Yesterday, my husband and I went for a hike on Sauvie Island outside of Portland. Somehow, I had never been to the Oak Island hike before, despite visiting Sauvie Island often for blueberry picking (and yes, almost 20 more lbs. of berries are in the freezer now).
We bumped down the gravel road to the trailhead. There were only three cars in the parking lot, and we passed three women hiking together soon after arriving. Apart from those hikers, there were NO people out on the trail.
For a while, we heard no people, no cars, no planes (PDX airport often routes planes over the island), nothing but birds and the sound of our feet scrunching on the dried grass. Eagles soared in the sky and took naps on their nesting platforms. Small birds sang along the way. One ground squirrel scurried across our path. Teasels bloomed purple along the route. Blackberries edged the trail. I find it amazing how quiet a space can be, even near a city.
I look for those same quiet moments in tango: a pause, a step, a breath. For me, the connection to the partner within the music, IS the point of tango. Big, fancy moves can be fun. On the other hand, unless the underlying connection works, unless the walking and pausing and musicality work, fancy moves just distract from the lack of connection.
This week, aim for the simplicity and quiet within your dance. Take a deep breath and feel to the beauty you are making with your partner and the music. Notice the small, wonderful moments in the music, and respond to them, together. There is richness in the space between the fast, loud, flashy parts of tango—and life.