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
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