2267  Tango Zen workshop at Tango by the River

Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2004 23:31:34 -0800
From: Philip Seyer <philipseyer@ILOVEMUSIC.COM>
Subject: Tango Zen workshop at Tango by the River

Recently, I took the Tango Zen workshop by Chan Park at Tango by the River in Sacramento, recently and enjoyed it a lot.

[ https://tangozen.com/tangozen.html ]
https://www.rivertango.com/

I especially liked the exercise where we danced tango extremely s-l-o-w-ly --- holding each beat for 2 counts, then 4 counts, then 8 =
counts! We focused on the connection with our partner. One lady I danced with was brand new to tango; she was smiling so brightly and enjoying =
the exercises so much! It was a joy just do this simple exercise with her.

I was looking forward to Chan's exercise where the *leader* closes his eyes and the follower helps to guide him when necessary. But students =
objected (even his wife didn't see how it would work). So much fear! Chan abandoned the exercise.
I think the exercise would have been a great experience. Maybe the fear comes from the fact that Argentine tango followers are not used to =
giving *alerts signals* to leaders. (?)

One thing I really liked about the class was that (wow) I got to be a follower! Chan would frequently have partners switch roles: the leader =
would become the follower and the follower would become the leader. (
It was fun dancing with a lady who took a big side step (with no frame) and then scolded me or not staying in front of her. "Look," she kept =
saying to me, "see where I am? You should be in front of me. You need to take a bigger step to match mine."
Him, it may be think. Is the follower really "always right?" Does this lady understand the purpose of the leader. What is the purpose the =
leader. Switching roles was a great learning experience.

Anyway, I did work on my following skills. Now maybe I won't have so much resentment about that "no men please" rule at the other class in =
Sacramento. Now I'll be able to surprise my dance partner (who likes to lead) with my new found following skills. Remember, guys, I'm from San =
Francisco, originally, although I now live near Sacramento.)

Phil Seyer
https://www.argentine-tango.com

Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2004 07:32:26 -0800
From: Larry Gmucs <gmucs@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Tango Zen workshop at Tango by the River

--- Philip Seyer <philipseyer@ILOVEMUSIC.COM> wrote:

> Recently, I took the Tango Zen workshop by Chan Park
> at Tango by the River in Sacramento, recently and
> enjoyed it a lot.
>
> [ https://tangozen.com/tangozen.html ]
> https://www.rivertango.com/

>
> I was looking forward to Chan's exercise where the
> *leader* closes his eyes and the follower helps to
> guide him when necessary. But students objected
> (even his wife didn't see how it would work). So
> much fear! Chan abandoned the exercise.
> I think the exercise would have been a great
> experience. Maybe the fear comes from the fact that
> Argentine tango followers are not used to giving
> *alerts signals* to leaders. (?)
>

Cacho Dante gave a workshop in Cleveland for Timmy
Tango several months ago. One of the exercises was
for leaders to close their eyes, then followers chose
one leader at random. The idea was for the follower
to indicate, without hands, the followers kinesthetic
impression of the music, standing in one spot. It was
a very good demonstration of "listening" to the music
through the follower. I know that Sergio was
impressed with the exercise.

Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2004 09:51:53 -0600
From: Stephen Brown <Stephen.P.Brown@DAL.FRB.ORG>
Subject: Re: Tango Zen workshop at Tango by the River

Susan and I have occasionally included exercises in our classes where the
leader dances with eyes closed, and the follower did not. Our idea was
that the exercise would build leader sensitivity to the followers and an
inner sense of tango. Our students reported the exercise worked well.

Ideally, we would have liked to have the followers have their eyes closed
at the same time, but realistically someone needs to watch for obstacles
and other couples.

Personally, I think the success of the exercise requires a lot of trust
within the dance partnership, and between the students in the class and
the instructor--and an uncrowded room

With best regards,
Steve (de Tejas)

Stephen Brown