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| Reaching new heights in tango. (Or was this martial arts night?) |
Perhaps every tango community has a Sue. Some people don't know her last name, but somehow many figure it out without being told: Ms. Nami.
Sue Nami leaves destruction everywhere she goes. Her boyfriend is Jörg Quake. He has his faults too. They can unsettle the buena onda* of any sea of dancers, or blast any beach-milonga in a moment.
For example, I might take a small step and Sue Nami takes a meter-long leap. Her boleos are known to snag dresses and even clear the glasses off tables!
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| My Tango Boat after dancing with Sue Nami |
*Buena onda = Good vibes (literally: "good wave").
Photo of Table Tango by Prayitno
Photo credit for boat photo
I'm a little disturbed by this blog entry, Mark. It seems to me that there is, potentially, a double standard at work. When a leader has technical problems, such as not being able to easily control step length or change direction rapidly, we don't ascribe it to a character flaw. But, in the case of a follower, it's different. I try to take long steps, when they are led. But, of course, as a beginner follower, I had problems gauging and responding to changes in step length (following steps of different lengths is a high-level following skill and takes training). It has nothing to do with ethics! And to all leaders who complain about followers' high boleos, I would say: if you don't like high boleos -- don't lead them.
ReplyDeleteTerpsi! Jörg Quake leads the high boleos, not me. This was a tongue-in-cheek post. Although jokes can bash others, I don't think that woman-bashing is the case here. Men have a lot of responsibility to keep the dance floor safe. Blame usually is assigned to the men ("that is what he led"). Most often the man can and should take full responsibility for even what a beginner does. However, this blog is not about beginners either. It is really an advanced step to get onto a table with grace and do a leg wrap. :-)
ReplyDeleteI think we all have a bit of "Sue" in us from time to time. I see phases of attitudes and ability that dancers go through and sometimes revisit as they learn to dance tango and learn what they like and what they don't like.
ReplyDeletePartners that you once thought were fabulous are no longer to your taste while others you thought were boring become entrancing with a weight shift that cannot be seen.
Patience is a virtue that I am working on!
SMW... I think you are wise. Sometimes I dance on tables too. If there is room, I have been known to skate around the room as if suffering from Sydenham's chorea (St Vitis' dance sydrome).
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