[TANGO-L] [Fwd: Re: [TANGO-L] Beginners on the Dance floor and "teaching"]

[Leonard Kunkel <image10 @SWBELL.NET>]

Gibson asks what we would say in a 10 second window before starting with
a beginner at a milonga.

Usually they are falling all over themselves to apologize and inform me
that they are beginners.

All I quietly say is "ssssh don't apologize. Just relax and trust me ...
we are going to have fun and I promise you will enjoy the dance." I tell
them I have never ever failed to make a first dance memorable. Sometimes
I tell them we are just going for a walk. (You know they are thinking
well I can walk).

It shifts the pressure they are feeling off their shoulders. In fact I
can feel when the tension drains away and gos from their arms, shoulders
and body. And if they are still tense I will shift weight back and forth
and again say just relax, this is going to be fun. I patiently wait and
usually will not take a step forward until I feel they are ready and
relaxed.

I treasure the first dance with a lady who has either never danced at
all or danced argentine tango. A woman will always remember the first,
especially if it is a good experience. I have had ladies years later
tell me how much they appreciated their first dance with me. And some
have said that it was the reason that they stayed with tango. Nothing
pleases me more.

Blessings,
leonardo k

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
REMINDER: Announcements of Tango events or products should be sent to
Tango-A and not to TANGO-L. To subscribe to Tango-A, send the
command "subscribe Tango-A Firstname Lastname" to LISTSERV  @MITVMA.MIT.EDU.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------