The COVID-19 pandemic turned life as we knew it upside down, causing a profound shift in how we relate to each other and the world around us.

The lockdowns, social distancing measures, and isolation shattered many of the routines and human connections we took for granted.

Over the last 3 years, the world gradually emerged from the grips of the pandemic, and people are reconnecting physically.

Yet many find that rebuilding the deep emotional bonds that sustain us is more complex than anticipated. While we're no longer physically alone, the pandemic has left behind a lingering sense of loneliness.

The dance floor, where people once gathered to experience the vibrant and intimate connection of tango, offers a perfect metaphor for the state of human relationships today. Tango, a dance known for its close embrace and intense personal connection, was not immune to the effects of lockdown. In fact, it became one of the many areas of life where the loss of human contact was felt most acutely.

But as tango dancers—and people in general—return to shared spaces, they are finding that restoring connection isn't as simple as just being together again.

The post-pandemic world is one where we are navigating the tension between being "not alone" and still feeling profoundly lonely.

The Isolation of Lockdown: A Catalyst for Loneliness

During the pandemic, isolation became a necessary part of life.

Whether due to strict government-enforced lockdowns or voluntary social distancing, we retreated into our own private worlds.

Tango dancers, much like the rest of society, felt the sharp sting of separation.

Studios and milongas were closed, and even those who danced regularly with a partner were forced to limit their close-contact interactions.

This experience of isolation is poignantly captured in the tango "Soledad" by Carlos Gardel, where the lyrics convey a deep sense of abandonment:

"Soledad, my loyal companion, you never leave me..."
"Soledad, my loyal companion, you never leave me…"

The word "soledad" (solitude) came to embody the emotional weight of being physically apart from those we care about, not just in the dance world, but in our everyday lives.

Loneliness became not just a state of mind but an all-encompassing feeling during the pandemic’s long, uncertain months.

The absence of social engagement extended far beyond the dance floor. For many, isolation became not just a physical separation but an emotional one. Loneliness crept in quietly, making even the most socially active people realize how much they depended on the little moments of connection to feel truly human. Tango, too, is built on those subtle moments of closeness, where partners communicate without words, simply through the embrace and movement. The loss of such intimate connections created a void, one that has been difficult to fill even as we return to shared spaces.

Reconnecting, But Still Apart

When the world began to open up again, people were eager to reconnect. Social gatherings resumed, workplaces reopened, and, yes, tango dancers returned to their beloved dance floors. But something had shifted.

While physically present, many of us are finding it harder to rebuild the emotional closeness that we once shared.

We are re-learning how to connect, how to trust, and how to be vulnerable with one another.

Part of the challenge is that the pandemic amplified feelings of fear and uncertainty. The virus transformed physical closeness into something dangerous, and that psychological barrier has been difficult to break. Even as masks come off and social distancing measures relax, a deep-seated wariness remains. For tango dancers, this is especially poignant.

Tango is a dance that requires trust, vulnerability, and an unspoken agreement to share space and intention.

After months of social distancing,

the mere act of stepping into someone else’s personal space can feel unnatural, even though it used to be second nature.

In this context, the lyrics of the tango "Nostalgias" resonate deeply:

"Quiero emborrachar mi corazón para olvidar un loco amor, que más que amor es un sufrir..."
"I want to drown my heart in a glass of oblivion / To forget a love that, more than love, is sorrow.

Here, the desire to escape emotional pain mirrors the struggle many of us face in reconnecting with others post-pandemic.

The lingering sorrow and fear of vulnerability make it hard to rebuild trust, both in dance and in our broader social lives.

Loneliness in a Crowded World

What is perhaps most difficult about this post-pandemic world is the paradox of feeling lonely even when surrounded by others.

We can attend social gatherings, return to our offices, and join group activities like tango classes, but the depth of connection we crave is harder to attain. Being around people does not automatically alleviate the sense of isolation that the pandemic exacerbated.

This dynamic is especially pronounced in tango. Tango is a social dance, but it is also deeply personal. Dancers often speak of the intense emotional connection that arises between partners as they move together.

