Deborah Pearce

Tango Argentino Art Print Alvarez, Pedro

In the dance community several years, I've seen great dancers, good dancers, dancers with steps but no style or technique, and many people trying because they just love it - these make me feel happiest.

I've also noted great technique with little passion, no life. Granted, focus is key in learning - but letting the music take you should kick in at some point. Cubans I spoke with say we look like ballet dancers when we dance latin!

It is rare to experience a truly passionate dancer who allows the music to move through soul, into sinew and limb in lead and follow with the strains of rythm. I've had the opportunity very few times to dance this way, often with men untrained in structured dance.

(Now I am not without flaw here! I often find myself focusing on steps and technique. I would much rather be finely tuned intuiting energy, lead and music.)

A European man from out of town came to a tango lesson with his lovely Latino wife. He danced with passion clearly apparent in his demeanor and frame, which was only discernable as his energy permeated the embrace of the partnership - in every movement and with every woman he engaged. He was beautiful to dance with, while not necessarily being a technically correct dancer. His style is not at all an intimate betrayal of his wife, as clearly they each understood the passion of tango and that it should be danced just that way.

Relating a common love of letting the music lead and take you is rare. Few l-o-v-e it so passionately to express it that way. A man with whom I am barely acquainted but who loves to dance - and I sense adores the engagement of energy between two people, said, "I want to dance with you. I want to dance close ..so close that you feel my breath on your neck..."

His unexpected statement, startled me and I unfortunately diverted the conversation. Ever just kick yourself when you miss a great moment that could be creatively explored? That was one of mine I realized later. But in retrospective thought, my imagination went exploring the nuances of the image that broadsided my reserve in ...a rather provocative way.

In Three Minutes of Intimacy p1, I explored how the form of dance in our culture especially, is so far from the intimacy being portrayed by it. We are removed from the very intimacy acted out in our own movements. Yes it is still a way of honoring intimacy in life, even though we tend to disconnect from it.

Back to the gentleman - at least I hope he is! We haven't danced. But I realize my immediate thought was of a slow dance, which I usually associate with an intimate partner. The image I had was perhaps incorrect, at least limited.

Tango Argentino II Art Print Alvarez, Pedro

Exploration of the lingering provocative statement twigged me to more closely consider breath in dance, slowing down in my mind, the nuances of tango engagement. One hardly thinks of the breath, as each is involved with lead and follow, moved by the music. Through music and motion, and when allowed, a new energy is created. Taking over, it breathes life into the synchronsitic movement.

In intimate embrace, he leads with stealth, the walking steps, like a panther, they describe it in Argentina. But since the dancers are focused on intuiting the music and the dance, is the breath even noticed? Perhaps not by logical thought, but yes there it is. Almost subliminal through passes, turns, leans, ganchos, the 'ether' of the breath registers somewhere primal as it grazes a cheek, whispers over a bare shoulder, down the hollow of a nape.

Argentine Tango engages sensual connected energy. It begs to be danced no other way. The fine tuning of paying close attention in the nuances of lead and follow create the art of intuiting and interpreting the energy of the other in the flow of synchronistic motion.

Therein is the Magic - and oh my, the magic we forsake!

So few are the times I've let myself go with connected energy in dance. Yet it is truly what I dance for! So before I die, on my bucket list, is to dance, abandoning all reserve!

As with breath, Tango is life...

Want to Tango in Kelowna?? Sharon Sebo teaches every Sunday evening - all levels, singles and couples welcome! For details tangokelowna.com

Three Minutes of Intimacy p1

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." -- Albert Einstein

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Deborah Pearce is a Kelowna Business Woman & webmaster established with locals and internationals in various aspects of Interiors, Art, and Business for over 20 years. LIVING SPACES features over 140 ARTICLES on Staging, Art and Interiors.

Deborah's blog frequently features interior design, real estate, community, environmental, internet, travel, art and human interests.

