Tangodurians

Hello 2022! Is this the year that we have finally recovered from COVID? At least I've stopped freaking out about being in a crowded space without the semblance of a shield called a facemask, just as I have mysteriously also never tested positive for COVID yet having the classic symptoms of its later manifestation. All that is to say, it's back to milongas and lessons in somewhat full force and having amnesia for the last 2 years. In the middle of Embrace Berlin right now which is an interesting coalition of turbocharged Tango milongas happening throughout the week, primarily enjoyed by the local community and feeling more of a home-turf Tango situation vs. an international weekend of cross country travelling. First ever lessons with Horacio Godoy y Maricel Giacomini and what a trove of historical/musical facts - musicality at its finest. 1930's Milonguero - 1920's and earlier music rhythm was based off a habanero rhythm with the melody line emphasising the beat on 1 and...

Ah, Musicality. So hard to teach. So so hard. Lessons with Bichi and Luciana who are a lovely couple. Facing all our very blur and quizzical faces and off tempo walking, totally patient and totally strict on the fundamentals. Tough love! Side Runs - Side step then forward outside for the guy, side-collect x3 by the fourth a walk forward, change weight, step back and repeat the whole sequence - To maintain the step and collect to the side, elevate the follower and keep the side on intention clear so she does not end up doing a grapevine, don't let the hips run free (square feel) - Additional post side run will be to rotate the follower so she is on the side of the lead, keeping thighs somewhat close and doing a back-cross sequence x3 as well; the accent is on the back, the cross is a tuck and more of a quick transfer into the next step rather than a rock-step - Do not change the height with the side step, that does not mean that you lock the knee but you try and maintain th...

So sad they've split up! Would have learnt a wealth of information from them about music, musicality, steps and really listening to the structure of Tango on another level. Time to find Erdemsel somewhere in this world then! This brought me back to a concept that I think is really relevant for Tango though, in order to understand Tango beyond dance steps, it's the realisation that the evolution of this dance is so much a combination of lifestyle, of music and of tradition. For me, the Universe of Truths in Tango consists of : - Embrace - Music - Movement What is real Tango? Is it the lost years of the 30's? Where we only play 'Golden Age' stuff and conform to a notion of 'tradition'.Where we look at old recordings and find confusion in the boxy, non-disassociated steps of the past maestros. Where up to now I look at the elderly women who have more meat, who have seen more, and wonder why the maestros call them '80 kg of Tango'. How does...

Yo me cegué en tus ojazos I was blinded by your big ey es y fui a caer en tus brazos. and I landed in your arms Y entre tus brazos yo fui feliz, And in your arms I was happy porque te amé con delirio. Because I loved you with a delirium Yo fui a caer en tus brazos I went to fall into your arms y así llegué hasta el martirio; And so I found my torment te juro que enloquecí, I swear I went crazy cuando por dentro me vi, When I saw inside me y comprendí lo que hacía. And I realised what I was doing Quiero mirar hacia Dios, I want to look towards God aunque me muerda el dolor, Even if the pain bites me aunque me cueste morir. Even if dying is difficult Por quererte llegué hasta el martirio, For love I found my torment cuando vi que mi casa dejaba When I saw that I was leaving my home y, aunque mi alma en tus brazos quedaba, And though my soul remained in your arms te dejé, que es igual que morir.  I left you, which is the same as to die ¡Cómo duele en la c...

Too bad didn't mange to sign up in time for their lessons. I have figured out what it is about her dancing though, it's the fact that you can almost count the beat and rhythm with her movements. Given the fact that Tango's often a melodic dance, I might be wrong in the fact that Mandria is in particular, a track which is highly rhythmic and uncompromisingly so, thus requiring more rhythmic play. But even on mute, you can almost hear the melody and rhythm just be looking at the footwork. Amazing stuff.