795  Riding and tango :)

Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2002 13:20:09 -0700
From: Sergio <cachafaz@ADELPHIA.NET>
Subject: Riding and tango :)

The history of dressage dates back to a period of more than two thousand
years. The object of dressage is the harmonious development of physical
ability of the horse, resulting in a calm, supple, flexible animal, both
longitudinally and laterally. The horse should be confident and in perfect
understanding of his rider.

The more I learn about riding the more I agree with Joanne. (see her note).

No wonder people say Tango is horizontal mambo. :)...although the horizontal
(I am told) usually follows the tango, rarely precedes it and occasionally
is simultaneous with it.
What do you think?

Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2002 16:28:19 -0400
From: "Lisa E. Battan" <Battanle@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Riding and tango :)

Hi All,

I spent years riding and teaching dressage before I started tango. I agree with what Sergio and Joanna have written. However, as Andy has pointed out, men and women are not horses. (Both men and women being slightly more difficult . . . :) But long after being fascinated with my dusty boxes of arbitrarily colored ribbons, I take other lessons from dressage.

Horses are beautiful animals. The rider does not really make them fluid, supple or graceful; they are already that. So, the rider's job is often to impede the horse as little as possible and let that natural power and elegance come through. Well, there are gentle reminders if the horse moves stiffly, but of course you can't sit down and have a chat with a horse. "O.K. horse, don't move that left hind left so stiffly around those corners. Flex a little more at the base of the neck," etc. You just work towards that way, and gradually, over time, the stiffness gently works itself out. The horse is reminded that he can move through those parts of his body.

Oh, that more dancers could exercise this gentleness with one another. How many times have we had a teacher or partner try to force us into one position on another when what we really needed was to move unimpeded. Or, just to be gently shown that we can really move and that our natural movement is sufficient, if not beautiful.

Maybe wishful thinking . . . .


In a message dated 10/8/2002 3:20:09 PM Eastern Standard Time, cachafaz@ADELPHIA.NET writes:

> The more I learn about riding the more I agree with Joanne.
> (see her note).

Lisa E. Battan
Lisa E. Battan, P.C.
2235 Broadway
Boulder, Colorado 80302
ph: (303) 444-8668
fax: (303) 449-2656
www.lawyers.com/battan and www.battan.us
lisa@battan.us