What do you do to get into the right mental state for tango?

TomTango

TomTango

Active Member
Also, what things pull you out of that mental state? Anyone who has been dancing for an extended period can recognize how big a role their mood plays in how well they dance. (As an aside, I had a teacher that claimed tango was the only dance he could dance angry)

I'm looking for inspiration from peoples' pre-milonga rituals, practice psyche-ups, and general mental tricks used to have an overall better dance. Especially the less common ones. Some of mine:

To get in the mood:
  • Dress for success
  • Watch performances for inspiration
  • Drink a bit of caffeine
  • Dance the first couple tandas with someone you dance well with
Pulls me out of the mood:
  • Watched too many performances (start to compare myself to the performers, get wrapped up in all the things I don't know)
  • Ate too much beforehand
  • Too little sleep
  • The floor sucks
  • Having to rush to the milonga
 
Interesting. I never thought of having to do/not do something to be in the "tango mood." I mostly go to the studio, dance, come home. Going to tango is what puts me in the tango mood. :) Although I will say if I'm having a bad day I might hang out in the back and drink beer/wine and watch more than dance.
 
TomTango said:
To get in the mood:
  • Dance the first couple tandas with someone you dance well with
Click to expand...

I do the opposite. When there is by chance someone whom I like to dance with, I will start with a couple of unknown, mediocre followers to get into the right (anger, irritation) mood.
 
A.Victor said:
You overthink this.
There is no "tango mood" in my opinion.
Just go, if you enjoy this music and this dance, dance, no matter how you feel, even if you feel inadequate, dance angrily, sadly, joyously, bitterly, sweetly, not matter, tango is tango.
Click to expand...
Exactly. I get in a "tango mood" by going to a milonga.
 
"(As an aside, I had a teacher that claimed tango was the only dance he could dance angry)"

Then tango was the teacher's therapy because you can't stay angry and be present in the moment. One has to forget everything that's going on in one's life situation, focus on the music, and be in the now.

I walk to the milonga. As I enter the door and walk up the stairs, I hear the music that takes me to another state of mind. I leave my problems behind and direct my attention to being present in the moment. Everyone is happy in the milonga. The music feeds the soul. And we connect heart to heart. There is nothing more powerful nor important.
 
I'm more talking about the mental state you need to be in to dance well. Everyone has "on" days where they dance smoothly, and "off" days when things just aren't clicking. I'm seeking to maximize "on" days and minimize "off" days.

I don't think it's a stretch to say dancing well is just as much mental as it is physical, if not more so.
jantango said:
One has to forget everything that's going on in one's life situation, focus on the music, and be in the now.
Click to expand...
Right! And that act of forgetting everything else, letting yourself be in the moment, is easier some days and more difficult on others. So what's the difference between the two? Maybe some people have superhuman zen powers and can slip into the tango trance at will, every time, perfectly, but I think most are inconsistent. Being aware of the reasons you're dancing the way you are can lead to more consistently good dancing.
 
TomTango said:
Also, what things pull you out of that mental state? Anyone who has been dancing for an extended period can recognize how big a role their mood plays in how well they dance. (As an aside, I had a teacher that claimed tango was the only dance he could dance angry)

I'm looking for inspiration from peoples' pre-milonga rituals, practice psyche-ups, and general mental tricks used to have an overall better dance. Especially the less common ones. Some of mine:

To get in the mood:
  • Dress for success
  • Watch performances for inspiration
  • Drink a bit of caffeine
  • Dance the first couple tandas with someone you dance well with
Pulls me out of the mood:
  • Watched too many performances (start to compare myself to the performers, get wrapped up in all the things I don't know)
  • Ate too much beforehand
  • Too little sleep
  • The floor sucks
  • Having to rush to the milonga
Click to expand...
For me:

To get in the mood:
  • Show up at a milonga (or a practica)
  • Hear good music
Pulls me out of the mood:
  • Hear bad music (example: anything by Tom Waits)

That's pretty much it.
 
A.Victor said:
You overthink this.
There is no "tango mood" in my opinion.
Just go, if you enjoy this music and this dance, dance, no matter how you feel, even if you feel inadequate, dance angrily, sadly, joyously, bitterly, sweetly, not matter, tango is tango.
Click to expand...

I agree with Victor. The most important is to be at the present moment and to be totally connected with your partner and then you'll be ready to dance.
 
The music does it for me; if it's stuff I like e.g Tom Waits i will get into form real quick.

If its Como Se Pianta la Vida; Tanturi/Castillo then my evening is made. (provided I am dancing)
 
Kill your Ego and put it 6 feet under.
Be honest and humble.
Do not try to do more than your experience allows you.
Be kind with less experienced dancers.
Dance for your partner, not for people sitting at tables.
Enjoy the music.
 
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