By Pieter :
"The best way to learn this dance is just to go to social events and do it", she said to me, and after that invited me to dance as a follower...
A few month ago I went to the tuinhuis milonga in Utrecht [review] on a whim. I had heard it was very informal, and so I figured there must be someone there who could teach me the basics. And although that may have been a bit of a naive thought, it worked out quite well. After first talking a bit to two guys who ensured me I should take lessons first but could ofcourse just sit and watch, and a chat with the organiser who was surprised I came all the way from Eindhoven, there was a kind lady (all the way from Scottland!) who would walk around the floor with me, provided she would lead...
After being a true follower for the first time, I knew this would be a very enlightning way to learn a new dance. I followed before, but only when I "knew the steps", and never seriously. When I had ballroom lessons as a teenager, we (a group of boys) sometimes switched to tease the teacher. But now, all of a sudden, I was not thinking about steps anymore, and when switching roles cautiously quite a bit later, I was very conscious of my partner more than of myself. Of course, leading has to be done confidently at all times, and my new awareness made me shaky. Then again: it was my first time.
But now I had a problem. As I often do, I had gotten myself into a niche-of-a-niche. Not only had I gotten to like Tango, I had gotten into learning it as a follower... which means I would have to find leaders who would not mind a man following. For sure, this is not the standard at any school. So, all I could do is wait for an opportunity to go to some informal event again and try my luck.
The opportunity came in December, when I found time and courage to go to a practice evening of TipoTango in Eindhoven. Being new, I immediately got some attention from the people already there, and even though most came with their partner to practice rather than socialize, I danced with Thea (as a leader, but got some good tips), got advice and enthousiasm from Michael, and at the end of the evening was very lucky to find Marianne, a local teacher, kind enough to lead me and have me lead alternatingly, so I could feel what effect certains small movements have. Connection, ballance, clearly moving your weight, and (very difficult for a musician) moving slightly ahead of the music to give your partner time to respond. Keeping my heels together is also going to be a thing...
So, it is possible to dive into a practice evening unprepared, alone, and without expectations, and have a good time, and learn someting! Chatting with the people present at this practice evening also made me aware that you really have to pick your evenings carefully however. There are also many 'closed scenes' where the reaction "get some lessons first" is rule rather than exception. Still it will be fun, exploring new worlds and new civilizations, and boldly go somewhere with an open mind. For sure, TipoTango was a very nice second step in this adventure. The practice evening turned out to be a welcoming scene for newbies like me.
Actually, I think the way for anyone to learn to dance is to go to the milonga to watch, listen and just relax - with friends or without, depending on personality. Slowly absorbing what the milongas offer and realising - through observation, listening, chat - what that is, is valuable in itself and as a precursor to dance.
ReplyDeleteGirls can pick up dance in the milongas - and many do. Some guys can and do. I know more than one guy who is doing that right now -by dancing first in the woman's role. It's possible if the local milonga is the relaxed and tolerant kind with experienced, welcoming dancers and a good ronda. But sometimes I think it can, depending on the environment, circumstances, who you know and how you feel, be easier and more comfortable for guys to learn, swapped in a practica.
About actually finding the person who will guide the new guy dancer - that's as much about knowing people, getting to know them and finding those you feel relaxed and compatible with as getting regular dances is.
Pieter wrote: "There are also many 'closed scenes' where the reaction "get some lessons first" is rule rather than exception."
ReplyDeleteIt's one of the most pernicious effects of commercialised tango dance education. The more time and money people spend on classes, the more closed they become to anything that highlights how much of that time and money was wasted, such as others learning to dance the traditional way - without classes.
Good Luck, Pieter!