The matrix of dance
Have been going through the book The Structure of the Dance Vol.2: The Matrix by Mauricio Castro during my recent trip to Japan. In fact, I had initially started with “Structure of Dance”, which is the first volume in this series, but became a little impatient to go through all the exercises. 🙂
Counter action
Just finished a series of workshops with the wonderful couple of Esteban and Evelyn over the weekend. I was quite fortunate this year because I was able to attend at least half of their classes, having missed out the first half of their stay in Singapore since I was overseas last week. In fact, I was also away last year because of another conference at about the same time in Canada.
Technique
Recently heard someone comment (yet again) that too much emphasis on the perfecting techniques in Tango can actually be detrimental to the overall enjoyment of the dance. Have to say that I am grudgingly agreeing with the statement. However, perhaps due to my nature as a engineer/scientist, the temptation of reaching greater heights in technical sufficiency is always too alluring!? So, in the final analysis, in reference to the recent Technique vs Passion debate on Tango-L list, personally I am tipping the scale towards Technique, no matter what the general consensus is.
Tango Nuevo
Attended 2 workshops on Tango Nuevo in the past two days. While these 2 classes are not the only exposures – having also attended 2 similar classes by Gladys/Ricardo last September – I have had to this new evolutionary development in Tango, I feel I can appreciate a little bit more of the main concepts the second time around.
Up till now, the emphasis has been on the ‘hanging’ – colgadas – and how to enter into and exit from, by following the flow of energy in the embrace and between the partners.