Tangodurians

It's been eons since I've written anything about Tango, even though it has now become so ingrained in my life and travels. Tango at this point to me is being used as an outlet. It's my yoga, it's my meditation. It's me traversing the world in 12 minutes, in receiving and transmitting, of letting my body become the channel through which the music flows through, of expression. Tango to me is at this stage, everything that I want it to be. Of course there's plenty of things to work on, but there comes a point where you are balanced in yourself and your awareness of this dance that allows you to express your truest "self". It opens different facets of yourself to you and I continue to hone how I communicate. It is true that only certain people "get it", or "stick with it" and more or less these are the people that end up being people I get along with. It's a bit of a screener for me too in terms of figuring out who I actually w...

What is it to be mature in this dance? Everytime I review the journey I wonder over and over again how I could have possibly danced last year, how anyone could have enjoyed dancing with me, with that funny embrace, that un-disassociated upper body, that off balance ocho. Yet the breakthrough seems to be sustained over the last year. After getting a full ass-kicking going to to the Istanbul Tango Marathon, a revelation of sorts with TC's teaching, a continued involvement in shaping and crafting the scene for KL tango, I have settled into a relatively peaceful place with this dance. I also attribute this highly to Yoga having helped me stretch out some previously un-stretchable parts and helping the balance tremendously. Deep diving in the bio-mechanics of this dance, into the music and the history, just bringing myself out of the fog of unawareness and bliss. This is where the true complexity of Tango unfolds itself. Much like a baby becomes a toddler who transforms into a teen...

To cap off a beautiful 1st Singapore Tango Marathon, small workshop with Damian Boggio over cup noodles and instant tea in the cosy setting of Tangopura! Notes! DJ tips for creating a memorable night Role of the DJ - Phrases of music and the energy variation is very important. You can string together 4 straight tandas of 1940's golden age music, but sooner or later the energy level becomes too stagnant, with variation, no one should be asking for nuevo - that is your goal as a DJ to achieve - 1940's music was created for the dancer, hence you cannot go wrong selecting a tanda from the era, but be wary of choosing too much from a particular time period as most orchestras would be following a particular rhythm and style that was almost the same for all of them during that time - The DJ is a "service", people do not go there mainly for the music or the DJ, they are there for the people and to socialise - The best milonga is one where you are unaware of the DJ, ...

What is your ultimate goal? Do you dance because you want to become a professional? To make a living out of it? To perform on stage? Do you dance in order to connect? To socialise? Because a loved one started with you and its a part of you that you can never quite let go of, because it means that the final bridge is forever gone? Is it because a younger you once felt something inside you move so much that your perspective was forever shifted to a B.T. and A.T? Is it because it is a language that is global, allowing you to plug into any community and be instantly connected, without language, without culture, without boundaries? Perhaps you as a woman just want to be held, to connect with someone of the opposite gender, to feel led, guided and comforted in a world where gender norms are collapsing. Or perhaps, you are that masculine figure, tenderly protective of the person who has entrusted their sight to yours, letting the guard of personal space down to nestle in your arms an...

There's a lot of ways to learrn Tango Foundations. Obviously we first start with very basic things, like how to walk foward, backward, how to deal with having someone in front of you either giving you signals, or you giving the signal as a lead. The frame of the embrace, where to put that hand, how to put that hand. How much pressure? More, less? Varying? How much can you move out of this frame? How much should you move out of this frame as a follow on your own, vs. what you're being allowed to do? The concept of ochos, of linear vs. circular movements. Sacadas, Ganchos, Boleos. All the good stuff that forms the concepts and movements which we use as the core. Beyond sequences and steps, then comes the hard part. How to connect, how to convey ideas. The bane of musicality, of understanding music/orchestra, familiarity with the music and familiarity with the movements that should suit the music. How to keep your own weight, to collect neatly and embellishments as the icin...

It has been a while since I have managed to bring myself back toward elements of beginning stages. Back to the days in tiled Union lobbies with an exasperated ponytailed guy telling me to shut my eyes and just feel. To stop fighting the lead and to surrender. What does it mean to be a good dancer? I sometimes think we are so caught up within this dance that we do not utilise everything else outside of it to inform our progress. Metaphors and imagery resonate so much stronger than describing a step ever will. What does it mean to be a good speaker then? Is it necessary to be Oprah before we deem ourselves worthy of the title? Hardly! Then why is it that we expect to dance like Rojas, like Hurtado, or any other headlining name? Maybe because Tango is so accessible, so fundamental in nature, like walking, that we believe we can partake in it, and expect to at a very high level. Truth is, it really does require training, it requires years of dedication much like ballet, gymnastic, yog...

Have you forgotten... ...the dusty floors of mason hall ...the Ochos in 721 Forest Kitchen ...the barefoot dances and drunken laughs in a basement ...the overwhelming sadness of missing someone ...the 80 year olds in NYC telling you stories ...tie a yellow ribbon ...pseudo mamaks with Malaysian tango girls ...Vitosh Milongas ...Phoenix Centre post Indian ...crabs and Salamanca ...Steve and Jose ...comments on one shoulder dresses ...Tango across the peony garden in the Arb ...frostbites at 3am Love and memories and heartbreak and tears. All wrapped up in one package called. Tango.