how Ayala is redefining tango for a new generation, not by severing its ties to the past, but by expanding its emotional and theatrical universe.

The Marcos Ayala Tango Company’s visit promises a rich fusion of Argentine passion, artistic mastery, and human connection, offering, in these uncertain times, a much-needed surge of warmth, beauty, and resilience to the cultural landscape of Israel.