Recently, a gentleman in our tango community shared a most insightful observation. Dancing good tango begins with your state of mind. Probably, this will come as no surprise. But how often do we enter the dance-floor of the milonga mentally unprepared?
At a milonga, do you
- dance most tandas, regardless of the music, OR dance only when the music really summons you?
- dance with almost anyone, OR accept invitations (via cabeceo or otherwise) only from people you want to dance with?
- chat while dancing, OR reserve the conversation for when the music has stopped?
- simply assume that your partner will understand you, OR focus on communicating very clearly?
- if you're in the male role, lead tentatively, OR express your clear intention each and every step of the way?
- if you're in the female role, try to predict what your partner will lead next, OR allow yourself to be relaxed, receptive and responsive?
- try to impress onlookers with tricky moves, OR dedicate yourself to dancing just for your partner?
And to close, here's a challenge from Ricardo Vidort, a late, great milonguero quoted in Tango and Chaos in BsAs: When you dance tango, you must give everything. If you can't do that, don't dance.
PP
You are forgetting one thing, as Tango is a social dance we sometimes find ourselves in a position of obligation to certain people, even "tango cynic" made reference to this.
ReplyDeleteI am not that hard nosed that I can ignore this.
Having said that I do agree it is desirable just to dance to what "turns you on" and with "who turns you on".
Roger
You're right, Roger. Obligation can play a role in when and with whom we choose to dance. As in all things in life, how much of a role it plays is very much a personal choice.
ReplyDeletePP