a part of Transcendence mini-series Mondays are happy days too, for one simple reason: there's a tango class with Tango Utrip school in the evening, followed by a practica. I have been attending the classes regularly ever since they started in September. I haven't written anything about them so far, because there wasn't really a story to tell. Which, now that I come to think of it, is not entirely true. I have come to realize that a beautiful tanda is just like a summer romance: one never knows when and where it will happen. It takes you by surprise. And lately these 'summer' tandas keep popping up unexpectedly. Which, like with romance, is the best anyway. Without expectation, everything's possible. That Monday the class was led by Marko and Agnieszka. The topic was milonguero back-ochos. One could argue the ochos were more crossadas than ochos. I enjoyed the class and the sense of mastery: these milonguero ochos came easily for me and I was quick to incorporate them in my set of choreography routines. Agnieszka would come to try them out with me and was pleased to see I could lead them clearly and with precision, both in movement and timing. After an hour, the class finished with an applause. Practica followed. When it comes to practicas I am a bit two-faced. I have a thirst for just dancing so I rarely have an agenda of just practicing. In my mind, a practica is a laid-back milonga. Even the music is usually arranged in the typical milonga fashion, so... There was the mirada from Agnieszka. I returned the mirada and for some reason we both started laughing, which had often been the case in our pre-tanda communication. We embraced, synced and started to dance. I could tell immediately it would be good. And it was! I used every opportunity to lead the milongero back-ochos. And they worked! Often when I learn something new in class, it actually only works with my dance partner during class. Not these milonguero back ochos! They were clearly 'my thing.' It felt like I've always known how to lead them. I could tell Agnieszka was enjoying herself: the embrace got dense, her presence strong. We didn't make any stops, she didn't correct me with anything, I didn't ask any questions. We danced a tanda just like we would at a milonga. When the last song ended I was happy. She looked happy too. I thanked her and found my way to the bar table to have a glass of water. There was a vacant seat there, so I took the opportunity to seat down and relax. The good feelings from the dance were still dancing and swirling in my body. I had no need to find another partner to practice anything. I was totally content. For a while I watched other couples practice. Then all of a sudden I discovered I was hungry! There were some salty snacks on the bar and I jumped on them like I would never see food again. While stuffing my face with crisps and enjoying the nothingness in my head, something caught my attention. It was Agnieszka trying to cabeceo me with her playful mirada. She started laughing immediately, seeing the expression on my face: »No, no no Agnieszka, I can not give you more.« The tanda we had was absolutely the best I could have done and I found it little likely it could be repeated or topped, even. Furthermore, my tango-thirst had been satiated, so I was cool just seating and observing. I learned by now that every once in a while a breakthrough tanda happens. A tanda where I dance on a higher level of skill and feeling and feel like I am dancing from my future.. It's kinda like seeing the first warm sun and hearing the birds sing after a long winter. But these birds don't bring the spring yet. Winter would always make sure it shows its teeth for at least a couple more weeks... I wanted to tell Agnieszka I don't want to ruin the beautiful tanda we had had by dancing another one that would probably just be average. In fact, I wasn't able to tell her. Her energy was playful and inviting and it dispelled my seriousness. So I got up from the seat, with my mouth still full of crisps. ! Transcendence part 1: the class is a part of Transcendence mini-series. New episode coming soon !
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AuthorBlaz B, social tango dancer since February 2015. I'm sharing these posts to inspire future tango beginners, to encourage today's beginners and to possibly entertain those dancers, who have already become regulars at tango heaven.
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