Why the Process Matters: Crafting Precision and Beauty in Dance by Michael Cornell

Great dancing doesn’t happen by magic. It’s often said that the legendary Fred Astaire rehearsed for hours every day. I don’t doubt it. The appearance of effortlessness demands an extraordinary amount of effort.

I am by no means a great tango dancer. Tango is a humbling art form, but I love dedicating my time to its craft. It has deeply inspired me, rekindling the spark I thought I’d lost after retiring from ballet. The burnout and overwork of life in a ballet company had dulled my passion for movement, but tango reignited it. To be honest, tango is much more pleasurable than ballet. Ballet is the MMA cage match of dance forms—nothing is as grueling or unforgiving. Even the most naturally gifted individuals look awkward in their first attempts at classical ballet.

Every Wednesday, I practice with my tango partner, Natalia. Ours is a strictly professional relationship, and you can see this reflected in our work. Natalia, originally from Bolivia, studied classical ballet at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, Argentina—the birthplace of tango. We were introduced by a mutual acquaintance, and during a casual conversation, we discovered our shared passion and training in tango. From that moment, we knew we had to work together.

Six months later, our partnership has grown immensely. Natalia’s focus and precision are unmatched. Her natural lines are exquisite, and she approaches every movement with calm intelligence and surgical precision. During a recent class together with my instructor, she received and applied notes instantaneously—a skill that is profoundly shaping our progress.

The video below is a 5-minute highlight reel from our 2-hour rehearsal. We rarely take breaks, and this week, I was amazed at the sheer volume of material we accomplished. The 120 minutes fly by. Time always seems to move faster when you’re having fun. It’s an incredible pleasure to work with a professional like Natalia, whose technical training, balance, form, and fluidity are exceptional.

I hope what you notice in this video is how we approach our craft as a team. Our concentration is deep, and our words are few. We continually repeat and refine each movement, focusing on precision and connection. The perfection truly comes from the process.