[Tango-L] No dancing before the music

[Deby Novitz]

With all due respect, I agree that one must understand the music and to 
feel it.  It is what makes the difference between someone dancing, and 
someone running through a series of steps and patterns.

What I do not agree with is the attitude that someone must listen to the 
music for a year before learning to dance.  To be honest, I hated the 
music when I started.  I only wanted to learn because I saw Forever 
Tango and I was sick of salsa.  Had I been told I needed to listen to 
the music for a year, I never would have learned tango or had the 
experiences I have had and continue to have.  I think there are many 
people like me.

Now of course I love the music.  I learned to appreciate it and to feel 
it.  I think this happens for many people.  People need to be encouraged 
to learn new things, not pushed away from them.  Not everyone is 
destined to become a good dancer.  There are people who were born 
listening to tango and cannot dance a step, or do not dance well at 
all.  The most important thing is that you enjoy what you do, and if you 
get good at it, then all for the better.