Dance Art

The Last Dance Art

Visitors (yes you ;)) please comment below .. <3

This day has been building many many years. A mixture of feelings overwhelmed me as I watched and heard our country's leaders express sorrow and apology over the treatment of aboriginal children in residential schools ".... for failing to protect you" in institutions that were not properly regulated.

Since the Canadian government compensated those inflicted with life long pain, many of them have died, making their final indulgences with drugs and alcohol - too little too late in lives too painful.

My eyes spring with tears of shame and deep sadness. I've been aware many years of the travesty of children removed from their homes to be abused in Catholic residential schools.

A friend told of leaving her mother at age 5 to go to residential school. She has a framed picture of the day; innocence itself, dressed in a little plaid skirt and white blouse, patent shoes with white socks; her mother bravely holding her in their last moments. I wondered at her anxiety & strange behaviour on a trip we took together. She later told me she has trouble travelling because she gets the feeling she will never return home. She is getting better with it.

The Canadian government has apologized and paid out compensation. However I wonder along with aboriginal people who have expressed it.....

it seems that something is being overlooked ...

....WHAT ABOUT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AT WHOSE HANDS THESE CHILDREN WERE ABUSED? ..sexually, with beatings, torture, made to eat vomit and excrement - intended to 'kill the Indian' in the child.

They killed the spirits of many innocent children.

I watched some time ago as a spokesman for the Catholic Church issued an apology, which in my mind was casual, weak, not anywhere near adequate. What about accountability? It seems they've hardly been brought to task for the many horrors inflicted in various areas in addition to the residential schools.

Who brings the church to task, to accountability for the horror? For the active ongoing cover-up, including a significant document written by the current pope? This 'holy' institution it appears has only been coming 'clean' as they've had no recourse, nowhere to hide.

The shame is theirs.

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." -- Albert Einstein

YOUR OWN WEBSITE

Deborah Pearce is a Kelowna Business Woman & webmaster established with locals and internationals in various aspects of Interiors, Art, and Business for over 20 years. LIVING SPACES features over 140 ARTICLES on Staging, Art and Interiors.

Deborah's blog frequently features interior design, real estate, community, environmental, internet, travel, art and human interests.

Kelowna British Columbia...

.. God's country many are wont to call it. Spectacular Mountain & Lakeview Scenery has attracted from the start, travellers from all over the world, now more than ever.

Long famous for a climate conducive to growing fabulous fresh fruit, shipping internationally, a thriving internationally acclaimed wine industry has evolved on perfect valley slopes.

Kelowna, an international vacation hub, & central BC business center has spread it's irresisitible appeal worldwide.

Internationals & Canadians relocate here for the various amenities, hot summers & mild winters. Many purchase vacation, golf & ski resort properties as second & main residences.

The retirement population along with the weather has earned the region the nick-name, "Miami North". Scaling from that camparison, is the term 'California North' indicating an insurgence of varietal wine profiles.

Growth has escalated like never before, mirroring the economic strength provincially & nationally.

LIVING SPACES INTERIOR DESIGN

REAL ESTATE STAGING

Construction has boomed over the past several years. Reaching a feverish pitch with a labour shortage, the provincial government made agreements with other countries (ie: Jamaica) to bring in specialized labor - electricians, plumbers,etc.

A long period of provincial economic lows & the international exchange rate, supported & encouraged international investment interest creating development flow in the nineties. The low Canadian dollar made it very appealing to BC's immediate neighbors Washington State & Alberta residents, as well as many internationals to invest in Okanagan recreational properties.

This is where I started staging in the nineties (decorating we called it then!) properties for developers' & internationals' vacation & resort properties.

Being a resort area, the Okanagan attracted a variety of retirement, recreational, & boomer investment.

Some realtors seem to feel that the advent of the Okanagan Mountain fire which gained international attention, also created an awareness of our spectacular Okanagan Vistas & the amenties of golf & ski resorts, lush vineyards & a world class wine industry - to mention only a few in our 4 season playground.

With the Canadian dollar stronger than it has been for many years & low interest rates, the economic climate remains conducive to local investment, spending & building.

We have it goin' on!!!

REAL ESTATE HOME STAGING