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Intercropping Disciplines

Doing the recent lessons made me realize something which I've already voiced out. Tango does not give you the inherent tools to be good at Tango. It really doesn't. Showing me a nice ocho and no matter how many times I practice that Ocho, it will never be nice if I do not have good posture and balance. Also, on musicality, I am superbly thankful for a musical background so I can pick out a full beat from a half beat. Just saying.

This was inspired of course by the practice in which we had to stay on our tiptoes and continuously flick our free foot back and forth. Short of being a ballerina or a yoga master, I would be unable to do that for long without flailing all around the place. Which is why I say, you need more than Tango, to be GOOD at Tango. Of course people disagree with the concept, and that the fault lies with the fact tha the dance has just turned into yet another 'showy' discipline, that true milonguero essence is giving way to stage moves and broken embraces. I'm of the camp that thinks that this dance will evolve no matter how much people want it to remain the same as 'the good old days', and would be equally happy switching between music, steps and embraces if it makes me happy when I'm doing it.

What I have found is that doing more sports and strenghthening the core will be the only way I can hold my posture better and keep my stamina up for the dance. It's about being actively conscious of your body. Or maybe we should just screw it all and do what makes us happy, whether or not we actually look disastrous executing the move.

"Don't care about them, they're too worried about themselves anyway." JB~on being self conscious dancing during a milonga

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