Tango is like food for me. Without it, I can't live. There is no way around it. If I can't dance it, I have to listen to it, watch it, read about it, feel it, think it. I am sure I am not the only one, most of you think like I do, otherwise you wouldn't be reading this. ;o)
We revolve our life around tango. Suddently, our job becomes something you have to do when you're not thinking about tango. Your friends have to accommodate the milonga times, your kitchen becomes an improvised dancing space to practise whatever you can while the kettle boils, blogger comes up before your email in your most used websites, itunes says that the 50 most played tracks are tangos and Mr Visa is pissed off with you because those shoes looked great so you had to buy them. In fact you're finding it difficult to spend long times with non-tango people because you can't talk about it with them.
And that's when tango starts to taste bitter. When you have to choose between a life and tango. When tango becomes a necessity, creates addiction, takes over your life. Like in tango, in life, there should be a balance. A fine balance.
We revolve our life around tango. Suddently, our job becomes something you have to do when you're not thinking about tango. Your friends have to accommodate the milonga times, your kitchen becomes an improvised dancing space to practise whatever you can while the kettle boils, blogger comes up before your email in your most used websites, itunes says that the 50 most played tracks are tangos and Mr Visa is pissed off with you because those shoes looked great so you had to buy them. In fact you're finding it difficult to spend long times with non-tango people because you can't talk about it with them.
And that's when tango starts to taste bitter. When you have to choose between a life and tango. When tango becomes a necessity, creates addiction, takes over your life. Like in tango, in life, there should be a balance. A fine balance.
8 comments:
Ay, TR. Pobrecito. You've got it bad. We all get it bad. Once you've been dancing long enough to realize it's not going away, the desperation subsides...
And of course, you KNOW I meant KR...
Oh boy! Although I just started 2 months ago, I recognize all the signs you describe : My name is Tassili and I am a tango addict...
You are right, there must be a fine balance, but I think for me, it is somehow a way of reintering life. I lived for long years with books, and now I discover dance and people to dance with. It is a beautiful feeling: I am in love, but not with another person, with dancing my life. Wow. Never thought it was possible, and I wonder why tango did it and nothing else. Why is tango so intense, why this particular dance makes it particularly easy to become addicted? If you have answers, I would be glad to read them! ;-)
Tassili, you and everyone else wonder why it is so addictive and transformational. Which is why so many people are writing or have written about it.
Not to hawk my own book... but try reading The Tao of Tango (www.taooftango.com), which explains why it changed MY life. Maybe we have something in common.
And KR, I now realize you didn't write the post. I don't think. Sorry.
Hi Tassili!
For a long time I kept asking myself why people became so addicted to tango and although I have found some explanations (but certainly not all) I stopped searching. Some things are better undiscovered! But maybe I'll write a post about them...
I live fine with that addiction. Is only when it starts giving you side effects, such as non-productivity at work, isolation from other social circles who don't belong to tango that I start worrying. I want tango to be part of my life, and not my life to be commanded by tango.
@Johanna: I read an excerpt of your book and it immediately struck a chord! I am going to order it, right away.
@koolricky: I am afraid that non-productivity at work, aka procrastination, was already a little tendancy, so...
As for the social aspect of things, I really want the next life partner to enter my life to be a tanguero. Not that I am looking for him in the course, though: I am far too cautious to make moves that could compromise my learning! ;-0)))
Hi tassili:
Whether someone in tango or introduce someone to tango. You can't go wrong!
;o)
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