DaYu's personal statement of purpose

Here is an attempt to explain what I try to do in Tango
(by which I mean Argentine Tango) in Columbus.

I would like to have a vibrant community of people dancing
Tango in the city where I live (most of the time).

This means people that can actually dance Tango, as they do
in any major city around the globe. Not people that come to
lessons just for excercise or entertainment, or memorize steps.

By Tango I mean a language for two people to communicate
with each other, move together comfortably, understand each
other; for the lead to offer energy through the upper body, for
the follower to transfer that energy to the legs.

Tango does not mean to replay memorized choreography.
It is not for show-off. It is for communicating with each other.
Performing Tango steps to Tango music is not yet Tango.

Tango is the only activity I know of where the two must do
it really together, totally attentive to each other. Otherwise
it will not give the unique feeling that Tango gives. Any other
activity that we do, we do alone, possibly in the vicinity of
each other.

Tango is not about swingings legs on each other's hips or necks,
although steps can be nicely done if you listen to each other.
Leading with legs, arms, shoulders, or lead looking down to the
follower's legs, swinging legs, shaking, jumping, memorizing
choreographed sequence of steps - belong to dances other than
Tango. I would try to teach this in the lessons, and weed out
bad habits where I think this might be possible; steps are then
easy to do.

Tango is (for me) communication, improvisation, not choreography,
nor doing steps. Without this communication, Tango would not be
as fascinating as it is, it would not give the unparalled satisfaction
that Milongueros derive from it.

DaYu