we are all in awe, or in love perhaps..

An amazing number of people turned up for the milonga in Cheltenham on Saturday night. Well known faces from Bristol and Birmingham mixed with the locals and also of Hereford, Gloucester, Ross and Malvern tango scenes. Sandra and Lloyd of Birmingham were enthusiastically received for their impressive and stylish performances, a fitting example of salon tango and milonga. We must get over to Birmingham soon! Eduardo, who has been described in the past as the "divine" obviously has lost none of his allure and it was rumoured that dances with him could be expensively procured...whatever the truth, a number of ladies who were lucky enough to be captured in his embrace looked in no doubt of their ecstatic state. Thank you for the kisses though, maybe next time for me! Is it a little sad though, that maybe some beautiful dances are missed by some women turning down "ordinary men" while waiting around for the possible chance of a dance with one of the most adored and revered tangueros? I heard a friend refuse a dance with one man, but within seconds a certain gorgeous creature wafted by and she joked with me, saying that however she'd change her mind for him.... Of course it's wonderful to dance with the best leaders, as we float dreamily in their arms...but there are some incredibly good dancers in the "ordinary" category as well. I was very happy with the dances I experienced, although there are one or two niggles perhaps one could discreetly mention. Milongas are places where we should dance and socialise I believe, they are not the same as a practica, and those dancing should not practice their steps or try and teach the partner they are with new moves while on the dance floor...nor should we really be having a conversation while spinning round the floor. Lets talk before or after please, but not during our dance together. Also please don't compare me with your regular partner, we are all unique and maybe translate your lead in different ways. The object of the dance is to enjoy the tango as a shared experience, to revel in the connection if you're lucky enough to have it, and to live the moment through the music. Please don't apologise if you think you made a mistake, as long as you're being careful about not crashing into other people, and we keep on moving in time with the music, I'll be happy.. I hope you'll be fairly content with me as well. Salon tango should be about dancing together in a compact way that doesn't take up half the dance floor, we shouldn't be worrying about executing all our flash moves in the one evening, but ideally dancing only for and with the one person we are with at the moment, sharing every step, every breath practically, a true and emotional connection. That is bliss, and when it happens its surprising, not necessarily with the "best leader/dancer " in the room but whoever you are, you are wonderful.

So, next time, don't turn him down, he may be the most thrilling experience of your evening.

Although we still adore you, Mr Divine!

Tango Malvern web site is http://www.tangomalvern.com

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We authorise the visitor to this Blog to make one free copy, by downloading to storage media, of any items featured on this site for the purposes of private research, study and reference. Any other copying or use of Tango Malvern copyright materials featured on this Blog, in any form or medium, is subject to the express written permission of Tango Malvern .

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shall we practica or milonga?

Tomorrow is the first day of Spring, and the sun shines, the daffodils sway and birds twitter in anticipation. My Irish setter is thankfully getting better and today we'll take a gentle stroll together to loosen his joints up just a little. If he could tango, I've always thought he'd make a wonderful leader, elegant yet masculine, but never yanking me about on the end of his lead!
There are events on this weekend, Bristol, a milonga with La rosa on Saturday, and also locally at Ross, with their practica at The Courtfield Arms , Lower Lydbrook, Nr Ross on Wye, which brings me to the subject of choice. sometimes how does one make the decision? After all, both possibilities have their attractions, one is really quite near and the other about an hour away down the motorway. Practicas are lovely for simply enjoying dancing with some of your familiar dance partners. It doesn't matter if you make a "mistake," for either the man or the woman, as you are supposed to be there to practise anyway, so you can learn from those experiences for the better hopefully. The practica is also an excellent first social dancing forum for the beginner, as you don't need to worry quite so much about the "Codigos"(codes of behaviour) although its also a good place to start observing the general rules, such as making sure you always dance in the correct direction around the room, in the "line of dance" and avoiding crashing into other dancers around the floor. So in essence, the practica is a brilliant safe place to work on lots of things before you actually try the milonga. There is nothing to stop you also practising on your own, maybe just walking around the dance floor in time to the music, or using the wall as a useful prop for working on particular steps, ochos, pivots etc.. simply make use of the space available, and take every opportunity to dance with as many people as you can. It is still a relaxing social event and you can dress up if you feel so inclined as well, trying out different shoes for comfort as well if you like. Its also quite fun to have a go at practicing your "cabezeo" as well, its easier with people you know! Although quite often, its surprising how direct you have to be with someone, as they may smile back when you catch their eye, unsure about whether you're just smiling or actually trying to attract them to the dance floor! In a practica situation, I feel I can be quite brazen and if I hear a piece of music playing that I can't resist dancing to, I have been known to simply say to someone "this is a beautiful tango, its a shame to waste it!" ...and fortunately usually they agree !
This is all wonderful experience in building up the self-confidence before going to the more formal milongas. I remember when we went to our first milonga, having never been to a practica before. I might have looked the part, but when we saw the crowded dance floor swirling around with those shockingly experienced looking couples, my heart sank. Certainly my partner gulped as we tried to somehow slip in discreetly into the slow lane, while fearfully executing our first awkward little sequence of steps."the basic 8", which is even more tricky for the novice to do at a milonga, as it starts with a back step of course! A few friendly practicas would have been invaluable at this stage, but we didn't know that then. Now, having learnt the hard and painful way, and having read about the history of tango, how the Argentineans learnt it, which was mainly of course through dancing with more experienced dancers at practicas, (not milongas) I recommend to new dancers to go to practicas often, as they really can provide some of the most enjoyable dancing you'll ever have!
So maybe this week, I've decided, a practica at Ross could be the ideal therapy!



Tango Malvern web site is http://www.tangomalvern.com

Tango Malvern's Blog is subject to copyright protection. ©Tango Malvern 2009

We authorises the visitor to this Blog to make one free copy, by downloading to storage media, of any items featured on this site for the purposes of private research, study and reference. Any other copying or use of Tango Malvern copyright materials featured on this Blog, in any form or medium, is subject to the express written permission of Tango Malvern .

Tango Malvern has taken every care in its preparation of the content of this Blog but shall not be liable for any damage or loss, foreseeable or unforeseeable, arising from information featured on this site.