Yet after the pandemic, many dancers have reported feeling disconnected from this emotional core, even as they physically embrace their partners on the dance floor.

It’s as though the experience of dancing together is happening on the surface, while a deeper sense of isolation remains beneath.

The lyrics of "Los Mareados" (The Dizzy Ones) echo this experience of being physically close but emotionally distant:

"Siento que estoy mareado, como un borracho..."
"I feel strange, as if intoxicated / I tremble without wanting to."

Here, the disorientation of being in the company of others while still feeling emotionally removed is a fitting metaphor for the post-pandemic struggle to reconnect fully.

The Complexity of Rebuilding

Rebuilding human relationships after such a prolonged period of isolation is not something that happens overnight. It requires time, patience, and a willingness to be vulnerable again.

In tango, dancers often say that connection is about listening—not just to the music, but to each other.

It’s about tuning in to the subtle signals and responding with empathy and presence.

In a post-pandemic world, this kind of listening is more important than ever, not just in dance, but in all our relationships.

One of the lasting impacts of the pandemic is that it has changed the way we communicate. During the lockdowns, many of us became reliant on digital communication—Zoom calls, text messages, and social media became our primary means of staying in touch.

But these forms of communication, while useful, lack the nuance and intimacy of face-to-face interaction.

As we return to in-person conversations, we may find that our social skills have atrophied.

We’ve forgotten how to read body language, how to engage in small talk, or how to sit in comfortable silence with someone.

Tango dancers, too, are relearning the art of nonverbal communication.

The dance, which thrives on subtle cues like a shift in weight or a change in breath, has become more awkward for many after so long apart.

Rebuilding this sensitivity takes time, but it is a process that can ultimately deepen our relationships, both on and off the dance floor.

The Path Forward: Embracing Vulnerability and Empathy

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is the importance of human connection.

We are social creatures, and our well-being depends on our relationships with others. Yet the pandemic has also revealed how fragile these connections can be, and how much effort is required to maintain them.

As tango lyrics remind us, love and connection are often intertwined with loneliness and longing. In the tango "Uno," the lyrics reflect the vulnerability of striving for connection despite the fear of heartbreak:

"Uno busca lleno de esperanzas, el camino que los sueños prometieron a sus ansias..."
"One seeks, full of hope, the path that dreams promised to his anxieties."

This mirrors our collective desire to reconnect in the post-pandemic world, despite the lingering anxieties and emotional scars left behind by isolation.

Moving forward, we must be intentional about how we rebuild our relationships. It will require embracing vulnerability, both in ourselves and in others. We must acknowledge that we are all a little broken from the pandemic and that healing will take time. But in this vulnerability lies an opportunity for deeper connection. By being honest about our struggles, we create space for others to do the same, and in doing so, we forge relationships that are more resilient and authentic.

For tango dancers, this might mean approaching the dance with a new mindset.

Instead of striving for perfection or technical skill, the focus can shift to simply being present with a partner—listening, responding, and allowing the dance to unfold naturally.

In life, too, we can apply this principle. Instead of rushing to fill the gap that the pandemic left behind, we can take our time to reconnect, to listen deeply, and to rebuild relationships that are more meaningful.

A New Kind of Togetherness

As we navigate this post-pandemic world, we must accept that things will not return to exactly how they were before.

The loneliness and isolation we experienced during lockdown will take time to heal, and even as we surround ourselves with others, that sense of disconnection may linger. But this does not mean we are doomed to remain lonely. Instead, it presents an opportunity to redefine what connection means to us.

In tango, dancers are rediscovering the beauty of the embrace, not just as a physical gesture, but as a symbol of trust, vulnerability, and shared humanity.

In life, we too can embrace this new understanding of connection. It is not about how many people we surround ourselves with, but about the depth of our relationships and the quality of our interactions.

By being present, empathetic, and open, we can rebuild the connections that the pandemic disrupted, and perhaps even emerge from this period of loneliness with relationships that are stronger and more fulfilling than before.