The experience with the community outside of DU has been even more fascinating though. My first lesson was two Fridays ago. It was interesting going into the lesson as most people there still had a lot more experience than me even though it was classified as a beginners class. However I was able to at least somewhat apply what we had learned in class and learn a new move. The more interesting part was watching the Milonga after. Will, someone whom I had met through Tango Club and then had also had the privilege of talking to before and after the lesson, gratefully showed me how exactly the Milonga worked (in a bit more detail than we had learned in class) and how exactly to identify a good dancer on the dance floor. While the lessons, both this one and after, had made it seem that people only seem to follow certain moves and that Tango is relatively strict, the Milonga proved the opposite. Everyone not only had their own sequences they tried and tested but each person had their own clear style that they called their own. While one man may have walked strictly only stopping every once in awhile to do an ocho or two, another man might be going in circles the entire time. The same went for the women, some of whom focused on perfecting each and every step, while others were more free flowing and added a number of embellishments to every move. While neither one nor the other was necessarily better, it certainly provided a contrast. Its worth noting that my third lesson was almost identical to this experience.
The second lesson I attended was with a good family friend of mine. I had learned they started to do Tango awhile back and mentioned I had started it too. They invited me to join them in Morrison for a small practica. This was far different from the previous lesson. Fortunately the owners typically run this as a much smaller practica and although it was not necessarily one on one attention, I was able to get many more pointers on refining my technique and drills with which to continue to refine my skills. Afterwards I talked with the couple who led the practica and had a very interesting conversation. Initially we talked about the passion that is unique to Tango that seems to consume those who really commit to it. They seemed very similar in terms of their feelings about Tango to those exhibited in the films we have watched. To Them Tango was more than just a skill or a hobby, it was an intricate part of their lives. Perhaps the most interesting part of the conversation I thought was about who exactly was attracted to Tango. Apparently most everyone the male teacher knew who Tangoed intensely were involved heavily in the practical sciences (engineering and medicine). It seems interesting that such a dance is so attractive to men of these fields in particular to me.
Tango really has grabbed a hold of me. I have always wanted to dance and I am finally feeling a connection enough to a type of dance that I feel I can truly commit to it and learn it well. It provides a structure and order that I like while also allowing me free will. I cannot wait to see how much I have learned by the end of the quarter!
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