The Tango Notebook Blog

How Hanna Somatics Improved My Tango in Less Than 10 Minutes

Panayiotis Karabetis — Thu, 06 May 2010 02:15:16 +0000

Whoever invented the pepper grinder is a genius — simply turn the bottle upside down and gravity does the rest for you. Excitement fills the room as you click and grind your way to a spicier meal! Whoever made it so that cartilage in your hip socket can tear is a bastard. The opposite of excitement fills the room as you click and grind your Tango steps with your uncomfortable partner.

Most Tango Notebook readers don’t know that I’ve taken a break from Tango since last December to pacify an old injury that made a new appearance in my life. Instead of dancing, I’ve spent the past 5 months secretly sporting a cane and sporadically walking into walls.

But, I’m not the only one. I know other dancers, too, with chronic hip problems. Me and the “cripple crew” never seem to find a way to ease our pain and reach our Tango potential. In fact, I’ve spent much of the past two weeks sadly contemplating if I’d ever regain the range of motion necessary to perform the movements I love.

The Email That Took My Pain Away

I just received an email for Tango events in Baltimore mentioning a weekend workshop called Living Without Pain. It claims it can teach you how to “reprogram your body” and reverse the effects of chronic injuries and trauma. Lately, any literature containing the phrases living without pain and legs and hips easily catches my attention!

The workshops are taught by Martha Peterson of Essential Somatics, so I visit her website to learn more about the subject matter:

Hanna Somatic Education (HSE), also known as Hanna Somatics, is a natural, gentle, and safe way to end chronic muscular pain, increase flexibility, coordination and balance, and relieve stress. It is a system of neuromuscular education (mind-body training) which helps you enjoy freedom from pain and more comfortable movement for the rest of your life.

Hot damn! Where do I sign? It sounds too good to be true, so, I research further and follow the email links to YouTube where I find this video by Martha herself:

Again, more promising words, but the proof is in the pudding, so I snoop around some more and finally discover a short clip of somatic exercises specifically for the hips and lower back:

We’re Out of Pepper!

After completing this quick 5-minute video, I stand up slowly expecting to feel that familiar pepper-grinder click in my hip, but it’s not there. I squirm around to recreate it as best as I can and even perform some stretches that usually cause instant pain, but still no discomfort.

In less than 10 minutes, I made 9 years of chronic pain disappear!

The first thought in my head is that I can’t wait to start dancing Tango again! The joy I feel at this moment can not be put into words (Yeah right, Pete. Why the long blog post then?). Long story short, I research more videos, chat with the instructor, and even borrow ">a highly recommended book on Hanna Somatics before signing up for the weekend workshop in Baltimore.

Living Without Pain Workshop Details

I’m excited at the possibility of finding a long-term solution to my Tango hiatus and 9 years of misaligned living. I’m attending both workshops and reserving a private session afterward to make the most of my somatic experience. I heard space is limited, so if you’re like me and are looking for a solution to chronic pain in your Tango dancing, it’s worth checking out.

Download a PDF with all the workshop details.

I hope to see you there,
Panayiotis Pete Karabetis

Art and Tango: A Personal View by Mark Fielding

Panayiotis Karabetis — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 06:00:54 +0000

For me, Tango and connection are inseparable and a portrayal of tango dancers must convey this to be true to the dance.

Tango is not really about moves or patterns; it is not about being better than others or even about reaching your own potential as a dancer. It is primarily about connection with another person, being open, listening to one another, and responding to each other.

It is a dialogue, not a statement.

I was asked to describe what I think when I paint tango. I would like to replace the word ‘think’ for ‘feel’ because it is not a cold rational process, it is an emotional experience. As connection is the most important part of Tango to me, it will be no surprise that this is the main aspect of the dance I want to capture in paint. It’s not the only interest, however: movement, shape, colour and sensuality all have their place.

Faced with a blank canvas, I could paint a scene at a milonga – the dance floor full of couples dancing, perhaps a band in the corner; I could pretend it’s a bar in Buenos Aires; I could adorn the leader with red braces and a black hat etc. For me, these would be distractions not to say clichés. I don’t need the context of a social setting. If it’s all about connection, the dancers need to be centre stage, in their own world.

When I dance I seem to enter a different world. Awake, eyes open but somewhere else. Where do I go? I don’t know, but I like it there. When I paint I try to find that place again. I look for images of dancers that engage me. Then I create a context from my imagination or I look to convey movement with the paint. Sometimes it’s physical movement, sometimes the patterns of the dance or the music, its rhythms and melodies. In the absence of music, colour supplies the emotional warmth of the moment.

