Do you know what a bookstore is (un librerìa en español)? If I asked you this question, you would probably answer, "Yes. Of course. Everyone knows what a bookstore is."
What if I asked you to manage a project to build a bookstore for me over the next six months? I'll supply a generous budget and a team of experts. You just need to make sure that the project is completed on time.
You might have some questions. Is this going to be a physical "brick and mortar" bookstore or an online bookstore? If it's brick and mortar, will it be a stand alone business or part of a chain like Barnes and Noble? It it's online, will it require its own website, or will it be a "store" on eBay or some other eCommerce site?
Will our store sell only books, or will it sell music CD's, movies, calendars, eBooks, or other merchandise? Can customers buy and sell used books through our store?
If it's a brick and mortar store, will it include a coffee shop? Should there be enough space for customers to attend performances and presentations?
For an online store, how will order by taken and fulfilled? How will inventory be managed? Where should our warehouses be located and what should their capacity be? What IT infrastructure will be needed?
Understanding Abstraction
Getting back to the initial question: Do you know what a bookstore is? Yes, we all have a general concept of what a bookstore is. It's a business that sells books and related items. But an actual bookstore will extend this general idea in unique and specific ways.
In computer science, we use the word abstract to describe something that we can understand in a general sense, but which we cannot build without more information. An abstract form is conceptual. It's not detailed enough to exist.
An abstract bookstore will be a business that deals in products (books and other items). It will deal with customers and suppliers. It will maintain records of inventory and financial transactions. It will have a manager and staff.
All of this information is useful in understanding the general nature of how a bookstore operates. When we set out to build a real bookstore (or software that enables a bookstore to process and fulfill orders) we'll use this abstract information. But we'll need to add specifics before we can set up a real store.
What Does This Have To Do With Tango?
It's a fair question. I went somewhat abstract on you there. Thanks for your patience.
When something is abstract, we can understand it. We can perceive its function and its nature. But it's only a general idea. It cannot exist without the addition of other elements.
Leading and Following are abstract unless they occur in harmony together.
A leader, practicing alone, can go through the motions of leading a sequence of movements. But until a follower is there to translate his signals into shapes and motions with her body, the leader is not leading.
It's similar to an orchestra conductor rehearsing alone, without the orchestra. His movements are accurate and expressive, but no music is being produced.
Similarly, a follower can practice a sequence of tango movements without a leader. But until her movements occur in response to a lead, she is not following.
Our solo leader and sola follower are not dancing tango. They are doing abstract tango exercises. Tango cannot exist in a single human body. It exists only when two bodies work harmoniously together.
The Critical Element
The critical element that translates our motions from the realm of the abstract to the concrete, the critical element that converts "steps" into tango is harmonious movement.
Notice that I did not say synchronized movement. Tango is not a synchronized dance. The follower is never expected (I hope) to do something when the leader does something else. She moves in response to a lead and the principles of good technique, not because she is expected to be in a certain place by Step Three of Figure X.
Imagine kissing someone and having them kiss you back. There's a conversational aspect to the experience, a call and response to borrow terms from music theory.
Now, imagine a movie director coaching actors through a love scene. He say, "Okay, ready? One-two-three-KISS! Oh, no, no, darling! You were supposed to be tonguing him on three."
Yuck! I hope that I never have to watch that movie! This director wants his love scene to be completely inorganic with gestures scripted to occur at predetermined times. Tango is organic and natural, like a passionate, evolving kiss. Tango movements aren't synchronized, they are harmonious. They occur in response to the motions and intentions and reactions of our partner.
Or at least, they should.
The Critical Prerequisite
If we are going to move harmoniously, if we are going to dance a real tango instead of a set of abstract, concurrent tango movements, then the critical prerequisite is that we pay attention to our partner.
This sounds obvious, but holy cow, I have witnessed men and women - mostly men, but women, too - who are completely oblivious to their partners when they dance.
Do you want to be a better dancer? PAY CLOSER ATTENTION TO YOUR PARTNER! Pay attention to their breathing. Pay attention to their axis. Pay attention when tension develops in their arms and shoulders. Pay attention to the size of their steps. Pay attention to the times when they move freely and the times when they hesitate. Pay attention to anything that seems to be making them feel uncomfortable. Pay attention to how closely they're paying attention to you.
Leaders, in particular, get distracted at times while planning their next step, working around the traffic obstacles, or deciding when to throw in that new lapis/enrosque combination that they have been working hard to perfect.
Tips and Take Aways
Forget about everything else, guys! Just forget it! Leave it out! Preoccupation with the trivial will be your undoing.
Pay attention to YOUR FOLLOWER first! That other stuff has to be like listening for the doorbell to ring and the tea kettle to boil. It can be in the back of your mind, but don't let it creep to the forefront of your attention. Your attention needs to be on the FOLLOWER. Period.
Likewise, followers, I can't guarantee that gentlemen will lead you more accurately if you pay closer attention to them. But the more closely you tune into the leader's body and his motions, the better your chance of understanding what he is attempting to lead.
Further, you'll gain a better sense the leader's emotions, preferences, and areas of concern. This information will enable you to respond more accurately and actively to his lead. Most leaders appreciate a responsive follower who helps to make their dance as comfortable as possible.
And Remember
Make sure that every movement is shared and connected from beginning to end. Leader or follower, if you slip into the habit of moving by yourself or getting ahead of your partner, you will be undermining your ability to dance together in a harmonious, meaningful, and enjoyable way. Independent movement is the antithesis of Argentine tango.
Connect. Move together. Be as one.
¡Buena suerte, amigos, y muchas gracias!
Daniel
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