Tangodurians

Tango has social hierarchy. Yup, that's right, as much as we like to think the Milonga floor is a level playing field, Tango has all the constructions of mimicking the real world. As beginners, we are so unaware of what is in store, thinking molinete's are impossible (they are with beginner leaders), wondering how we will ever make ochos look good, wondering how people can react with near perfect timing (that is called connection). First Milonga, November 2009, Bubble Tea involved, a reluctant CC, 10:30 leaving the apt for Vitosh. Darkness, surrender, nervousness, knots in stomachs. Random people asking us to dance, apologetic us, having no idea what is going on. Love, right there. Completely and utterly gave in to the dance willingly. Never looked back since. Last Vitosh Milonga, May 22nd 2010, familiar faces, familiar chatter. Names thrown around, Felipe Martinez performing. Excitement. Letting go. Eyes shut, close embrace, confidence. Can't believe this is the last o

I've pinpointed why Tango is so appealing. Well, not really, more like really acknowledging it now! We all want to be that one dancer that leaves our follower/leader gasping BECAUSE. Well, they would never have felt such an amazing connection before. It's honing ourselves to that point in time where we can meet any leader and be confident in our own skills to be able to match whatever he is throwing at us. Then leave, like a gust of wind, woosh! Good Tango week in KL!

After the countless videos, watching the performances by passing Tango teachers, performances by stage Tango dancers, sitting and absorbing Milongas, the one couple that sticks in my mind has to be T and his fiance who met through Tango in Argentina. Their seamless blending, the fact that she didn't even need to be wearing shoes and their swapping of roles. Even though I was exposed to this early on the clueless beginnings of Tango, you could already appreciate the intimacy between the two. In hindsight after a bit more experience, it becomes even clearer that, that would be the ultimate Tango experience. It's like staring at something without the tools to understand it, then later when you come back with the tools in hand, it hits you, "ah hah!" that's what it is! It's like being told, "this will be useful in life later, trust me", and staring at math sets that have no correlation with your life, until later when you're facing a job assessme