baileythorne (![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} baileythorne) wrote,@ 2007-11-14 23:27:00 |
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learning so much more than tango
I read this in a tango blog posting yesterday and it reflects my recent experiences amazingly:
From: this blog (sallycat’s adventures - the life of a tango dancer in Buenos Aires)
"In the beginning <snip> I got very despondent. <snip> I was still in the phase of wanting to be perfect. I wanted [teacher] to see me dance and tell me that I would be a great dancer. I wanted to stun him with my brilliance. I knew that no way was I brilliant. But I desperately wanted to be. For weeks he used to ask me to walk alone, and then walk alone with decorations and then walk alone with full turns in every step. I used to cringe with embarrassment as I wobbled and tipped in front of him. Sometimes I felt like crying. Sometimes I felt like screaming. But I didn’t. I just kept trying. He used to say to me ‘Don’t worry. Even if you don’t do it great, it will help you dance better. And one day you will do it great when you are not even trying. And even if one day you do it great, then another day you won’t. And it’s ok.’
The most important thing I learned, I already knew. "If you practice and are full of self-criticism and negative energy, that is how you will dance. So, with me, you look up and smile when you practice. No more cussing."
He insists I practice being happy. Think about that.... And he insists that perfection is not the point. That is harder for me.
He lies to me at the dances. He tells me I'm doing wonderful. We both know he's lying, but now it's funny to me. And I'm working to eventually earn that praise during a lesson. It will be months...
But he is practicing what he preaches: be kind to your partners :-)
I read this in a tango blog posting yesterday and it reflects my recent experiences amazingly:
From: this blog (sallycat’s adventures - the life of a tango dancer in Buenos Aires)
"In the beginning <snip> I got very despondent. <snip> I was still in the phase of wanting to be perfect. I wanted [teacher] to see me dance and tell me that I would be a great dancer. I wanted to stun him with my brilliance. I knew that no way was I brilliant. But I desperately wanted to be. For weeks he used to ask me to walk alone, and then walk alone with decorations and then walk alone with full turns in every step. I used to cringe with embarrassment as I wobbled and tipped in front of him. Sometimes I felt like crying. Sometimes I felt like screaming. But I didn’t. I just kept trying. He used to say to me ‘Don’t worry. Even if you don’t do it great, it will help you dance better. And one day you will do it great when you are not even trying. And even if one day you do it great, then another day you won’t. And it’s ok.’
Over time I noticed that my body was remembering, learning, becoming steadier and more able to do what had once had seemed impossible. I realised that every single thing we did was going in to my head, into my body and into my soul even when I thought it wasn’t. I learned that the combination of my subconscious mind and my body is actually unstoppable. If I allow myself to relax and simply try things out in the classes rather than worry, then some day later (maybe the next day, maybe the next week, maybe the next month) I will find myself doing them quite naturally. This leads to some very happy moments of surprise and delight. Gradually I have stopped worrying about being perfect."
Although I've been dancing for over 15 years, I haven't been at tango very long. And only recently, since I started with private lessons, have I had the frustrating / humiliating experience of the walking exercises. But my teacher sounds so similar.The most important thing I learned, I already knew. "If you practice and are full of self-criticism and negative energy, that is how you will dance. So, with me, you look up and smile when you practice. No more cussing."
He insists I practice being happy. Think about that.... And he insists that perfection is not the point. That is harder for me.
He lies to me at the dances. He tells me I'm doing wonderful. We both know he's lying, but now it's funny to me. And I'm working to eventually earn that praise during a lesson. It will be months...
But he is practicing what he preaches: be kind to your partners :-)
