Exploring Tango: February 2014

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Olympic Lessons - Never Give Up

Deliverance from Disappointment

We love our Argentine Tango passionately, but the tango can be frustrating at times. We've all struggled with technique at one time or another, and most of us can recount "horror stories" of uncomfortable experiences at the milonga.

Some folks give up on tango altogether. Repeated uncomfortable experiences take the joy out of the experience, and they retreat.

Typically, after some time away heals old wounds, estranged tangueros and tangueras return to the milonga and rekindle their love of the dance. But it's sad when something that you love drives you away. I'll bet that anyone who has danced the tango for more than a couple of years has thought about quitting at some point. The frustration is real.

If you have ever considered giving up - on tango or anything else that you love - rejoice! The patron saint of deliverance from disappointment arrived last week in the person of Italian figure skater Carolina Kostner.

Carolina's Story

At her own country's Torino Winter Olympic Games of 2006, Kostner struggled and finished in ninth place. At the Vancouver Olympics in 2010, she fell repeatedly and finished in sixteenth place.

Carolina Kostner was ready to give up. Her Olympic skating career was apparently over. Fortunately for Carolina - and for all of us - her mother talked her into hanging on for the pure love of the sport.

Fast-forward to the Sochi Games of 2014. At the age of 27 (practically the mandatory retirement age for the youth-friendly sport of women's figure skating) Carolina Kostner skated flawlessly, beautifully, immaculately.

There were no falls at Sochi - not even a stumble - and her artistic, expressive movements could serve as a textbook example of what a great skater should look like. Carolina Kostner earned a bronze medal against what was arguably the strongest field of skaters ever to step on Olympic Ice.

Keep Going

Argentine tango presents challenges to beginners and to seasoned veterans alike. It's not an easy dance to master, and every partner is unique. Disappointment is inevitable. Some level of frustration is assured.

Stick with it. The tango is one of life's blessing, and it's worth a bit of frustration. Discomfort and anguish and self-doubt will meet you along the way. But for every difficult moment there will be a time when you feel as though you're soaring above the clouds, moving to beautiful music in the arms of a caring individual. That's a very special treat.

If you give up, you'll save yourself some frustration. But you'll miss some of the most amazing experiences of your life.

Keep going. Take your time, and don't let short-term frustrations keep you from reaping the long-term rewards of a life of dance.

¡Buena suerte, amigos, y muchas gracias!

Daniel

www.exploringtango.com

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Olympic Lessons - It Takes Time

A Portrait of Dedication

Thirteen years of relentless, dedicated, daily practice. Meryl Davis and Charlie White had been partners since they were eight years old. The grew up literally in each others arms with the single-minded goal of becoming America's best Ice Dancing couple.

That dedication earned Davis and White a trip to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia. They skated exquisitely and earned Silver Medal for their performance.

A Silver Medal. They were the second best ice dancing couple in the entire world. After thirteen years of relentless practice leads you to a spot on an Olympic podium, you'd figure, what? Retirement? Coaching? Maybe a well-earned vacation?

But Davis and White had higher aspirations.

So, they put in four more years of dedicated practice, several hours per day, working harder than ever before, pushing themselves to new levels.

After seventeen years on ice together and an estimated twenty-nine THOUSAND hours of practice, Davis and White skated to Olympic Gold at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games.

Think about that the next time that you feel as though you're not making progress as quickly as you'd like.

Take the long view.

Accept that nothing worthwhile will come quickly or easily.

Resolve to work hard, come up short, and then come back and work harder.

If your goal is worth it, then so is the effort.

Thanks, Meryl and Charlie, for your exquisite Olympic performances, your warm, personable smiles, your inspiring story, and for being the perfect role models for anyone who dares to dream of accomplishing something outstanding.

¡Buena suerte, amigos, y muchas gracias!

Daniel

www.exploringtango.com

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Figure Skating And Ice Dancing

Ah, the Olympics! Two-and-a-half weeks. Athletes from around the world who have dedicated their lives to being the very best at what they do. There's nothing like the experience!

