Last year when I went to Beijing and Hong Kong, is more or less what kicked it off. That’s a half truth though, I was always interested in practising Taiji, which is why I did that class in Beijing after a chance encounter with the students and teacher at a public park in Wudaoku. Argentine Tango (as opposed to the Ballroom kind) is a different story, and less ‘pure’ in it’s interests though I can reveal that I am sure I am not the only one that shares this. My friend Beatrice asked me to come to a Milonga in Hong Kong. She was just starting at that point. I saw the tutor dancing with one woman after another and both seem to enjoy it. I turned to my friend and said, ‘He’s a got a better job than I’ve got’. Kidding aside, I have always danced, and love dancing- though have only done so at discos. It’s a very human thing to do, ancient tribes did it, and so shall we.
It wasn’t until February until I started the Taiji and Not until April till I started the Tango. They both have lots in common. In both, you need to shift body weight from left to right, your knees have to be a little bent, your balance as to be good and posture is important. It took months for me to learn the basic Chen form and then to practice it regularly. For someone who does very little exercise prior to November of last year, you realize just how out of shape you are when you try and touch your toes from a standing position; or how your balance on one leg is shit; or what a lack of energy you generally have. I still drink and I still smoke, but I am trying to balance out a little.
I didn’t really start my gears properly in Tango until late June due to many things. Now I attend more classes and also some practicas. I’m still learning how to just lead a basic walk. I can do the walk fine but not too sure about the leading. Practice is everything. I’ve learnt to ocho, giro, gancho, sandwich and some other steps but I can’t do or lead a woman to do any of them on the dance floor yet. You can learn a step but we haven’t gotten around to how to connect the jigsaw of improvisation. I’m not in a hurry, I just would like to lead a nice slow walk with good communication with whoever you are with at the time. That’s the best thing.
It’s only in the last few weeks that I started talking to people in my class and also to people at Milongas. I also met a nice Chinese woman who just started learning and we enjoying practicing with each other. All of a sudden, Tango became really fun, which is what it’s supposed to be and not just a current exercise in learning the forms in hope to one day use them (6- 12 months at the earliest so I have been told- so by Christmas).
When I started in class a few months ago, even when we came to practice with complete strangers, I used to sweat. Now I don’t. Such is confidence one needs time to gain.
In that Taiji is good for mental and physical health, to balance your mind, Tango is a creative and fun connection you share with someone. It is a physical communication of playing, flirting and teasing in a language you both understand.
In my opinion, these are the stuff of life.
The other day I spent half the day with a friend and his friends who I didn't particularly get on with. We drank from 5pm-1am and i didn't eat for 10 hours and spent more money than I would have liked to. Even though i didn't suffer from a hangover the next day, I felt weird and felt I had wasted time and i was a bit annoyed at myself. It's been a while since I was at a place and people i didn't particularly want to be with (as i don't do that) and it really made me realize that kind of life i didn't want and the one that i did.
- J
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