Musings on Tango, Sensuality and Spirituality
Remembrance Day. The Serenity Prayer God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change The courage to change the things I can and The wisdom to know the difference. Reinhold Niebuhr How do I write, today? A dullness, a paralysis of body and spirit has settled in like a heavy fog. How … Read more
(No, not too much communion wine. And we seldom drink at milongas. Read on.) The hangover. Reflections on the night before the morning after … I took time to revisit the previous night’s dancing. What stuck with me, what I cared to hold on to, what opened me up emotionally and stretched my heart, was quite … Read more
The first time I was invited to breathe in unison with my dance partner in a close embrace, I froze. My gut twisted into a knot. I felt deeply vulnerable. What could it be about breathing in unison – in close embrace (Tango) or even generally in a hug – that would make one feel … Read more
Exploring the calesita and volcada. (A tip of the hat to Vera and Daniel, Casa Tango Edmonton.) Vera: “Remember guys, no violence here.” Really? No violence? How rough can things get? This is a dance class, after all. Vera’s caution is simply about the lead. Last class the boleo, this class the calesita. But it … Read more
It is a stroke of genius that the Tango ritualized eye contact – the cabeceo – as the first and critical element of the dance proposal. This is where it all begins: Eyes connecting from across the room with an affirming nod, raised eyebrows, a look of permission, acceptance, expectation.
How do I nurture an appreciation for the magic and mystery of tango?
(even when I am screwing up the steps or dancing with my least favourite partner)
Answer: Breathe in the WONDER.
(3 minute read. This blog is part two of a post from about a decade ago. Still relevant and fascinating.) Session #2 with Jean-Sebastien, Studio Ten. Tango is communication. Learning tango is like learning a language. The only difference is that with each tango lesson, I seem to have to relearn the alphabet. Case in … Read more
ego rub #1 The sign over the garbage can at the entrance reads: “DEPOSIT EGO HERE.” Missed that. When will introductory classes stop feeling like introductory classes? How many years will I be dancing before I can walk away with the smug feeling that I have learned this already? How many miles do I have … Read more
Within all the busyness and distractions of flare and finesse that attract attention – the dance that everyone recognizes as the Tango – there is a dance that no one can see, a secret sheltered by the couple. It is as close as your partner’s cheek, as soft as her breath, as delicate as a … Read more
About every six months in our community, someone sounds the alarm: “There’s a creep on the dance floor!” Everyone panics, especially me. No one wants our dance community to be creep-free more than I. But are we surprised? Should we be? Creep happens. The Creep Factor The versions of creepiness I hear or have experienced … Read more