[Tango-L] Tango is not a pose

[Jake Spatz (TangoDC.com)]

A-a-a-men.

Jake Spatz
DC

Marisa Holmes wrote:
> My point exactly: the moment is not the same as any
> other moment, nor will it ever occur again.  So why on
> earth would I try to homogenize my experience by
> dancing as slowly as I can to every type of music, in
> every ronda, while trying to figure out how to creep
> only once around the floor - once a song or once a
> tanda, depending on who is reciting the Great
> Mythology - with my partner? 
>
> If the moment is unique, shouldn't I want to respond
> to it in a unique way?  If the floor is packed and
> there is a tanda of peppy milongas, shouldn't I try to
> dance tiny quick steps that do not impinge on my
> neighbors as we all progress slowly around the ronda? 
> And if there is a giant floor with eight couples and a
> glorious lush vals of de Angelis is playing shouldn't
> I try to dance in a way that lets my partner swoop and
> soar, pausing half in the air, waiting for the
> exquisite moment when the lead resolves into the next
> step?
>
> There is a difference between dancing quickly and
> rushing.  There is a difference between sweeping along
> through an available space because the music calls for
> movement and "failing to savor the moment".  If you
> can't figure out what those differences are, you
> better start by trying to free yourself from the idea
> that there is only one right way to dance.  There are
> lots of ways to dance tango, and the best ways take
> into account the music, the partner, the space, the
> ronda, your current psychological state, who knows
> what.  If you take all those into account and always
> come to the same conclusion, there is something wrong.
>
> There is music that calls for slow enjoyment of every
> nuance and quiver and there is music that calls for
> glorious abandon and movement.  I want to dance both
> kinds - and a lot of kinds in between.  What about
> you?
>
> Marisa
>