[Tango-L] tango moment

[jackie ling wong]

ummmm...  i'm thinking that because this person in the psychology  
field that she would like the moment described in a language she  
would understand...  so here's my attempt

a friend of mine is a rock climber and he is very much driven by his  
struggle to overcome his fear of heights.  we decided that much of  
life is driven by fears...  fear of rejection... fear of intimacy...  
fear of failure... fear of achievement... the list goes on and on...

so how does this relate to tango?  when i explain tango to beginners  
i mention connection and then ask what do they think they need to be  
connected to...  most people say your partner and the music.  i also  
add the floor, the people around you, and also the spaces between the  
people around you... but most important you must be connected to  
yourself...

when you dance you bring your issues with you.  we have a student who  
is in extensive therapy who has issues of trust...  and it shows in  
her dance...  not only does she not trust her partner to lead her and  
keep her safe, she doesn't trust herself.  we can talk ourselves  
until we're blue in the face about technique but nothing will change  
until she trusts.

so first for the tango moment to happen, you have to overcome  
relevant personal fears and subsequent insecurities and find your  
"center".. the emotional/spiritual center...  you need to be  
comfortable with yourself and open to the moment.  that complete  
trust and abandonment of fears is what makes tango so attractive to  
me.  walking into someone's arms and being there 100 % and feeling  
them respond in the same way is magical.

jackie
www.tangopulse.net