Tango Focus

I think that 2009 was a great tango learning year for me. I have been lucky enough to have attended many more workshops. These are much more focussed on in depth teaching than the regular weekly classes. I guess after a point you just require depth in small things you already do than trying to find new things to do. Maybe this is a maturity of knowing what the field has and my understanding of it. Assuming it is a natural process one goes through when studying any field of endeavour there is always a point you reach an overall awareness of all parts of the field. You may not be able to do most parts of the field of work, but you can atleast make reference to them to compare and contrast.

I have had a much greater exposure to a wider variety of great teaching couples this past year. Teachers have come from both the UK, Europe and Argentina. Patterns are now emerging to related ideas that I can connect between different teachers. It is like a picture that is out of focus. One teacher can give you a lens that focuses on one segment of it. Another may give you another lens focussing on the same or different spot. Two images of the same area can look different depending on magnification. Where as before I saw two images of the same spot as contradictory I see them as complimentary. Of course, you need to see all segments at a similar focus to be able to see the whole thing. I have pretty much seen most of the whole thing atleast at a high viewpoint. Finding new segments is the finding of new types of moves. I have enough already to explore. Drilling into one segment more deeply is where new concepts of body awarness, ways of movement that provide greater connection, stability, freedom are found. Looking at old things in new ways is where I get the most reward now.

The segments to explore that I found the most rewarding are the ones that are the most encumbersing. That is the walk of just one step. Pivoting as the center of the giro. Finally, having a good connected presence in which the rest can happen.

TJ