connection
I wrote earlier about certain qualities which compose “good tango.” One of these qualities is connection. Since I will be teaching a workshop in a couple of weeks on connection, the next few posts will deal with some of my thoughts on the issue.
First let’s define “connection.” For the purposes of this post and of the workshop I will define connection as mutual attention between the lead and the follow. The lead attending to where the follow is in space and the follow attending to the lead.
Next, though this connection is reciprocal and equal there is direction and feedback. One partner is proposing movement ideas and the other giving feedback. This interaction allows plentiful opportunity for things to go catastrophically wrong, as well as producing the harmony of the spheres. Depends on the connection.
In the workshop we will be doing exercises focused on developing our awareness of what our partner is doing and where their body and the parts of their body are located in space. In doing this we will be working from the general to the specific: where is our partner’s axis? Their weight? Where is their foot? Their right big toe? This is not a trivial question as anyone who has had their right big toe mangled by their partner will attest.
We will also be working on two major factors underlying connection: clarity and time. Mutual attention doesn’t merely spring into being because you have both stepped onto the dance floor. Well, maybe in rare cases. But for the rest of us it takes effort to bring our minds to pause on this moment with this partner and let the rest of it go. This is called mindfulness in other meditation disciplines. We have it lucky in Tango, in Zen they make you stare at a blank wall with no music for hours… Anyway, allow time for clarity to develop. Allow time between steps and allow time within the step. Savor it like a piece of fine, Belgian, extra-dark, single-plantation criollo chocolate.
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