Tangodurians

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 embr...

Came and went in a flash of an eye, 1:30 am rock n roll dances and DJ-ing. It's been some time since I've been in a group setting, and short of being back in Ann Arbor with the initiating crew, I don't particularly like group lessons at this stage in which I'm in. I do miss the community effort of teaching, it's harder with maestros because all you want to do is impress them (and screw up instead), rather than really having fun with the learning. Key tips from this round... Women's Technique (Laila Rezk y Tamara Bisceglia) Short, slight, razor cheekboned Laila and Tall, curvy, Ankle-fied Tamara. What a pairing. Good session there doing a crash course in position, weight change, ochos and molinetes. First exercise was to stay on one foot on tip toes. Owch. Hardest things in the world these yoga-like positioning, I honestly think Tango needs a ballerinas background what with all the weight holding positions we end up doing. Things to remember: (Weight p...

This is the last piece of the night. The wrap-up of a practica/milonga/festival that you've travelled down the road, or halfway around the world and 10 time-zones away for. This. This the finale. The End. Reserved often for a special other. You respect that, one of the certainties in an unstructured dance. Also the saddest song to hear on the dance floor. Not in terms of melody, but in terms of significance. (Lyrics are depressing as hell..what's new?)

First Asian trip for a festival! I guess May Madness in Ann Arbor counts as an international trip, but that was done in conjunction with a lot more goals in mind than just Tango. Super excited anyway! Shanghai last year looked amazing what with the venue and Sexteto Milonguero live! I am upset that this year doesn't seem to have such stunning venues and live music, however what makes it better is that Martin y Maurizio will be there and so will Ariadna y Fernando! Crazy that its been two years since lessons with them. Strong contingent of 10 going. Not confident about this gender balance though, but I'm sure it'll work itself out.

No se para que volviste si yo empezaba a olvidar No se si ya lo sabras llore cuando vos te fuiste No se para que volviste, que mal me hace recordar La tarde se apuesto triste y yo prefiero callar Para que vamos a hablar de cosas que ya no existen No se para que volviste ya ves que es mejor no hablar Que pena me da saber que al final De ese amor ya no queda nada Solo una pobre cancion da vueltas por mi guitarra Y hace rato que te extraña mi zamba para olvidar Mi zamba vivio conmigo, parte de mi soledad No se si ya lo sabras mi vida se fue contigo Contigo mi amor contigo Que mal me hace recordar Mis manos ya son de barro, tanto apretar al dolor Y ahora que me falta el sol, no se que venis buscando Llorando mi amor llorando Tambien olvidame vos I don't know why did you come back, if i was starting to forget about you I don't know if you already knew it, but i cried when you left. I don't know why did you come back, it' hurts me to remember. Now the eve...

Welp, as they say, when things don't go your way, DO something about it. Latest goal is to be the best fricking lead ever. PERIOD. Guys. Pft.

From the very beginning of learning this dance, back, back, way back to the fundamentals of walking backward (in flipflops no less), I've heard it said again and again and having espoused it myself, that if you can walk, you can Tango. Makes it sound so easy until you're grappling with music, space, embrace, another person, arms, legs, timing, tangled. ARGH. But it's true isn't it? Lead comes from the top. I've been having trouble describing the difference between Tango and Salsa to people who don't really know either dance. Calling Salsa showy and loud soon begged to be re-assessed when you think of the pained and contorted expressions that often end up on our face in Tango (sometimes...sometimes it's really an uninhibited expression of what we were feeling at that time). But I think I've found it. You dance Salsa with your legs, you dance Tango with your chest. That's it really, that's how it's so different. You learn Salsa with ...