IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO 💃
I discovered a new passion!
It is always wonderful to learn something new. I have always loved music - which you might have guessed by now - and with a good sense of rhythm comes the desire to move and dance. When I was very young I danced ballet, later some jazz dance and at the age of 14 I took my first and last standard dance course. I learned the classics like the waltz, rumba, cha cha cha and foxtrot - ok, it was more the basic steps and one or two turns that I barely remember.
"Dance, when you’re broken open. Dance, if you’ve torn the bandage off. Dance in the middle of the fighting. Dance in your blood. Dance when you’re perfectly free." — Rumi
Since I had the misfortune of always meeting men who absolutely refused to dance, I can count on one hand how many times I have danced in the last 40 years (yes, it really was that long ago). Of course I have danced in clubs, but not the classic standard dances where you are actually led by a man.
Several months ago I made a new friend who is a passionate and also excellent tango dancer and who wanted to “infect” me with the tango bug. I have never danced tango in my life (I don't even know the basic steps). My friend invited me to a small Milonga at the beginning of January and she was convinced that I would love it. I wasn't so sure, for various reasons.
a. I'm very particular about who I let into my personal space, and when you dance, you get very close to each other - especially when the dance is tango.
b. Of course, there's always the fear of embarrassing yourself or stepping on someone's toes and injuring them.
c. Tango is a very passionate dance that I find difficult to imagine dancing with a complete stranger.
“Dance is your pulse, your heartbeat, your breathing. It's the rhythm of your life. It's the expression in time and movement, in happiness, joy, sadness and envy.” — Jaques D'Ambroise
So it comes as no surprise that I was rather anxious when it was time to leave to my friends house. We were four men and four women and apart from my friend I knew no one. It was a lovely group of people though and I felt very welcome. We had a drink and a chat I felt a little more at ease until - you can guess - the music came on and the first couple started to dance. I was in awe at how great they danced and how beautiful they looked. I would have been fine just enjoying the music and watching. It was poetry in motion and my anxiety came rushing back with full force.
“The dance is a poem of which each movement is a word.” — Mata Hari
It had to happen, I was asked to dance. My warnings that I had never danced the tango before were charmingly ignored and the friendly gentleman laughed. To calm me down a bit, he just said: "if you make a mistake, I haven't led you well - so the mistake is mine.”
To my own astonishment, I wasn't half bad and tried to relax and, above all, let myself be led. Admittedly, I was a bit tense at the beginning but after a few dances with each of the gentlemen I could let go more and more and enjoy it. When you suddenly dance forehead to forehead - you do get very close - and my dance partner reassured me that we don't have to get married right away. Laughter always helps to ease the tension in any or most situations.
Believe it or not, no one was seriously injured on that evening. The only damage were my poor feet as I did not have proper dance shoes - which is really important if you dance all evening.
“Dance is like wine; it matures with every performance.” — Alarmel Valli
The next day I admittedly felt muscles (and not in the good way) that I did not know I had. Even if I do sports, dancing is something very different.
My friend was right, I caught the bug and I loved dancing tango. So I decided that the first thing I need are some proper, beautiful and comfortable dancing shoes… So here they are and ready to be put to good use!
📚My Poem of the Week
I decided on this wonderful poem by William Wordsworth (1770-1850) and it speaks for itself.
I wandered lonely as a Cloud
I wandered lonely as a Cloud
That floats on high o'er Vales and Hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host of golden Daffodils;
Beside the Lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the Milky Way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced, but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:—
A Poet could not but be gay
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the shew to me had brought:
For oft when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude,
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the Daffodils.
🎶My Song of the Week
I chose a song that I danced to that evening and it’s a wonderful version of “Wicked Game” by James Vincent McMorrow
If you love music as much as I do, you may appreciate that the songs of every Change & Evolve Letter can be found in the growing Spotify playlist. Just click and follow:
👀Impressions
While walking home after a run by the lake a few dass ago, the sky was just so stunningly beautiful that I had to share this with you!
Wishing you a weekend full of dance and joy! I would love to hear from you if you also started something completely new recently.
Yours
Tanja 🤗
If you would like to connect with me, find out more about the Enneagram and yourself, how it can transform you and your life, I would be happy to take the time for a speed coaching call that you can reserve right here , go to my website or simply hit reply and get in touch with me directly.
Love the James Vincent McMorrow's version of Wicked Game! I may be sharing it on this week's Shuffle Sundays, if that's ok ;)