When I spend time in Buenos Aires, taking lessons and dancing in the milongas, I always come home with a renewed energy to teach Portland dancers to dance like Buenos Aires dancers. For 2024, there are a few items on my to-do list that I feel benefit all dancers. Number one: collaboration!
Collaboration
I had the most enjoyable time dancing to live music that I have ever had the night Cuarteto Mulenga played at Lo de Celia. A man I did not know had asked me to dance earlier in the evening and asked me again when the live music started. I find many dancers do not dance their best to live music: they feel comfortable dancing to the version of a song they already know, so I was prepared for a second tanda that was not as good as the first.
In this case, I felt as if I had been given the gift of collaboration. We were BOTH dancing to new music, interacting with the music and each other. He listened to what I was doing, made suggestions, and riffed off my energy. His lead was stable and clear, and I could choose to follow it, or suggest other moves because of his stability. That level of collaboration rarely occurs on the dance floor, and I enjoyed every minute. When I sat down to video because I had promised my students to do so, the man sat nearby and waited for me to finish. “Just look at me when you are ready!” he said. More fabulous dancing ensued.
I want to bring more collaboration into the dance for leader and follower. The tango is enhanced with such a high level of play, improvisation and close communication. Let’s ALL dance like that! Join my classes this winter to enhance your collaborative skills in your tango!