2180  Not made to dance?

Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2004 15:29:33 -0600
From: Lois Donnay <donnay@DONNAY.NET>
Subject: Not made to dance?

It is harder for some people to learn to dance because their bodies
cooperate less easily, but that doesn't mean that, with perseverance, good
instruction and practice they can't provide their partners and themselves
with an enjoyable dance.

I think it is more likely to find people who are not MENTALLY able to learn
this dance. People who can plod out the steps perfectly but with no feeling.
People whose egos are too large to listen to their partners or instructors.
People who think it's a performance, only out for their own gratification or
that of onlookers.

I have one friend who is bubbly and always moving. She can't calm down
enough to dance tango. She says it's "boring". She's a good swing dancer,
though! Another friend says he's not sad enough to dance tango. I understand
- you really have to be able to reach down into your feelings to dance
tango. Lot's of people can't or don't want to.

Lois
Minneapolis,

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Discussion of Any Aspect of the Argentine Tango
> [mailto:TANGO-L@MITVMA.MIT.EDU] On Behalf Of Jay Rabe
> Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2004 2:58 PM
> To: TANGO-L@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject: Re: [TANGO-L] Memorized Patterns and Improvised Tango
>
>
> I agree with the caveat. A 14 yr-old with no body sense, ie.
> awkward and clumsy, is not unusual for the rapid physical
> growth that occurs at that age. Learning to dance might have
> been exactly what she NEEDED.

Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2004 18:10:45 -0800
From: luda_r1 <luda_r1@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Not made to dance? (Was Memorized Patterns...)

Lois wrote:

"...I think it is more likely to find people who are
not
MENTALLY able to learn
this dance. People who can plod out the steps
perfectly but with no feeling.
People whose egos are too large to listen to their
partners or instructors.
People who think it's a performance, only out for
their own gratification or
that of onlookers.

... - you really have to be able to reach down into
your
feelings to dance
tango. Lot's of people can't or don't want to."

That should be carved in stone somewhere, Lois.

Luda



=====

Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2004 00:30:55 -0800
From: Rick FromPortland <pruneshrub04@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Not made to dance? (Was Memorized Patterns...)

Luda or Lois writes:

>> you really have to be able to reach down into your feelings to dance
>>tango. Lot's of people can't or don't want to."

.
Hi you two,
The feeling side of/for this dance took awhile. I initially approached from
a fairly analytical, nuts & bolts, engineering angle. 4.75 years later,
everything is gelling nicely. A real nice sense of community here
in Portland as well...
Rick