Modern Tango World #4 (Bucharest, Romania)

The dancers move together like one animal with
four legs in a close embrace, improvising, embellishing,
imagining, smiling and becoming lost in exalted
encounter. They become two bodies with one mind,
one heart and one soul. There seems to be this paranormal,
mystic and occult fusion of two bodies, the
dynamics of which is beyond human comprehension.
Most of the tango dancers are addicted to this feeling
of unexplainable bliss, the connection, the musicality,
and the meditative mode that they experience during
each dance. This is the moment when time and space
dissolve. Tango is seductive, flirtatious, graceful, artistic
and exquisite. Lot of scientific research has been done
on tango experience that remains a puzzle for many.
Human mind has an unlimited prospective to learn.
There is scientific evidence that proves that to develop
skills for social dancing, the kinesthetic awareness
is heightened. It is the sensory skill that body uses to
know where it is in space. The nerve receptors, which
send specific information to the brain, are definitely
functioning better in a tango dancer, as compared to
a normal individual, which makes tango dancers more
aware of their space. The brain of a tango dancer has
inadvertently learned to move backward without
knocking down things, to identify the edges.
There is heightened awareness about impetus and extra
senses in action. Human minds and bodies adapt
and respond pretty quickly. Whenever you work with
a particular object continuously, it becomes an augmentation
of your own self. For a pianist, a piano feels
like second skin, a violinist knows his violin like a back
of his hand. Similarly, there is scientific evidence that
shows that for tango dancers, another body is like an
augmentation of their own self. Here two bodies, four
feet move simultaneously on the same beat. Tango is
not just a dance form. It transcends beyond. It is meditation
in motion; it is connection and relationship between
two individuals and embodies time and space.
It is romantic, spiritual and profound.
Tango is expensive, exclusive, elite and sophisticated
passion to pursue. Like golf, it is an activity, which requires
that you have lot of money in your pocket.
The Tango lessons, world over are expensive. Tango
privates are even more so. Practicas, milongas, etc. do
cost money and also your time. There are no free
lunches. The more qualified and experienced, the
teacher is, the more expensive, he/she is. You have
to invest in classes, practicas, milongas, Tango clothes,
Tango shoes, etc. Tango is very social. There is a lot
of entertaining, going out, expensive wines; constant
travels to attend Tango festivals for Tango addicts.
Every Tango addict, dreams of traveling and spending
big chunk of time in Buenos Aires. No one earns in
Buenos Aires. There, everyone pays from their pockets
constantly for every Tango lessons. Yet, people of
all ages, gender, nationalities join Tango and get addicted.
Because it is fun, it is social; it is good for the
mind, body and soul. Here are signs of a tango addict
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1. You have a tango blog or spend a lot of time
in reading tango blogs, watching tango videos,.
2. ou keep a pair of tango shoes in the boot of
your car and even at work. Who knows when
you might want to practice?
3. You are practicing your boleos and lapis even at
a bus stop or while buying groceries.
4. You would choose to go to a milonga over any
oyher social engagement.
5. You have created space in your house and rearranged
your furniture so that you can practice.
6. You social activities (i.e if you still have any) revolve
around your tango calendar.
7. You always have deodorants and breath mints
in your bag.
8. You consciously collect your feet when you
walk. Your weight is always on one foot when
you pose for pictures.
9. Your travels must include tango, classes, festivals,
milongas, etc.
10. Your phone has a list of friends and names,
which have tango in front of them.
11. Your facebook friend list has many tango
friends from all over the world that you met
during your tango journeys.
12. When you shop for dress or shoes, you think if
you can wear it to a milonga or a class.
13. No other dance form appeals you as much
as tango.
14. Tango conversations surely light up your face.
15. You have hosted a milonga.
16. You enrolled in Spanish class.
17. Red and black are your colours.
18. You know that sandwich is not just something
you eat.
Did you agree to most of the above? Then you
know you are a tango addict or a tango junkie but
the good news is that it is a good addiction to have
that has more benefits. Tango is therapeutic, meditative
and mood enhancer. It uplifts you and certainly
keeps you stress free. Are you hooked on Tango? I
know just how you feel. In fact, many others have
felt the same way! After extensive research I have
found that, although Tango is not incurable, most
Tango dancers just don’t want to be cured!