Tangodurians

It's been delightful to realise that I've actually reached a new plateau in Tango and it's a good one. It's the one where I'm completely stable, completely on my axis and completely in-tune to what my partner is doing. It's the one where I know the music more and I know how to emote better. It's also the one where I'm starting to kick and slice myself less with stray moves. Not sure where the transition happened though, perhaps by practicing more and finding newer connections? Perhaps on a physical front by being more grounded in my moves and having greater spatial awareness? Whatever it is, hope it stays! Less questions, more acceptance.

So, the conversation has shifted. It's shifted away from the basics, from figuring out what is an ocho, or what is a molinete, or what is a giro, deep deep into the movements. It's moved from the tip to the iceberg and has just begun it's descent past the break of chilly water and down into the depths of the unknown. This is where the true teachers separate naturally from those who don't quite yet know what they are talking about. The conversations I've been having (with myself sometimes) has moved to the point of, how do you angle your ribs within the movement of the side step to set yourself up for the back cross? How do you receive the energy within the collection? How do you transfer the points of receptivity from chest to hips in a colgada? How do you slice through the air like hot butter through knife? How do you hold your own weight? How do you ground, connect, yet play as though you're a butterfly flitting through the air? Paradoxes, all over the pl...

God, that voice just makes this so mind blowingly good! Mujer, de mi poema mejor; mujer, yo nunca tuve un amor. perdón si eres mi gloria ideal; perdón, serás mi verso inicial. Woman—my greatest poem is yours! Woman—I'd never had your love before! Forgive me, for your being my glory divine; forgive me: you shall be first among my lines

This years tango fest was...curious, in the sense that it was a funny mix of people who were not from the region and decided to show up, as well as quite lacking in regional representation. But above all, it was kinda fun, and yet again I find myself miles away from the seriously nervous dancer I was 3 years back and even quite recently last year. I don't know what it is but I've found my feet I guess? This grounding that I need to not be nervous and to interpret the music and not care about what everyone else around me is thinking. Eons ago wise words were shared with me on the dance floor of Vitosh Guesthouse by J. "Don't bother with them, they're all too concerned with themselves anyway". Some things come back from the past and hit you hard when you realise exactly what was meant. Had a couple of dream tandas, beautiful waltzes where my partner exclaimed "you're flying!" and proceeded to try and lift a very panicked me. If I could respond...

I can't dance properly after a full day of work and running around carrying 10 yoga mats, rushing home, shoveling food down my throat and then rushing for performances. Sigh. Someone oddly said, after the 3rd song of the tanda, "Oh, I get your style now". Wtf. He could not have been any more insulting. It's at times like this where my benefit of the doubt moments end up being, just doubt. You just really don't know how to lead. That's all. Sheesh.

http://dancingsoul.typepad.com/dancing_soul/2008/09/energy-and-tango-the-fundamental-base-of-the-dance.html Loved this article, summed up the recent 'breakthroughs' that I've been having with this dance. Things that make following easier: Commit energy to establishing your axis. If you are not on balance, even a good leader has trouble leading you in the dance. Use your breath and energy to create balance and grounding. Send your directional energy TOWARDS your partner, not away in the direction you are traveling. Keeping the energy focused on your leader means that there is a mini force field between the partners, even in close embrace. (!!!) This protects you from getting stepped on much more than trying to get your feet out from underneath yourself. Also, this gives the leader more energy to play with, reducing the leader's tendency to drive you like a MAC truck. If you feel your partner tense, release your solar plexus. There is no need for both people to...

Tango progress happens for me in fits and starts. It's like I suddenly get a breakthrough to another level, then I plateau for ages before suddenly finding and shaping and varying how I do certain basic steps and all the times always working on making my walks like a cruiseliner cutting through waves-bladelike and never bobbing. What I'm finding more often though is this idea of catching energies. Of taking the signal given and pushing the energy through from the receiving end (upper torso) into the expressive end (legs most of the time). Looking back at the start, I can barely remember what it was like to suffer through the basics-like how ochos were super impossible and even now, doing a solo ocho remains a very hard thing to do, what with weight balance and a movement that is designed to do everything to try and throw you off balance. It's this flow, this ease of having music and movement come into one whole package that makes the best dancers so beautiful to look a...