When painting a couple dancing, it’s all about how they fit together rather than how they look individually. The fault line – the point of interest – is where the two bodies touch and relate to each other. Occasionally I want the bodies to merge into one greater being complete with four legs – the ultimate connection.

I hope this short essay provides you with some insight to my approach to painting Tango, but view my paintings and, hopefully, they will speak for themselves.

Thank you all for reading,
Mark Fielding, UK

About the Author: Mark Fielding is a painter whose efforts are driven by the subject-based inspiration he feels when depicting dancers on his canvas. Visit his his website to view his Tango, and other, paintings.

“I quit dancing Tango and life got worse,” admits blog author.

Panayiotis Karabetis — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:09:01 +0000

“Quitters never prosper.”

You probably believe it’s true, but, as with everything these days, it’s all relative.

Are You a Quitter?

I am.

In fact, I make a habit of quitting to keep myself sane. Not when the going gets tough, mind you, just when I realize I’m beating a dead horse or need to put my values into perspective.

Call it foresight.

I remember three specific instances in my Tango journey when I chose to quit. The first was in 2003 when I ended my relationship with the woman I loved and danced with. She originally gave me the Tango bug and, without her around, I lost the desire to dance.

It wasn’t until 2006 when I got back into it, but I dropped it 6 months later because of work obligations and other “priorities.” Someone please slap me on the wrist!

The flame reignited in 2008 when I had the pleasure of passing the Tango bug to someone else who fell in love with the dance (and me, conveniently enough).

My third surrender is now, present day. A new development in my injury is affecting my range of motion so I must chill and make a game plan. It would be foolish to injure myself permanently. I plan to return to the milonga masses hopefully within a couple months and start where I left off.

Catherine Ryder said it best in her personal Tango story:

How can someone learn from [my] experience?

Just know that if something is worth doing, it is worth working for. Something like that. Perseverance, determination, desire. You won’t learn it in 6 easy lessons. You have to put forth EFFORT.

It will take you thru your stuff.

You will learn a lot more than just the dance. Psychological stuff. Scary stuff. Relationship stuff. Stuff about yourself and how you learn and what your blocks are.

Not for the weak and lazy.

If Tango is a nail, Catherine, you are a hammer. You nailed it!

What is your most vivid memory of quitting Tango or thinking about giving up?
Was it permanent or temporary?
What did you learn?
How did you bounce back?
What advice would you give?

How to Inspire Tango Dancers Worldwide

Panayiotis Karabetis — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:13:01 +0000

Time is of the essence, so I won’t waste it by telling you my Tango story again. Instead, give your Tango community the pleasure of hearing your story.

You never know what a little dose of tango inspiration can do for your fellow tangueros-in-crime. Let them glean from your wonderful words:

Who (got you started?)
What (was your motivation to dance?)
Where (was your first experience?)
When (did you decide to take the plunge?)
Why (have you quit or stuck with it?)
How (can someone learn from your experience?)

Speak your mind in the comments section below and use as much room as you need.

Leave no stone unturned.

Come out of the woodwork, boys and girls… it’s story time!

How Well Do You Know Your Online Tango Communities?

Panayiotis Karabetis — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:13:00 +0000

Community is about friendship, support, and sharing. As a network of people gathering together for the same cause, we learn together, laugh together, and sometimes cry together if the mood strikes us.

And, although it eats up your precious time, the Internet expands these networks and allows us to process information at a faster rate. The result is a worldwide mega-network at your digital fingertips that grants you unlimited access to the Tango information you seek.

All Tango dancers with a computer can reap the benefits.

The Tango Notebook Sets the Stage

Join our growing online Tango community for a meet and greet. We’re opening the doors for any dancer with a voice and a keyboard.

This is your chance to share your experiences, fears, and aspirations with Tango for the benefit of each other. In reality, people are all we really have on this earth, so let’s utilize and support each other while we can.

Start here:

Tell your Tango story to everyone.
Think of a time you quit or almost gave up dancing.

Entrega Total

Mari Johnson — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:24:16 +0000

“In tangoes and near tangoes
You are gently held
Between my right hand and heart.
Once again passengers
In the exhaustive whirl
Of lightness and rhythm- Partners in bliss.”

~ Michael Boyle, TangoPoetry.net

The music has started but I’m not listening to it yet. I force it out of my mind for just these first tiny moments as I settle against his chest. I’m listening to him. Breathing him in. The smell of soap, a light cologne.

Entrega del cuerpo al otro . . .

