Thank you everyone for your excellent advice re: creating a strong connection. I loved the instant gratification of getting a bunch of instant responses. It makes me feel like spending my entire workday obsessing about the tango was actually quite the sensible investment.
I definitely think I will have to seek out private lessons to revisit the basics. I also enjoyed hearing from followers - I think that TangoMoments is right about focusing on all-too familiar flaws instead of appreciating the opportunity to practice. And I am trying to build up my core strength as Astrid suggested - so many of the best young dancers have backgrounds in professional dance. At this point I can't even touch my toes. Keith wrote: An excellent exercise to strengthen the connection is to practice with the man's right arm behind his back, while the woman maintains her normal close embrace. This exercise really forces the couple to concentrate on the connection and, the first time you try it, you'll probably realise just how weak your connection really is. But the exercise should bring about a rapid improvement and make you both feel a lot more confident and comfortable in close embrace. I should have mentioned in my first message that I have recently tried that, and find it is the closest we've come to establishing a real connection. I've been thinking that we should dance like that for a good portion of our practices...strangely my partner's response to that exercise is surprise at how much better I follow, and not that there is a different electricity and deeper connection. I also like the distinction Mash and others made between the two facets of connection. "One being the "action-reaction*" the couple has and the other quite simply being the "emotional embrace" the couple has. Lets call that "Connection."" Well said. Virginia _______________________________________________ Tango-L mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