Watching the events on television this week, I am reminded of my long-term admiration for figure skating. This combination of expression and athleticism holds a special appeal for fans of both sports and that arts.

I marveled at the graceful elegance of Dorothy Hamill during the 1976 Winter Olympics at Innsbruck. Anyone who was within the proximity of a television set at the time remembers Hamill's performances - and that amazing HAIR!

I missed Peggy Fleming's performance at the 1968 Olympics in Grenoble (French Alps), but for many years I thought of her as the most beautiful woman in the world.

Skating and Dance

At the tender age of 15, Tara Lipinski put on a joyous performance at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan. As a youngster myself (okay, I was in my late 30's), I signed up for my very first dance lesson that year. That winter, I also made a trip to the famous rink in Central Park and tried ice skating for the first time.

There are obvious parallels between dance and figure skating. Both combine movement, music, and technical skill in an expression of creativity. Both can be improvised or choreographed, and performed in pair, groups, or solo. The more recent invention of ice dancing blurs the lines even further.

Brian Boitano is one of my favorite skaters to watch. In addition to his effortless technique, I love his flair for performance. There's always something playful and daring in his routines. I want my dancing to express that same combination of technique, creativity, and flair. I'm working on it, but I haven't caught up to Mr. Boitano just yet. ;-)

Sarah Hughes

I cheered like a manic when I watched Sarah Hughes skate at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games (Salt Lake City). By the end of her long program, I was breathless, gaping in disbelief, and a much bigger fan of figure skating than I had ever been before.

Hughes, a leggy kid from Long Island who looked as though she hadn't quite grown into her body, was in fourth place after the short program. I was thinking that this had been a respectable Olympic experience for her and that maybe she could come back and try again in four years. But Sarah Hughes had other plans.

When she hit the ice for the long program, Hughes surpassed all challengers with an electrifying, go-for-broke, leave-nothing-behind performance that I'll never forget. Sarah brought the crowd to its feet posted a Gold Medal score. To this day, I can't watch that performance without having tears well up in the corners of my eyes. It was that moving.

The Inspiration Continues

At the 2010 Olympics, Canada's Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir elevated the relatively new sport of ice dancing to prominence. Their long performance was one for the ages, and I would encourage anyone with an interest in either dance OR ice sports to watch it. And from what I've seen of the performances this year from all of the contestants, ice dancing is more acrobatic and more fascinating now than ever before.

(Best wishes to American ice dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White, who have been skating together since they were both eight years old!)

At this year's Winter Games in Sochi, we have already been treated to the amazing skills and artistry of fifteen-year-old Russian phenomenon Yulia Lipnitskaya. Like so many great performers and athletes, Yulia is raising the bar and showing us possibilities that we have never seen before.

I love everything about the Olympic Games, both Summer and Winter. I love the spirit, the thrills, the drama, and the sense of global cooperation. Every sport is fun to watch, but figure skating is especially meaningful to dancers and to creative people everywhere. And to sports enthusiasts, as well.

For those who might not think that figure skating qualifies to be considered a sport, please head over to your local ice rink, strap on a pair of skates and give the old Triple Axle a try. Maybe Scott Hamilton will offer to stop by and critique your performance. :-)

¡Buena suerte, amigos, y muchas gracias!

Daniel

www.exploringtango.com

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Super Bowl Sunday!!!

Happy Super Bowl Sunday to football fans and non-fans alike! Even if you don't care for sports, there's something for everyone at the Super Bowl. I'm looking forward to watching the talented Bruno Mars perform at halftime!

I enjoyed a fun day yesterday at the Super Bowl Boulevard expo on Broadway. Blondie's live concert was probably the biggest highlight, but the multimedia show that they projected onto Macy's was spectacular!

I would like to wish everyone a Happy Groundhog Day and a belated Happy Chinese New Year as well.

¡Buena suerte, amigos, y muchas gracias!

Daniel

www.exploringtango.com