Without thinking, I’ll hear the music only my way.
I want to hear it through him first.

Entrega total . . .

I listen to him breathe – I listen to him as he listens to the music. We take a long breath in and lifting my chest, I release my tension to the air. I can hear the music now in his chest – through his fingertips. With the next phrase, we take off. His heart moves my legs.

We pause. I can feel the pause in the music but I’m uncertain. I start to shift weight – shouldn’t I be doing something? I feel the “shhh” in his embrace, with no sound at all. Wait. . .

The palm of his right hand reassures me, pulls me closer. He smiles against my temple, and I sigh an answer against his neck. A low note of the bandeneon hums in his torso, and beneath my hand on his back. I spread my fingers over his shoulder blade trying to take in more.

I can tell we’re moving again by the air moving over my skin, but I see nothing.

One song. Two. Three. Where did the time go? We part, breathing heavily. A soft landing and a trace of salt on my lips where they rested against his cheek.

The Holy Grail of Tango is entrega… and entrega is a trinity. It has three parts: man, woman, and music. To attain it, a man and a woman must both have an informed passion for the music. They must understand and feel deeply together, and they must both be willing to put all the meat on the fire—to surrender themselves with no self-consciousness and no vanity.

~ Rick McGarry, Tango and Chaos

About the Author: Mari Johnson is a freelance writer, photographer and researcher, turned tango blogger. When she grows up she wants to be a milonguera. She lives in Central Texas with her adoring, but non-tango dancing husband, two shiba inus, and a cat that is the boss of all of them.

He Dances Tango. I Don’t. Help!

Panayiotis Karabetis — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:18:37 +0000

A Real Life Scenario…

The urge to dance Tango overrides all your sacred priorities. Sometimes it is overbearing and other times it is nice enough to relinquish its power so you can lead a normal, task-oriented existence.

Amidst the struggle, there’s a woman in your life who doesn’t possess the same passion for the dance as you. What does she do and how does she feel as you live out your need to embrace on a regular basis?

Now, a recent comment from a curious reader:

I am a TANGO “girlfriend widow”. I started dating a lovely man in June who is passionate about Tango. He has danced all his life and has been doing tango for about 4 years. He goes to Practica or class on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. We usually only see each other on Saturday evening.

It makes it hard to sustain a relationship.

You might suggest that I go and learn Tango too, I did try that but as my BF was so far advanced compared to me he did not enjoy dancing with me.

Members of The Tango Notebook community, share some general advice from your personal experience to help our friend and ensure that Tango couples can live together in harmony

Winner of the Thanksgiving Tango Contest

Panayiotis Karabetis — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:07:41 +0000

Congratulations to Tascha Babitch (contact me for your prize!) for the winning entry to our Thanksgiving Tango Contest! She is the proud new owner of a $25 VISA Gift Card, which I hope she uses to buy new Tango accessories or participate in great Tango lessons.

Thank you to everyone else who played and enjoy all the contest entries below!

Tascha Babitch –Winner!

T – Tango!
A – After-festival states of bliss that seep into every corner of my life before fading gently away to make room for
N – New bliss, new friends, new dances, new partners, new moments of realization, beauty, simplicity and synchronicity.
G – Good friends, generosity, goodness in all its forms and
O – Old friends who love me whether I tango or not.

John Jones

T – Teachers who share their knowledge and enthusiasm for any dance.
A – Anti-carb pills, so I can go ahead and have mashed potatoes and rolls and pumpkin pie and grape pie and apple pie.
N – Not having to support an internet store through Black Friday! (or Cyber Monday or the whole freakin’ Christmas season)
G – Going to Dayton, OH to be with in-laws (yes, this is a good thing!).
O – Opportunities to grow in my work, in dance, in life.

Debbi Hobson

T – Troilo and all the beautiful music he gave us, for which I am thankful.
A – Another year of ups, downs, in betweens, and all arounds which have helped me grow as a human being, all of which I am thankful for, even the bad stuff.
N – Nine years of doing a job that I love. Having art in my life is something I can never cease to be thankful for… Read More.
G – Glorious tandas that inspired me, for which I am deeply thankful to my partners
O – Ongoing adventures, and a partner who is not afraid of spontaneity – for having him in my life, I am forever thankful

Hazel Langrall

T – That’s easy: Tango
A – Amazing friends who share my life and encourage me
N – Never having ever gone hungry
G – God’s love for me and everyone else on the planet
O – Opportunities to learn and grow in whichever way I choose

Andreea Gorbatai

T – tiempos buenos, y como no, Tango
A- amigos y amados
N – nostalgia del pasado
G – gratitud y generositad
O – optimismo por el futuro y los opportunidades de disfrutar con passion el tango, y, generalmente, la vida

Eileen Pall

T-teachers with so much information and patience
A-airlines that go to Buenos Aires
N-new friends made this year
G- guys and gals who practiced with me when I was struggling
O-opportunity to find such peace and happiness.

