At last the sun after many rainy days!, and a moment to come here.
I was thinking of Rumi's poem all the week long (I love it. Thank
you, Richard). It describes just what I experience....in my
dreams. Only in my dreams so far. I'm just learning to dance
tango, trying so hard not to get discouraged. If dancing tango
depended only on the personnal effort, I would be more confident
about the possibility of feeling myself one day "rising above both
worlds, tearing my heart to pieces and giving up my soul"...but
as "it takes two for tango"...it takes two to explore this corner of
the universe (or maybe more than two, a whole community?).

Some months ago, when I was about to remove tango from my life, I
found this encouragement letter addressed to a tango student:

"Tango: A Great and Terrible Gift
Sent: Monday, October 28, 2002 11:05 AM, To: TANGO-L@...,

Subject: Scorched!

Dear Marisa,

It was very compelling to read your message a few days ago...I
sympathize deeply with your feelings of frustration and anxiety. You
asked for suggestions to help shift your attitude, so I am writing
in with that request in mind.
You have received some tremendous advice so far...I suspect bits and
pieces may prove very useful to you, but ultimately, you will find
your own way, as we all must. In case this helps you on your path to
recapturing your joy for the dance, I have discovered that
maintaining my balance in tango (technically AND emotionally - no
small feat, let's face it!) requires equal time devoted to learning
and PRACTICING not only my technical lessons, but my emotional ones.
This includes hanging on to my sense of humor for DEAR life (again,
no small feat).
Attaining technical prowess is only ONE level of this dance (I, too,
am a recovering perfectionist). Through the experiences tango
provides, both on the floor and within the social milieu in which it
exists (and therein slumbers yet ANOTHER monster, eh?!), I continue
to encounter my self in all my "glory/gory-ness," with all my
strengths and weaknesses exposed equally.
How I choose to interpret and assimilate those physical and
emotional "discoveries" determines whether or not I take pleasure in
the dance on multiple levels...kinda like life (sorry to state the
obvious metaphor, but there it is).
Your tenacious commitment to perfect your technique is a fantastic
thing you have inside you. I hope you continue and I hope you can
reject the limitations about your abilities as decreed by
others...or even yourself. The tango is a great and terrible
gift...so admit that you have quite simply entered a SERIOUS
relationship with an art form wherein the possibilities for self-
expression are profound...but such a gift requires work and
discipline...therefore, it will challenge and test, bring pleasure
and pain, bring out your best and worst and everything else in
between...why else do we love it so? The tango is a demanding, often
playful, always gorgeous, sophisticated, primitive, deceitful,
sensual, SMART, multifaceted, brutally honest mistress, even when
she is absolutely uncompromising and takes NO prisoners whatsoever.
How remarkable and lovely for us that we are required to merge with
fellow dancers to receive this gift; the pleasure and richness of
connection with another human being...and at its VERY best, that
rarest of creatures, the joy of creating a totally unique,
collaborative work of art.
Hoping this helps and wishing you many years of rich and wonderful
tangos to come,
Deb"

And now that I feel inspired, I will practice the "ocho" while doing
the dishes :)

Nidia


--- Dans concordiatango@..., "Richard Sagala"
<rsagala@r...> a écrit
>
> Hello Nidia,
> Welcome to the CTC!
> This is a beautiful poem indeed.
> Thank you fo sharing it with us.
>
> Indeed, tango covers 360 degrees.
>
> It is both sensual and spiritual.
> I remember having seen (on film) the moment when the mandala is
> complete and with a stick they just delete it with a stroke of the
wrist.
>
> What do you think of this poem on dancing by Rumi.
> If you have more of them, please post them.
> Richard
>
>
> "Dancing,is not just getting up any time, painlessly, like a
speck of
> dust blown around in the wind.
> Dancing, is when you rise above both worlds,tearing your heart to
> pieces and giving up your soul".
>
>
> Rumi (XIIIth century)
> ---------------------------------------------------------------