Dancing in close embrace... Boobs

[JohnEm]

uh... topic... boobs... yes I have them. They don't get in my way. Given their size, I doubt they get in anyone else's way either.

You edited it!

Now you're being modest.

 

[Zoopsia59]

You edited it!

Now you're being modest.

Assuming modesty on my part implies that I think bigger is better.
Not at all true!

As a similarly endowed friend says: "Who needs an extra liability in a fight?"

Or for that matter, an extra issue to deal with in Tango?

 

[Zoopsia59]

My retort always to that comment is there's nothing natural
about walking down a room with a lady planted on your chest
while walking backwards in front of you.

Well, I didn't mean that all of tango is natural or easy.. but walking is the most natural part of the dance. Actually, if the leader walks as though the lady isn't there, things usually go better. It's when he worries about stepping on her, or tries to avoid her that things get awkward.

But I understand too that what Tete was trying to achieve would be
to get everyone to move.

Actually, I think he was trying to get everyone to relax. Just WALK, not try to do some personal interpretation of a "dancing walk" that they thought would make it "correct". Loosen up and just walk.

Remember he was trying to deal with specific people who were having a specific problem in a specific workshop... it doesn't mean that his entire philosophy of tango is that its just natural walking like going down the street (that's the problem of quoting people out of context)

when I see
a video of them it's her who was the genius in her ability to keep up with him
sometimes in no hold at all.

Tete was my teacher/partner's hero, so he taught me to follow like Sylvia... ie: keep up with him even with no hold at all. It was very hard for a beginner, but GREAT training.

I want to avoid an argument over semantics here.

I agree.. I was just trying to point out that moving the hips and shoulders as a unit (ie: both forward at once) is fairly UN-natural. People sometimes try to do that as beginners though because they are stiff and thinking about "dancing" as though the definition of dancing is: "Moving in whatever way is most difficult, uncomfortable and unnatural." They are thinking so much about their feet and about how they are trying to "dance" that they forget how they normally move and start stiffening up. Then you try to get them to just rotate their shoulders a wee little bit as they step OP, and they look at you like you've asked for them to leap like superman over a tall building.

Basically, I think a lot of all this stems from simply being afraid they will step on their partner.

Either that or they want to get away from those boobs... (still trying to get myself on topic... sorry, sorry...:-?)

 

[JohnEm]

Well, I didn't mean that all of tango is natural or easy.. but walking is the most natural part of the dance. Actually, if the leader walks as though the lady isn't there, things usually go better. It's when he worries about stepping on her, or tries to avoid her that things get awkward.

Absolutely, all down to an ability to give intent and commit.

Actually, I think he was trying to get everyone to relax. Just WALK, not try to do some personal interpretation of a "dancing walk" that they thought would make it "correct". Loosen up and just walk.

Remember he was trying to deal with specific people who were having a specific problem in a specific workshop... it doesn't mean that his entire philosophy of tango is that its just natural walking like going down the street (that's the problem of quoting people out of context)

Point taken.

Tete was my teacher/partner's hero, so he taught me to follow like Sylvia... ie: keep up with him even with no hold at all. It was very hard for a beginner, but GREAT training.

Yes it is, and for a beginner man to provide that chest lead.
Another area where beginners learning with beginners is so difficult.

You had a great advantage there and, as you say, great training.
And I'd love to dance with you, shame about the miles
and the puddle between us.

I agree.. I was just trying to point out that moving the hips and shoulders as a unit (ie: both forward at once) is fairly UN-natural. People sometimes try to do that as beginners though because they are stiff and thinking about "dancing" as though the definition of dancing is: "Moving in whatever way is most difficult, uncomfortable and unnatural." They are thinking so much about their feet and about how they are trying to "dance" that they forget how they normally move and start stiffening up. Then you try to get them to just rotate their shoulders a wee little bit as they step OP, and they look at you like you've asked for them to leap like superman over a tall building.

We seem to be singing from the same hymn sheet.

But the confidence to relax yet provide the intent is quite contradictory
initially. Even though I came from other dance experience it was all
still very alien and awkward. And then of course the music is alien too.
Music, what music, is there music playing? Is that actually music?
I've got far too much going on in my head to actually dance and listen.

Blimey (as we say in some parts of the UK), and there's a pair of boobs
on my chest. I know it's normal for you but it certainly isn't for me.
It's all far too much to cope with.

See, back on topic now again.