Dancing with Intention

There’s plenty of literature out there on how to live your life with intention, to find more meaning and greater fulfillment. Intention means going after what you want with focus and purposefulness, being proactive, focusing on where you are going, instead of waiting and wishing for things to happen.

This same guidance can influence our tango for greater fulfillment. When you dance with intention, you are dancing with a focus and a purpose. Your intent (or lead) is made clear to both your partner and those around you.

The dictionary defines intention as “resolved or determined to do (something)” and “showing earnest and eager attention.”

For Leaders, dancing with intention means focusing on the desired outcome of your lead to create movement in your partner. If you have uncertainty about what movement you want, your partner also will have uncertainty about how to respond. (This is also why practicing new moves is important and why it is considered “bad tango etiquette” to lead inexperienced dancers into advanced moves.)

Followers find that dancing with a Lead who has a very clear direct lead feels amazing – it allows the Follower to move in the most optimum and expressive way. When the intention is clear, it creates space for fun and improvisation.

But how do you lead with intention? First of all, know clearly what you want to transpire. Visualize practicing the movement in your head first, and then do it with a partner in a práctica to ensure you are signaling it correctly and clearly. Practice expressing your intention with efficiency, that is, with only the movements that convey that intended outcome – nothing extra, no added "noise" in your lead. Leaders grow in the dance by offering the Follower a movement that is a gift from the heart, which the Follower can accept or reject. But it is given with respect rather than with an intent to impress.

Dancing with intention is also equally important for Followers. Followers demonstrate their intention by body awareness - knowing exactly where their feet and body are, where their axis is, and with focused attention on the space they plan to move into. Good Followers are paying attention to every signal the Leader provides, both for safety and for the connection. A Follower can dance either passively and actively. A passive follower does exactly what is lead and contributes nothing more. That’s okay, but in excess, it is boring - for both the Leader and the Follower. Dancing passively is like a one-way conversation - the equivalent to the Follower saying nothing more than "mm-hm" in the dance conversation. A Follower that dances with intention is dancing actively and responsively to the Leader's signals.

When you and your partner dance actively and with intention, it becomes a dialogue; two people responding and communicating with each other and the music.

Good Followers do not move just because they want to - if they're leading themselves into unlead boleos or incorporating dozens of embellishments without connecting to their Leader's movements, it means they are missing the point of the tango as a "conversation". A good follower adds enjoyment to the dance by helping interpret the music without disrupting the Leader. Part of being able to follow well, is being peaceful and receptive and knowing exactly when to move and when to be still. A follower communicates actively through the quality of their steps and embellishments. Remember, Tango is about connection with your partner, the floor, and the music.

In dance, just like in life, the best rewards happen when you work to be present, to have a clear focus and intention and to actively participate.

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Inspired by this article.