Ooops! I think my last post was an accidental hitting of the send button
without actually typing something.
Mario said a couple of things that I wanted to comment on:
Mario: "please, lower and don't move your shoulders because I'm trying to feel
the step and the rest interferes"
I spent a year, or two, with women that knew me well enough giving me a signal
when my shoulders tightened. Sometimes, they outright stroked my shoulders.
They would also, as my teachers did, whisper for me to breath. I just wanted to
say that you received very good advice. Any tightness in your shoulders will
take the energy away from your center. I think some of the women, on here,
could probably elaborate a lot more than I.
Mario: "dances THE pattern that I am ready to assimilate"
I just wanted to comment that, yes, too, will look at some patterns. But, much
more powerful is when you notice the intensity, or energy, that a great dancer
has and try that on for size. It will never be the same. But, it is a great
way to learn to get your heart and soul into the tango. This will help you
much more, in my opinion, toward bettering yourself as a slow dancer.
I remember in my second year of dancing, there was this guy with more intensity
than I have ever seen. I am not sure if he spoke English. I never saw him
talk. Actually, I never saw him dance with anyone but his girlfriend (or
wife?). Anyway, I used to pick a song and "mimick" him. Wow! My brows were
knit, my left hand was high like his, my posture was upright like I was
flexing. That's what I saw. That's what I did! I don't dance like that
often. But, time and time, again, I will pick a song and dance like him. When
I do, it is the most intense dance of my night.
Other times, I will picture some of the great dynamic dancers that I have seen
in the past and I will, as my private instructor advised, try to dance like
them. It is the most instrumental technique that I have to, I guess, break
myself off of a plateau.
Sometimes, I emulate patterns and steps. That's great, too. But, to become a
master of feeling the music, look around and observe those who ... bring the
music to life. Look for those who swell into a long, dynamic step. Look for
those who noticably dance behind the beat. Etc.
Ugh! Here I am sitting home on a Saturday night while everyone else is out at
the milonga and I had to go and write that! Well, at least, I am listening to
Gotan Project while writing!
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