Waiting...
Argentine tango is an illusive and mysterious dance. It defies traditional ballroom timing, frame, and footwork. Many dancers find it to be the most difficult style of ballroom to master. There are few established patterns and it is often danced in complete silence.
Perhaps the most beautiful nuance of the Argentine tango stems from the man's ability to vary the timing or frame at any point in a given step. However, this distinction makes the dance exceptionally difficult to dance well because of the lack of predetermined timing or patterns. To show the true heart of the tango requires a strong and trusting connection between partners.
One afternoon as I was working with one of my dance students, I experienced a moment in time that I will cherish for years to come. In an effort to convey the heart of the Argentine tango to her, I explained that if I could describe this dance in a single word I would use the word "waiting". The dancers can only create the smooth, silky grace of the Argentine tango if the woman has learned to wait. She must wait in calm preparation after each step, ready to step again in whichever direction her partner indicates.
In order to create this remarkable movement and connection each partner must first develop a deep sense of awareness. Even before the dancers move, they must find their awareness...awareness of their posture, their bodies, and their connection with one another. The woman must be able to sense her partner's slightest movement. Then, as her partner asks her to step, she must step deliberately, fully committing her body and her weight to the movement. After responding to her companion's movement by stepping, she must wait...not trying to anticipate the next step...but simply wait.
As I shared these ideas with my student I saw her eyes brighten. "So in order to create these smooth silky movements I have to give up control, stop anticipating, and just listen to what you're asking me to do?" she asked.
Yes!
Excitedly she asked, "Can we try it!" As I led her through several steps, I noticed her movement had drastically changed. Our steps were smooth and controlled; we moved together almost seamlessly. It was as if we were floating through each step. After several moments, I stopped and asked her what she thought of the new movement. She began to cry as she shared, "That was the most beautiful moment I have ever experienced!"
I quickly realized that we had stumbled upon something special. Rather than continuing with the lesson I had planned, I asked if she would like to continue with the tango. As I watched her tear-filled eyes, she simply nodded, "Yes". We spent the next 40 minutes dancing every Argentine tango step she knew over and over again. We didn't need to talk. We didn't need music. Everything around us faded as we were caught up in the movement.
As our lesson ended she took my hand, looked into my eyes, and whispered, "Thank you, that was life changing."
For days afterwards I pondered this experience. I realized that the same lesson I imparted to my student, is a lesson that the Lord wants to impart to us. As I reflected on my student initially moving through her steps with little thought, I realized that is how I often live my life, on autopilot.
Our Heavenly Father wants to have a passionate, intimate relationship with each one of us. The Argentine tango beautifully symbolizes this kind of relationship. But, as my student discovered in her tango, in order to follow His leading in life, we must find awareness. Awareness of the choices we make in our daily lives, awareness of our relationship with our Father, and we must learn the importance of waiting. We must learn how to wait for the Lord's divine leading. As we learn to move into these areas of awareness, we will find that our connection with the Lord becomes easier, becomes lighter, and becomes clearer. Whether this beautiful picture of relationship and connection is seen through the Argentine tango, or in your spiritual and emotional life, this connection moves us toward the beauty and intimacy that Adam and Eve enjoyed with the Father in the Garden and the intimacy that we will one day experience with our Father in Heaven.
