2252  Speaking of odors...

Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2004 23:03:20 -0800
From: luda_r1 <luda_r1@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Speaking of odors...

Here are some thoughts about why we dance tango, which
I came across recently, that are some of the most
interesting I ever read.

Luda

> An Invitation to Dance
>
> I do not know where to begin to tell you about
> life's dances. If I tell you a little about
> everything, I will tell you nothing at all. I
> would rather show you, slowly, the dances, the
> movements, and the music. I know that you will
> understand if I talk with you in this way - one
> dance at a time. When you hear my stories, you
> will ask if they are true. They are my memories,
> and what could be further from the truth than
> that?
>
> You ask why the tango and how I began to think of
> life as a dance? My reasons are small and
> serendipitous. I saw a film about Pablo Neruda on
> the Sicilian island of Salina dancing a romantic
> tango on a sun-drenched porch to a scratchy
> Carlos Gardel record. Naruda was never exiled to
> Italy much less to this island. The entire story
> is a lie. But there was a small truth in that
> dance that I wanted to know for myself. I wanted
> to dance my own tango. I began my journey
> awkwardly and without confidence. With no
> patterns or routines to depend upon, this dance
> is difficult to learn. Every step, every twist,
> every turn is choreographed in the moment, for
> the moment. The couple engages in a wordless
> conversation communicating every movement without
> anticipation, without hesitation. Most people
> think from watching stage shows or that
> abomination called American Tango, that tango is
> a furious activity with couples turning their
> heads from each other looking as if they wish
> their partner would bathe. This is not tango.
> Tango is a sensuous communication between a man
> and a woman --- the man suggesting a step with
> his body and the woman choosing to respond with
> less or more than he desires. The leader cannot
> command or bully and he must listen from the core
> of his body to feel if the woman understands and
> agrees with his interpretation of the music and
> the moment. If the woman fails to pay attention
> or guesses at the future steps, she will often be
> wrong and the dance will end badly. A tango can
> be frustrating, beautiful, promising, loving,
> amusing or sad. When the music ends the dance is
> over and there is never a guarantee of a second
> dance. Is it a metaphor for life? Perhaps, or
> perhaps life is a metaphor for tango. I don't
> know but come here and dance with me and I will
> whisper to you my stories.

=====

Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2004 05:40:37 -0800
From: Larry Gmucs <gmucs@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Speaking of odors...

Exquisite. Do you have a source for this? Someone
should be credited.......

--- luda_r1 <luda_r1@YAHOO.COM> wrote:

> Here are some thoughts about why we dance tango,
> which
> I came across recently, that are some of the most
> interesting I ever read.
>
> Luda
>
> > An Invitation to Dance
> >
> > I do not know where to begin to tell you about
> > life's dances. If I tell you a little about
> > everything, I will tell you nothing at all....

(remainder of essay deleted for posting)

Larry in Cleveland