There are several words in the Tango lexicon that are often used. If you have been around the tango circle more than once or twice, you've heard them. "Connection", "Present", "Embrace",  "Grounded" etc. It is somewhat dangerous to discuss these words because it is easy to step into a cliche or push over someone's sacred cow, but I will attemp it. Last week I posted about "Connection" and a few of my ideas on what connection is and how to achieve it. This week I am going to write about being "Grounded."

Some questions emerge immediately. What is grounding? How can it be achieved or improved? Is it different for lead and follow? How do you know when you or your partner is grounded? First, a definition: Being "grounded" is the active state of being present, aware, and unhurried. The essence is  the same for both lead and follow, though there might be slightly different expressions in practice. Groundedness can be distinguished from other, related concepts such as "connection" or "balance" in that connection is the bridge between the partners, balance is the suspension cables which support the structure, but groundedness are the pylons which sink deep into the riverbed  and support everything else.

Let's take each part of this definition in turn: present, aware, and unhurried. First, being present. This means that in order to be grounded you are not holding on to the step you just took that you thought was great or awful nor are you striving to take a better or fearing a worse step in the next moment. You are simply there. This is related to mindfulness, of course, but there is more to it. Secondly, aware: aware of your partner and your self. Aware of the stresses and impluses you are giving and receiving and matching, balancing, compensating for them so that you are stable, primarily, and that your partner is also stable, secondarily. You must be grounded before you can hope to support or ground your partner.

Finally, be unhurried. This is not the same as being slow. Steps can be fast and unhurried or slow and hurried. If you have ever watched a juggler juggling it seems like there are too many objects moving too fast, yet the juggler himself appears relaxed as he catches and releases each one. Think about "dwell time," each step taking its full measure of time and attention to execute. Dwell time on each step and between each step. Savor each step. Tango is slow food for the soul.

See you at the milonga.