Annette Sullivan

T-three new steps that I learn at each lesson
A-another opportunity to learn when the instructors from BA, Arg came to town
N-never giving up when I struggle with a new step
G-God for giving me a healthy body which quickly recovers when I push it too hard
O-other things, too numerous to mention.

Glenda Byod Scott

T – touch
A – attitude
N – nuevo tango
G – gonchoes
O – ochoes

Testimonial: Free Tango Lessons Contest

Panayiotis Karabetis — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:00:05 +0000

You all remember Sara Prince from our last Tango contest, don’t you?

Here’s what she had to say about receiving her free tango lesson at Zabor Dance:

I want to be a tanguera.

It’s impossible to go to a milonga and not want this when I see gorgeous couples sensuously massaging the floor with their feet, dialoguing with their bodies, and giving full response to the lyricism and staccatos of Di Sarli.

Am I crazy?

Nah, I’m just zabor! Za-what?

ZABOR. It’s a combination of the Spanish words sabor (flavor) and saber (to know), and the English word zest (spice). I want to know how to flavor my tango with spice – no matter who I’m dancing with!

This is what I was hoping to learn a few weeks ago when I walked into Zabor Dance Studio for my free lesson, compliments of The Tango Notebook.

What I most wanted to know was how to create this beautiful dance over and over again, with different partners.

The answer? It’s all about connection, which is the special du jour of Zabor Dance!

“Connection”, I learned, is not what I thought it was. It isn’t that special someone who picks you out of a crowd and it has little to do with how much two people have practiced together.

It’s about you. It’s about letting go of your tension so you can feel how your body instinctively wants to move. When your partner makes a subtle shift in weight, or presses down into the floor, or rotates on an axis, your body reacts to create a new movement in tandem with theirs. Every rule, every term, every pattern you’ve ever learned must be erased from your head while you dance. What your body knows, it will do.

What you respond to in the other person will spark a movement dialogue between you both. “Mistakes” can be opportunities to discover new movement together, and to further the couple connection and creativity. When you’ve learned what you need to know about tango, its history, and its movement, it’s time to experience the unique flavor of the person you are embracing. When you can be fully engaged in the moment, the movement, and the music – you are zabor!

Ahhh, to be this all the time! I couldn’t maintain the moment. But as I left the studio, I was smiling. I’d gotten a taste of what it’s like, and now I want more.

So thanks, Tango Notebook, for giving me this crazy dream of being a tanguera. Who knows where it will lead, but certainly, I’ll be following along!

Effective Tango Habit #2: Begin With the End in Mind

Panayiotis Karabetis — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:11:12 +0000

The second in a series of seven short articles:
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Tango Dancers

My Tango Mission Statement:

I interpret Tango music through my personality and communicate with my partner to the best of my ability making sure she is comfortable.

Not quite the mouthful you have come to expect from a mission statement, is it? It doesn’t have to be. Beginning with the end in mind suggests that you know where you want to go before you embark on your Tango journey.

Use your mission statement to check yourself when you encounter hurdles and doubts during your Tango experiences. It’s your slap on the wrist when you think about quitting.

Go ahead, write yourself a simple one-sentence mission statement and tuck it away in your purse or wallet for later reference and motivation.

What do you want to achieve?

Write your statement in the present tense as if you are already being, doing, and having those things you want in the future. Don’t write this:

I want to be a great dancer!

Boooooooooooring Be specific and drill down to your goal. Use specific words that spell out exactly what you want to achieve. If your goal is to become a phenomenal social dancer, then your mission statement may read something like this:

I take group Tango lessons once weekly and dance at milongas twice a week. Once a month, I treat myself to a private lesson to maintain and improve my skills.

Much better! Stay on your path and be true to your mission statement. Bad things will happen – you know it, I know it, dogs know it! Say for instance the flu consumes you and restricts you to your bed for 5 days straight (Could this have happened to me and explain why I haven’t written an entry in so long?) preventing you from dancing or taking class this week like the mission statement above suggests.

Don’t get frustrated, just revise it and give yourself the benefit of the doubt. Perfection isn’t your goal here, progression is.