[Tango-L] Transition from Intermediate to Advanced

[Euroking@aol.com]

Jonathan, 
I agree with  your perspective and it begs a question in my mine to many on 
this list. My  comments are not critical to anyone's points of view, as I have 
found them  enlightening. First, I consider myself a beginning intermediate. 
Can I get  better; I certainly hope so, as I am willing to devote time 
(essential) and an  open mind.  Can I ever achieve "Advanced status", I don't know and 
 furthermore I don't care, as "advance status" is in the eyes of the 
beholder,  and as long as I work towards my goal of being better, I will be 
successful.   
What I  read here is there are people feeling their success depends on 
someone else.  Can't anyone just dance for the fun of dancing? Or are we complaining 
about  people who are doing just that.  My partner and spouse, is a great 
dancer,  but she really does not feel a great need to break everything down to 
the nth  degree. I have found that when I dance with her the mutual pleasure is 
gained  when I keep things simple, basic steps, ochos and giro or two, and do 
it slower  and to the music. It is a very pleasant time. She asks what about 
what you  learned in class, why don't you use it. Well when I do, it is usually 
a pleasant  experience, because I am learning it, which implies my leads are 
not a clear and  crisp, as they should be. Also is the factor as a follow she 
has not invested  the time she needs to follow.  Should I be upset, no? Should 
she, no. We  have a level where there is mutual enjoyment. That is  good. 
Will this  keep me from trying to learn more of be more precise? Hell no, I 
am obsessed  with Tango. I will go on. As I learn more, the more I can give to 
her, but I am  not forcing the issue. 
I guess what  I am asking, if we have a group in the community that are 
enjoying the  experience and are dancing, should we be or trying to impose to 
impose our  obsessions on them.  Or should we step back and learn to  enjoy. 
A side point,  I fully understand the desire for advance leads or follows to 
maximize their  moments and the pain (not physical) we who are on the path 
might inflict in  our process of learning but we keep using the term community, 
and in my mind a  community is made up of all levels and all types, unless we 
want each of our  communities to be exclusive, we need to enjoy what we  have. 
Just  some thoughts,
 
Bill in Seattle