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So that's what it feels like . . .



At practica Sunday . . .
I finally fully extended into my steps, relaxed my hips and kept my rib cage tall - all at the same time. Okay it lasted about a minute - but I got it. I got what it feels like. The difference is . . . well, I wish I could describe it. I just know that I get the "why" of it now. None of the explanations of how it felt or why it was important fully conveyed to me the difference it would make. The description of "how" from Mardi and Stephen (of Georgetown Tango) got me the closest to understanding it. Like standing at the kitchen sink, reaching up to change a light bulb above the basin. It feels like that. Except different with a person in front of you.

Without my glasses, I could only make out my profile in the mirror, but that was enough. Ooooh, that's what it looks like . . . What felt to me like a deep lean, looked far more natural and fluid in the mirror. It didn't look a thing like me. Well, the me in my head, anyway.

I wish I could maintain it for longer periods of time. Practice, practice, practice . . .
It's also incredibly frustrating to work on it one piece at a time. Fully extending into my steps is next to impossible without relaxing my hips. And it's hard to relax my hips if I'm feeling unstable in my stride or tilted too far forward or back through my torso. I'm constantly making tiny (and not so tiny) adjustments on the fly. I'll get my torso feeling tall, but then my legs and hips would be tense while I concentrated on that. Constantly tweaking. And remembering to breathe. And relax. And be on the music...
And just when I finally got all the plates spinning on sticks - the music stopped. Time to change partners and start the process all over again.
Regrettably for my cute tango shoes - it's far easier for me to do in lower heels - or as the case last night, no heels. It's no easier on my feet, since I'm still coming up on the balls of my feet. But it is much easier for my stability and for relaxing into my strides.

Now I just hope I can find that alignment again . . . with a leader and not just my sink . . .
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Comments

Anonymous said…
I made this same comment on another blog to a tanguera who was struggling with the same thing. If you find stability in low or now heels, ditch the stilettos for now. There is absolutely no reason you have to dance in high heels if you are struggling with stability and balance. Once you find it in your core and can repeat it with reliability, you can strap them back on.
January 27, 2010 at 11:32 PM
Anonymous said…
I'm glad it's finally beginning to click the way you want it to. Mostly all a teacher can do it point you the direction, and some of it is just keep trying til you think you have it. :)

It can take me literally months of work when one of the teachers we work with corrects something subtle for me, then one day I finally "get it" then it takes another couple of months to where I can consciously use it or not use it.

As opposed to flagrant mistakes that are obvious with one correction. I cna usually incorporate the "fix" immediately. :)

-bastet
January 28, 2010 at 7:22 AM
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