149  self-taught beginners

Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2001 15:15:43 -0400
From: Booska Masatoshi <ccahua@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject: Re: self-taught beginners

>Are
> there any successful self-taught dancers on this list or do you know
> of any?

hello back,
I'm a beginner too.
I've taken the usual beginner classes before milongas as well as 2 months of
progressive beginner classes from 2 different teachers.
I learned a lot of 'steps' (ochos, left hand turn, molinete), but recently
have started a session with a well known teacher in town and found I didn't
even know 'how to walk' not to mention even placing a follower into the
cross. It is quite an expensive and painful lesson but worth it. The rote
8count basic lulled me into a false sense that the follower would cross
after 2 outside steps to her right. I found out that some people won't cross
if you don't lead or place them into it. This was the key to revealing my
tango stupidity. Everything is so subtle now. My whole tango universe is
flipped on its black hole.
I think I'm going to be walking for years. I just wish I knew more followers
who would be up for walking more.
I'm really shy about asking people to dance and so I practice alot alone.
This teacher tells me to suck it up and just ask people, even advanced
followers.
It feels so good to move freely but when I embrace a woman it goes to
pieces.
So I think that old saying is true, "It takes two to tango"
I'm learning now that technique though important is not as important as that
natural tango expression, feeling and flow that is synchronized by
responding to your partner.

good luck and keep dancing