1487  what is it that is "transcended?"

Date: Fri, 4 Jul 2003 17:37:51 -0700
From: Jonathan Thornton <jnt@NOYAU.COM>
Subject: Re: what is it that is "transcended?"

Judy Stockinger <judytango@YAHOO.COM> wrote on Fri, 4 Jul 2004:

> Jonathan and list,
>
> I stand corrected. I have used "transcended" in error. I should have
> used either of the words; "transcendentalist" or "transported".

Judy,
I was asking the question quite seriously and not as a correction.
A number of people have mentioned "transcendent" tangos and I think that
may be a good way to refer to a certain kind of special dance experience.
I like the word "transported" also. "Transcendentalist" suggests to me
someone who is a philosopher of "Transcendentalism" such as Emerson or
Thoreau.

I was just thinking that to say that something is "transcendent"
implies something is "transcended". So, I was asking myself and anyone
else what that might be.
In my experience there is dancing the dance as it is taught, the
steps, the lead and follow. People can dance the music and look good doing
it. The elements are all there, but no special communication, no
"transport" is going on. What I am musing about is what happens when that
other quality so hard to describe occurs in the dance. Do the dancers
enter some transcendent state? and if they do what then are they
transcending? I've no answer. I'm contemplating it and invite anyone to
email me with their thoughts or experiences.

peace,
Jonathan Thornton

Date: Sun, 6 Jul 2003 17:45:59 -0700
From: luda_r1 <luda_r1@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: what is it that is "transcended?"

Jonathan wrote:

"....I was just thinking that to say that
something
is "transcendent"
implies something is "transcended". So, I was asking
myself and anyone
else what that might be...

In my experience there is dancing the dance as

it is taught, the
steps, the lead and follow. People can dance the music

and look good doing
it. The elements are all there, but no special
communication, no
"transport" is going on. What I am musing about is
what happens when that
other quality so hard to describe occurs in the dance.

Do the dancers
enter some transcendent state? and if they do what
then are they
transcending? I've no answer. I'm contemplating it and

invite anyone to
email me with their thoughts or experiences."

I've enjoyed your recent posts, Jonathan, as well as
previous ones. Thank you for your usual astute and
amusing observations.

Hmmm.....what's being transcended. I don't know
either. Maybe the self? Giving yourself completely to
the moment, to the music and your partner? With no
holds barred? Block out everything else? The past, the
future, the critical parent inside? It's such a darned
elusive entity. I've experienced it when I least
expected it and did not when I thought I'd experience
it for sure! Beats me.

Yestserday I went to see Il Trovatore here at the SF
Opera House, for the third time in a week. The last
performance was magical. All the elements came
together. The music was sublime, the singing
extraordinary (all four major roles!!), the conductor,
impeccable. What made it an almost "perfect"
experience was the baritone, who was different in the
previous two performances. Everything fell into place
with his particular presence. It was one of those
moments when you forgot completely about everything
else except the present. It took your breath away!!
Maybe something similar happens in tango. When
everything comes together. Whatever that "everything"
is. Let me know if you find out. :)

Luda






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