Control is a really hard thing to get. It takes a while to have precise, or precision, control over exact foot placement, which is insanely important. It takes time to build up the necessary minute control that one needs to have over one’s body. A millimeter here, a millimeter there, cumulatively, can make all the difference between a dance that sucks (for both parties) and one that is absolutely fabulous. Precision control is where all the toys are at.
If you’re thinking that this is perfectionism. Think again. This is a necessary pathway to dancing with the people that you want to dance with. You know, that 10% of the room that are very skilled dancers, who look beautiful (visual lines and what not) to dance with and only dance with the other 10% of the room. If you want those dances, then that means you’re going to have to up your game. And upping your game in this case starts with having detailed, precise, precision control over every aspect of your movements. Foot placement, hand pressures, micro forearm placements and pressures, micro finger placement and pressures…etc. All of this boils down to hyper awareness of one’s own body. If all of that sounds like work to you, that’s because it is, at first. Later on it won’t be work, it will become part of your regime of awareness. You want better ? You want to dance with better dancers ? You want to dance with that 10% of the room ? Guess what ? That means work! This stuff isn’t handed to you on a silver platter just because you show up in a pair of nice shoes.
Lastly if you’re thinking that a few classes on this or that are going to help, think again. This isn’t about classes, this is about private practice, mindful practice, and repetition as part of a daily solo practice regime which should start with a series of tango exercises and finish off with walking exercises!
