I was in the big hall with my partner waiting for them to come. I was talking to my good friend who was organising the event but the anticipation was too great. Suddently, she walks in. Much prettier than I thought she was in the thousands of videos I had seen her dancing in. Dressed in black with heavy leather boots. She said "Hola!" and ice was broken, I was just about to have a private class with Natacha Poberaj, if you haven't heard of her then you should really review what you've been doing in youtube all these years.
Eduardo "El gaucho" Villegas was very concentrated making his coffee but had to hurry into the class. A shirt stating "De Puta Madre" and a very amicable smile. we can't forget the tango dancer.
Shoes on, black Matrix cape off, hair loose, she asked me to lead her. Chest to chest, no tango embrace. She corrected me here and there, told me to stretch my legs. We started again. I could only smile to her "Esso! Esso!".
Natacha reminded me of something that I hadn't been paying attention for years. Breathing. It's amazing how a deep breath can add SO much to your tango. The intention becomes bigger, the suspense immense and the momentum sky rockets into another galaxy. But what made me happy for the rest of the day was something that she told me in my ear while we were dancing , "Your embrace is beautiful. Don't lose it!". I will never forget this class.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Tango Spell
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8 comments:
I'll have what you just had!
Wow! That's all I have to say, really. You are a very lucky guy.
Natacha was the first dancer whose video I ever favorited on youtube, before I knew anything about tango at all.
KR, I'm sooooo jealous! And I'm not even a guy!!!
For me, SHE is the best dancer out there right now. Not that OTHER one. Sort of a Cyndi Lauper/Madonna situation I think.
Hi Alex: Yes, that is where the smart money is. I forgot to mention the fact that she started the class leading ME!!! Last post I said I knew where to go when i go to BsAs. Well, another venue to pencil in my to do list, have a bundle of classes with Señorita Poberaj!
Hi tangobaby, I agree with you. You don't need to be an expert to know she is really really good. Her back walk is just AMAZING!
Johanna, if she is not the best, then show me the best! I want to see her! :oD
That video is absolutely gorgeous. I have a question. The sharp, musical wiggle that she does three times between 00:35 and 00:45. It's so fast that I can't see what it is, except that it looks amazing. Is it an ornament or is it a led thing? What do you all think it is, and how does it work?
Hi mshedgehog, it's such a fantastic video... And yes, I have been thinking about the same thing. In the beginning I thought it was an ornament but when looking more closely, he does a couple of small steps and she takes the opportunity to "wiggle". It's a detail that marks quality. And what can I say of the small lapis that she does around 1:30? OMG...
Yes, breathing is the simplest and yet the most important and probably the most easily forgotten element in most activities that people do. It helps a great deal.
With reference to the "wiggle", which is such an elegant "wiggle" that I think it deserves a whole separate term. I think it is a led and unled thing (we shall never know...). What she is doing is changing her weight and doing a wee twist at the same time.
I would love to get together with someone and reverse-engineer that. I think Supantheress is right. He's leading a step where her feet simply come together, at a point where many people would lead a cross. She's jazzing it up with a quick rotation from knee to hip - and without disturbing the embrace in the slightest. But you'd really have to try it.
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