Someone asked me the other day why I see tango as a meditation. This is a most surprising aspect of tango for non tango dancers. Argentine tango is definatley a meditation for experienced dancers when they are feeling confident with their partner. The dance changes from second to second, requiring us to focus intensely on the moment. It is not possible to dance well and be distracted by what is outside the couple. By focusing deeply on the what the music offers the dancers and on the technique required to move together we are transported into another dimension. Dancers who reach a certain level of competance- connection with their partner and the music describe a sense of elation and transcendance. This is where tango takes us. Physiological studies show lowered levels of cortisol (stress hormones) and other positive brain chemistry changes. Such focus gives us a natural high. Lets tango!

Can't wait for the Jungle Fever milonga at iKhaya Lodge  tomorrow night. I have spent the evening pinning feathers onto my "Bird of Paravice" outfit. There will be prize for the best jungle creature. But before that, we will have a premilonga class focussing on ganchos. A 'gancho' literally means 'hook' and usually refers to a lady's leg hooking onto a man's. We'll be looking at how the whole body works together to make the gancho happen