If I were in any doubt about my addiction to tango, this evening would have dispelled it. This was the first week since I started dancing in the milonga after the Tuesday class that I was unable to do so – and I really, really missed it …
Monthly Archives: April 2019
Always Be Dancing
Tonight’s improver’s class was on using the cross to change direction.
We started by practicing the cross. I had, the first time around, found that deceptively difficult for some reason. I subsequently got the hang of it, but I know there’s a vast chasm between a cross that works and a really good one, so I was more than happy to get more practice at it.
We then moved on to using it to change direction …
A milonga milestone
I wrote about one major milestone earlier this month: finally feeling like I have enough vocabulary to cope with a milonga where there isn’t much movement. That was followed by my first tangasm, and another really good experience in the Tuesday milonga a week later.
I realised afterwards that another milestone has been achieved …
When tripping over each other’s feet is a good thing
Tonight’s Tango Space lesson was on the medio-giro, and with no class on Easter Monday, it was straight into the improver’s class.
But I felt comfortable with the beginner’s version from last time, and it’s something I use a lot in milongas, so didn’t mind jumping in at the deep end this evening …
Continue reading When tripping over each other’s feet is a good thing
Dancing in three square feet in Hyde Park
Warren Edwardes runs regular free milongas in the bandstand in Hyde Park. These are semi-official: held with permission, but without actually hiring the bandstand, so they rely on other park users cooperating. Normally, they also wouldn’t have the lighting, but the Royal Parks people kindly switched them on.
The space is small, and tonight was popular, so things were absolutely packed. All of which left each couple dancing in about three square feet, leaving room for precisely one step forward and one side-step …
Learning from a class beyond my abilities
I’d mentioned on a tango Facebook group that I was looking for tips to help me avoid leading with my arms. I got lots of helpful responses, and Mark Phoenix also suggested I join the Strictly Practica event they were running on Sunday so he and Nozomi could offer some help.
The afternoon began with a workshop from a visiting teacher, Martin Ojeda. The phrase ‘visiting teacher’ is normally code for ‘stuff way too advanced for me,’ so my plan had been to attend the practica only, but Mark promised Nozomi would work with me on simpler versions, so I took a deep breath …
I will never understand tango
I said that I was prepared for a disappointment after last week’s amazing milonga, and I think if things had been terrible this week, I’d have shrugged and figured that tomorrow’s another day.
Instead, it was just puzzling …
My legally-mandated dose of self-delusion was delivered after all
Be careful what you wish for …
In conversation among experienced dancers, someone said most people make it through the first couple of years of tango thanks to a healthy dose of self-delusion. By the time they realise they weren’t anything like as good as they thought they were, they are over the hump – or at least, too far in to escape.
In reference to my six month appraisal, I complained that I hadn’t been supplied with the self-delusion to which I was apparently entitled …
Continue reading My legally-mandated dose of self-delusion was delivered after all
All about the embrace
Today was going to be more following, this time with Bridgitta, in the practica at Tango Garden. As things turned out, we switched back and forth, me leading something and then Bridgitta having me follow the same thing to illustrate how different versions feel …
My first tangasm
Tonight was my best tango experience yet!
The evening began with the Tuesday improver’s class, on the cross in cross system. Yesterday I’d been having mixed success with this, as I’m new to walking in cross system anyway. Tonight was still mixed success, but weighted more to the success side of the scales …
Crossing roles, feet and systems
While I felt like I’d learned a lot about leading from my three hours of following, the proof is in the pudding – and tonight the pudding was served. Two of my regular followers in the Tango Space classes asked me what I’d been doing as they could really feel a difference.
I also got a little more unexpected following practice …
Michael Lavocah on Troilo, and more learning about leading through following
Sunday’s tango-related fun kicked off with a 90-minute talk on Troilo by Michael Lavocah, author of Tango Stories, Musical Secrets.
I couldn’t even begin to do justice to the talk in a brief blog post. Lavocah clearly has an immense breadth and depth of knowledge, and boundless enthusiasm for sharing as much of it as humanly possible …
Continue reading Michael Lavocah on Troilo, and more learning about leading through following
Finally feeling like an improver (and beginner)
I may have mentioned once or twice <ahem> the difference between the theory of tango as a walking dance, and the reality of crowded milongas with lots of people doing endless circular movements. All good fun if you have any, not so much fun if you don’t.
I devoted not just one but both of my private lessons with Diego to this, and today’s Tango Space workshop was the perfect complement: Dancing in small spaces …
Continue reading Finally feeling like an improver (and beginner)
ben lovejoy 