Musings on Tango, Sensuality and Spirituality
When we align with the primal rhythm of our breathing, our inner dancer emerges. Without this connection all our steps are a imposition of will over instinct, brain over body. Such a power struggle results in wooden, constricted movement. It does not make for good dance.
The BEST Embrace Practice is my stab at a four stage practice for entering a safe, supportive and nurturing embrace. The sequential stages are Breathe, Eye contact, Smile, and finally Touch. (If you haven’t noticed BEST is an acronym. Neat, huh?)
Search beneath all the frenzy of pivoting and kicking and strutting your stuff (what everyone calls the tango).
There is a deeper dance, one that no one can see and only two people can feel.
It is as close as your partner’s cheek, as comforting as her breath, as delicate as a whisper, as engaging as an arm wrapped around your neck.
How would it change our dancing if we danced every step with the focus of strengthening our energetic and emotional connection with our partner?
“Let there be spaces in your togetherness, And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.” Kahlil Gibran
Creating space in the dance and the embrace will not only change our dancing but make it more enjoyable and easier!
“Tango is about feeling and sensitivity, otherwise you are just doing gymnastics. You can do all the steps but it has to have the feeling and sensitivity of authentic tango.
Carlos Gavito, former star and ambassador of Forever Tango.
An inspiring interview with a leading dance instructor about the true meaning of dance. Click here for the youtube video
Yes, we all thought tango increases our stress levels* – at least during lessons – but in fact science shows that the opposite is true. Tango could be just what the doctor ordered.
Let’s play the tango improve game next milonga by responding to whatever dance step our partner makes with a “yes, and.” If it is not the response we were expecting or desiring, we can chose to welcome it as an invitation to be creative.
In holding space, we allow our partner to experiment and take risks without judgement or censorship, while at the same time providing containment and structure so that the dance energy is channelled safely and creatively.