Comfort

It is a common knowledge that one of the basic stones of tango argentino is the embrace, el abrazo. I used to ask myself a question: what would happen if I danced having purely this one principle on my mind? Choosing the technique of moving that allows to move smoothly and without sudden unwanted jerks. Using such a subset of movements that allows to keep the embrace unbroken and soft. Adjusting rhythmical interpretation of music in a way that allows - in case of the slightest misunderstanding - to stop, recover the mutual understanding via the embrace and then carry on.

The result exceeded all my expectations. It became clear that whilst working with individual technique and figures, it is very hard to achieve a quality embrace. But working with a good embrace, it is quite easy and natural to achieve any, and I mean any, figures and technique. The difference is overwhelming. It seems that despite making the same movements and dancing to the very same music, the first will result in an uneven, jerky dance and a loss of mutual balance, but the second will give us mutual understanding and comfort.

My conclusion therefore is: the best movement is the most comfortable one and the development of tango dancers depends on them extending of the zone of comfort to new movements, new combinations of movements and new tempos.

With this approach the teaching process becomes gradual and structured, adaptating to the needs of students (couples). First you reach the zone of comfort in the basic movements, then you extend this zone to any direction you wish.

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