[Tango-L] Keep it simple

[doug@swingfusion.com]

<Anton Stanley> ... As you can probably discern, I don't regard dancing
Tango as a sport or
exhibition; but as a transcendental moment with another human being to which
I am attracted...
</Anton Stanley>
 
I do not want to enter into the “what is Tango” discussion as it is quite
clear that there are a lot of firmly fixed opinions on the matter and that
everybody has one.
 
But 
I do want to respond to your apparent notion that a transcendental moment
and a shared athletic activity are incompatible.  I find that the level of
sharing, and the physical and emotional connection, are greater for me (and
for my regular partner as well) when we are working together in an entirely
interdependent way that, in addition to all of the aspects of connection in
that exist in, say, close embrace tango, adds a physical dimension of
trust.  A simple example is a Volcada (sorry if this isn’t tango to you, but
oh well).  If I lead a deep Volcada, my partner has the expectation that I
will lead it and physically support her in a way that is safe and
comfortable.  There is even a small element of danger to her if I fail. 
Same goes for a colgada.  Simultaneous ganchos.  Etc., etc.  This is not
about exhibitionism or theatrics, but rather about an extra dimension that
adds, not detracts, from the transcendental sharing that you are talking
about.  And all of these can be done musically and appropriately, with
respect for the other dancers on the floor (yes, and in a sufficiently
crowded environment one might do none of these, or perhaps do them so small
that they do not go outside of your own frame).
 
I recognize that some may not understand the power and attraction that this
kind of physical connection holds.  But I ask that you not simply put it
down, or worse, attack those of us that do enjoy this enhanced closeness of
personal relationship between partners.  I don’t put down close embrace; in
fact I take close embrace privates at least twice per month and love it – so
please, play nice!
 
If this is totally foreign to you, I suggest that you rent and watch The
Gymnast ( www.thegymnastfilm.com ).  Kind of an extreme example compared to
merely dancing tango (or whatever you might choose to call the tango derived
dance that adds these elements), but you can’t say that there isn’t an
incredible bond that develops between the main characters based on a shared
athletic activity.
 
Doug