If you ride a subway or a passenger train in North America, you'll probably notice signs urging you to "watch your step." Sometimes a public address announcement provides additional detail. New Jersey Transit's announcement sounds something like this.
"Please watch your step when boarding or exiting the train. There is a gap between the body of the train and the station platform."
In Britain, they make virtually the same announcement using only three words:
"Mind The Gap"
Clear, succinct, and elegant. They tell you exactly what it is that should concern you ("The Gap") and they instruct you to "Mind" it - to be aware and mindful of it, not just to "watch" it.
I'll digress for a moment, but I love this usage of the word "mind" in verb form, particularly in a positive mood. In the US, we tend to attach a negative context to this lovely word - "Mind your own business!" or "Do you mind if I smoke?"
In Britain, you'll hear the word used more generally. You might be asked to "mind your head" if the ceiling is low. Or you might hear it said of someone that he is "minding the store." End of digression...
This idea, "to mind the gap," will be useful to anyone who seeks to develop or enhance a skill set, whether in dance or any other pursuit. The gap is the distance between where you are and where you would like to be.
Most people reading this probably have the goal of becoming a better dancer. But what if you don't have good balance? Or what if you have specific technical problems, a follower who struggles with turns or boleos, for example? Or perhaps you're a leader who is not adept at improvisation or musical interpretation. Whatever that thing is that isn't as good as you would like it to be, that's your gap.
Maybe people have mentioned your gap to you. More likely, you probably just suspect that it's there. Or you noticed it when you saw video of yourself dancing.
What is the proper way to handle a gap?
We need to mind it. We need to be aware of it, to acknowledge it, and to pay attention to it. We should endeavor to close the gap, even if only by some modest measure.
How do we close a gap? That is THE big question, and the answer is straightforward.
We must engage in careful, thoughtful, mindful practice, activity that targets our problem areas effectively. As I said, it's straightforward, but don't assume that it's easy to accomplish. Closing your gap most likely will be one of the most difficult challenges that you'll ever undertake.
I'm going to give you a couple of alternate names for the gap. Let's call it "the uncomfortable truth," or "that thing that you kind of realize deep in your heart but aren't quite ready to admit to yourself."
Yes, that thing. The elephant in the room. That's your gap. I'll give you an example.
I know a lady who has been dancing for many years. She dances socially every week. She goes to practicas every week. She takes classes and workshops. She has worked with regular practice partners for years.
This lady is able bodied and fit, but she struggles with balance. When I dance with her, every few seconds I feel her clutching onto me in an effort to keep herself from stumbling. It's a distracting habit, and I have found myself dancing with her less and less as a result.
Year after year, despite all of the hours that she spends on the dance floor, the balance issue never goes away. Why? Because she has failed to mind the gap.
Either she is unaware of the issue, or she refuses to believe that it's a problem. (Maybe some of her well-meaning friends tell her that her dancing is just fine and that she shouldn't worry about it.) Or she knows about the problem, but she has never put in the right kind of practice to ameliorate it.
Mind the gap!
Be aware of your weaknesses and work on them. Work hard. It will be frustrating (definitely!), and improvement won't come quickly. But you must keep working on your problem areas, or you'll never get to where you want to be.
Mindful practice is the key. If you dedicate thought, energy, and practice time to your weaknesses, you will improve. And one day, people will notice the difference. You'll hear interesting comments: "Wow! You're dancing has really improved!"
"You're damned right, it's improved! Because I busted my butt working on my weaknesses."
Social dancing isn't going to fix the gap. It might improve a little over time. But as one of the self-development gurus once said (maybe Tony Robbins, but I don't recall), if you hit a golf ball the wrong way thousands of times, you'll become very good at hitting a golf ball the wrong way.
Dancing night after night, week after week without mindful attention to your most serious problem areas will only entrench them further.
Now, why don't you just go and mind your own gap?
¡Buena suerte amigos, y muchas gracias!
Daniel
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