[Tango-L] The Basics

[Jack Dylan]

----- Original Message ----
> From: Shahrukh Merchant shahrukh at shahrukhmerchant.com

>  "Since dancing (well) in close embrace is harder than 
> dancing in open embrace [no argument from me there], 
> 

I used to think that but now I don't. I agree that learning to dance 
well in close embrace is harder than in open embrace but, once 
you've learned it, it's actually easier to dance close. When I danced 
open, I had to think much more about the choreography and the lead. 
Also, I had to plan ahead more because it's not that easy to react 
quickly to a change of circumstance, such as someone blocking my 
way. Now that I can dance close, everything is much more relaxed; 
I can listen to the music more, improvise more, react more easily to 
a change of circumstance and, with a good chest connection, I don't 
need to think too much about the lead - it just comes naturally from 
my body movements. 

Now, as I dance in close embrace and I see all the 'crazy' people 
around me working so hard to dance their open embrace figures, 
I can only smile.

Jack