Tango: Wondrous and Preposterous
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.
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torso-torques
(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
Why Tango rubs my ego raw.
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
The Dance Within the Dance
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
De-creeping the Dance Floor
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
Dancing Into Your Power
Tell me how to improve my dancing and I am intrigued. (I may even care enough to practice.) Tell me how I can become a better person through my dancing and I am inspired. This goes right to my heart’s core. Growing the power center through Tango. Reflections on a lesson with Deborah Sclar, an … Read more
Dancing With Presence
Do you ever get halfway through a dance and suddenly get hit with the thought, Boring. Same old same old. Going through the motions. What is the North American default response to boredom? More stuff. Stuff more stuff into the dance. Learn more steps, more tricks and flicks. Be busier. Dance faster. The Tango bumper … Read more
The Dance of Peace
This week, June 6, 2024 was celebrated as the 80 anniversary of D-Day, the decisive battle between the Allies and the Nazis on the shores of Normandy in WW11. Fortunately, I have been spared the experience of living through (or not) the horrors of war, as are millions even at this moment. My response of … Read more
It Takes Three to Tango
It takes three to tango: You, me and the dance between. I have no other explanation for the odd stuff that happens between my partner and I when we dance. Case in point: the other day I got nervous while dancing. A performance, no biggie, but I thought I should apologize. Except that my partner apologized first – … Read more
Spaces in Your Togetherness
Every time I create space for my partner (as a lead) I am sending her out on her own to explore, express, be creative, have fun. In the interval as I patiently wait for her return, I am enthralled by the skill and energy that my partner invests in beautifying the dance. When she reconnects in close embrace, we are both enriched by the elegance and creativity that has been added to our shared experience.