Hi everybody, Fran here with your Tango Tip of the Week. Recently, I had a conversation with a student, which went something like this:

"You know, I think I've finally come to the conclusion that I must be dancing a little too fast."

"Why do you say that?"

"Well, for one thing, my partners aren't able to keep up with me. They're always losing their balance, and I have to try holding them up while we're dancing. If I don't keep a tight grip on them, they just seem to fall."

"What do you think the problem is?"

"Basically, I think they just don't have the same ability as the pros on YouTube. That's what I need."

"Have you tried dancing with the better followers you see at the milongas?"

"They don't seem to want to dance with me."

Although the conversation above went on longer than this, we'll stop here. Let me play the role of dance psychologist for a moment. Right now, this student doesn't seem to have any insight whatever about the fact that his idea of leading no doubt consists of grasping his partner in a death grip, and hauling her roughly around the dance floor. The mention of YouTube suggests that he's attempting to execute movements and sequences, which are well beyond his capabilities as a dancer. He maintains a highly inflated (make that totally unrealistic) view of his skill level, and seems to have no idea why the "better" followers might not want to put their lives in danger by attempting to partner him.

The one thin ray of light in this otherwise troubling -- but all too common -- scenario is that this student has finally decided that a possible solution might be to try slowing his movements down.

Slowing down often represents a fundamental first step in transforming what can only be characterized as a milonga menace into a reasonably acceptable social Tango dancer. It shouldn't be news to anyone that a significant number of leaders today suffer from an inability to move in any other way than fast or faster. I think this may be at least in part because these students either receive no training at all at the basic level, or because the dance lessons they are willing to engage in consist almost exclusively in amassing figures and sequences -- rather than first building a solid foundation of lead/follow skills, and moving forward from there.

When a student comes up with the idea of slowing his dancing down on his own, he's finally beginning to face the reality that he never really learned how to dance in the first place, and that he now wants to at least investigate the skill set he's going to need in order to change things. This is an important moment for the student. As much as teachers might have told him over and over again that he needed to get his dance under control, it isn't until the student reaches this conclusion for himself that his dancing will stand a chance of improving.

If you've come to a point where you think slowing down would help your dancing, think of this as a major turning point in your social Tango life, and act accordingly to get the help you need in changing your dance habits. You'll be doing yourself and everyone else in the Tango community a great service.

A special workshop with Fran Chesleigh and Pat Altman, Sunday, October 23, 2016, 12:30 -- 3:30 p.m., Pearl Studios, 500 8th Avenue (between 35th and 36th Streets), 12th Floor, Room 1201, all levels welcome

The complex interplay between the legs of skilled dancers is a signature characteristic of fine Tango. In this fast-paced, information-packed 3-hour intensive workshop you will master skills, which will add new flair and authenticity to your dance:

·      Enhance even the simplest movements with entrada

·      Create the surprise of sacada

·      Define the moment with the gancho

·      Seduce with the toca

·      Caress with the elusive enganche

·      Create a personal statement with adorno

With Fran and Pat’s Show them your tango legs you can transform your social Tango into the polished, seriously authentic dance you’ve been working so hard to achieve.

Don’t miss it!

Register online: $35 per person at franchesleigh.com by Saturday, October 22, $40 per person at the door on Sunday, October 23, Checks and cash also accepted, no refunds, no exchanges.

The following folks helped set up, break down and clean up before and after the milonga. Without them, there would be no Firehouse Tango.

• ​​​Ingrid Jacob - Home made Apple Cake with custard topping and almonds - Every cake that Ingrid makes is incredible, but this one was the best of all.  

• ​​​​​​Barbara Lombardi
• Kathy Dignam
• Mary Pagano
• George Ngo
• Richard Abrahamsen
• Mike Casale
• Jesse & Cathy
• Charles Moorman
• Francis & Marie
• Edna Negron