A reminder to myself, a self-confessed perfectionist:
The more I take technique classes, the more I resist techniques. I know I'm on the last leg of rehabilitation from a broken leg, from loss of balance and muscular strength. But ultimately, do I really want to dance so impeccably? With neat footwork, the utter most body control and steps as precise as the Swiss clockwork? If so, what is dance really about? And art?
It's a relief to know that dance still remains out of the Olympics Games and dancers a different crowd from those of acrobats and gymnasts. Having said that, the boundaries seem to blur more often than not these days.
How many times have I watched a video clip or live performance of yet another speedy and technically flawless tango couple without having my blood gushing up in my veins and heart beating faster? Like what the Argentines say 'Bailan bien pero no me llevo nada.'
So what makes it to reach one's heart?
In the excellent tango documentary Si Sos Brujo, the old master Emilio Balcare commented on a tango played by a group of highly accomplished young musicians in Buenos Aires that it was very good, however, what was it the Fat Man (most likely the tango genius Anibal Troilo) said? To express tango you need to muddy it up...
When I first started to dance, the young Geraldine Rojas was the IT girl of tango. She was truly special! What made her dance so unique and captivating was her raw passion, her lack of pretense and her overflowing sensuality. She was then widely regarded as the true embodiment of Argentine tango! Una tanguera to boot! I found out later that she didn't have any formal academic training in dance. Today, more and more young dancers shoot to success and fame. Many remain competent academic dancers. However, I have yet to see the sparks that can set a forest on fire the young Geraldine once did.
There is something to be said about aiming for perfection. It's part of the learning process. It takes a hell lot of training. And the mastery of the techniques, superb control of our body movements is not to be sneered at. It sets us free. However, it's only half of the journey. The rest is to drop it all and starts to play. It takes guts to play, to be dirty, ugly, real, to slow down, to stop, all in order to be one's true humble self! It delights me to know that I'm on the path of such a journey!
londonsdead85
Always wanted to learn the tango or any dance but I have two left feet and neither are good ones.
But I guess as you say it doesnt matter, its more about how it makes you feel so maybe I should give it a go.
Looks like fun!