Let's call the whole thing off!

You like potato and I like potahto, You like tomato and I like tomahto
Potato, potahto, Tomato, tomahto, Let's call the whole thing off.

--- "Let's call the whole thing off!" by George Gershwin

You like salon, and I like apilado.
You like nuevo, and I like traditional.
You like ganchos, and I like cunitas.

So we meet in the middle. You come a little closer, and I stand a little straighter. We dance. We turn. My temple rests against your jaw. I step through your ocho cortado and feel it coming - you lead the gancho. I follow it. This time without hesitation.

Through my lowered lashes, I see you smile.
I smile back.
And I think, 'okay, I'll say potato with you.'

5 comments:

Tango Therapist said...

But will it last? :-)

tangogeoff said...

Aaahh...tango libre...
It's so nice to hear its voice after so many tango police on the web.
Thankyou thankyou

Mari said...

Tango Theologian - well, it will at least last the tanda lol

Tangogeoff - I do try to keep an open mind. Even though I prefer close embrace/milonguero/apilado - I will adapt to my partner if I can. Especially if he's willing to meet me halfway. My first teacher rather drilled that idea into me - the woman adapts to the man's style. Like it or lump it. If I'm too uncomfortable, I just don't dance with him very often - or only at practica.

There are ways to make a woman feel very safe and comfortable in a more open embrace - it just requires a lot more work and attention imo.

Anonymous said...

That's why it is important to watch how the man dances and to see if you will get along with him on the dancefloor.
I have seen some lovely dancers all of a sudden start doing tricky moves and now I don't want to dance with them anymore. Sad when they go large.

happyseaurchin said...

hehehah