Aproach
An efficient
learning process
is characterized by
knowing its overall structure,
all the elements of its content,
how those are relating to each other,
their priority of integration
and
"where you are"
in this process.
When you take a look at the general learning pattern of Tango dancers, you will notice they are over the years, slaloming between different Tango schools with different methodologies and topics of all kinds. It is like gathering bits and pieces of everything, but without any congruence to the whole. It's like collecting the pieces of a puzzle but not knowing what the picture of the puzzle is, floating on an endless ocean, rowing in all directions, but never really getting anywhere. It is clear that this way of learning is highly dysfunctional, costing a amount of time, effort and investment with a very poor result in comparison to a well structured learning process based upon comon sense and a logical outcome.
Focus
It might look very innocent,
untill you realize it's blocking
your entire evolution and potential.
Very often we see man and woman focusing upon each other in order to receive information on leading and following. They are holding their attention through visual concentration on the body of the partner.
This behavior does not only lead to a mental fixation UPON the other but one is no longer present with oneself, as the attention is on the other side, ON THE PARTNER.
As harmless as it might seems, this fixation point is generating tremendous mental and physical tensions in oneself, the partner and the energetic space between each other. It is compromising every possible evolution and expression they are trying to achieve because they are no longer free in their movement.
Individuality
"There is a significant difference
between losing yourself together
and finding each other apart".
One of the most desirable and satisfying sensations in Argentine Tango is "connection". Getting into the bubble of togetherness and sharing with our partner. But connection is not the sole element in the equation. Just as everything in life is bound by the universal law of polarity, Tango is no exception.
Where there's "connection", there's "disconnection", where there's "togetherness", there's "individuality", where there's "joining", there's "liberation". The one cannot exist without the other. On the other hand we are not only looking for connection, we are also looking for dancing. If we want to do so, we need some common ground or harmony in order to bring it to a good end.
To often we notice the focus on "connection", the close embrace, the very place where every aspect of man and woman are joined together, without really knowing what belongs to whom. It creates a lot of ignorance, tremendous mutual confusions and millions of unanswered questions.
While if we are looking at highly advanced dancers, we see two Individuals developed according all the requirements of togetherness AND individuality, of connection and liberty, and sharing exactly what is needed for the functionality of the dance,.......but than without loosing themselves in it.
Polarity
" Men experience harmony
through liberty of movement while
women experience harmony through union".
A world of contradictions!
There is not only the polarity between two individuals facing each other on this path of harmony. There is also the polarity within each individual. Every man and every women is characterized by very masculine and feminine energy. While the masculine is mainly characterized by rational energy (dominance, giving impulse, leading, deciding, marking, determining, mechanisms, liberty,....) the feminine will be more characterized by the sensitive energy (feeling, sensing, emotion, intuition, surrendering, letting happen,.....).
None of the partners will find satisfaction in an unilateral development. Both of them are thriving for harmony. And harmony starts with oneself. It is not only technique and figures that will bring it to a woman, just as not only feel and emotion will bring it to the man. Both need to learn and integrate both energies in order to attain individual harmony which ultimately will result in common harmony.
Energy
" Every step is
like a heartbeat"
When we observe a heartbeat on a monitor, we clearly distinguish the contraction and de-contraction phase of the heart. Impulse and release of impulse. Contraction energy propels the heart-rate line on the monitor upwards and drops in the de-contraction phase by the release of energy.
Equally in Tango we need energy for muscle contraction to propel us into the movement. Once our foot touches the floor, we no longer need this energy, so we have have to release it. Keeping it up means holding on to the contraction, muscle tension, rigidness and instability. While releasing results in an instant deepening of the contact with the floor due to the energetical termination of the movement. It leads right into the creation of "el punto cero" or neutral point and an immense growth of stability.