2008 Reflections

December 31st 2008

It's been a year of starting things for me.

Practicing

I've discovered the value of practice - regular practice, with a regular partner, who is able to give you high-quality feedback. I've improved immensely as a result of this, and I can highly recommend that approach to anyone wanting to try it.

Jivetango

Obviously, I started this site. I'd actually been meaning to do something along these lines for about a year before I did anything, so that speaks volumes about my decisiveness and swiftness of action...

I had no idea how this site would take shape - I initially thought it'd simply be my own blog with a few frills on. But thanks to the strong initial contributions from my partners in crime (Ken and Chris), and the continuing contributed articles from others, it's mutated into more of a (Jive)Tango magazine. And it's all the better for being this way, there's a richness and variety of entries I'd never have imagined on my own.

BerkoTango

This year, we started practicing Tango at Berkhamsted, with Marc and Rachel's cooperation and music, in the Blues Room from 7-8pm.

Initially it started out as just me and Lory - for about 3 months actually - with Marc and Rachel. But over the past couple of months, we've seen a proper practica take place, with up to 15-16 people there, all dancing Tango, all practicing away, all helping each other. It's been lovely to see that grow, and I hope it'll continue to do so.

Let's Go To Negracha's

And another new thing! Ken's done a great job of marketing this group and concept - from humble beginnings with 4-5 of us, we saw over 30 people turn up to our last meeting in December, it was a fantastic evening.

As of end-December 2008, we have 55 members in the group, and hopefully it'll grow more and more.

Milongas

I think 2008 was - at last - the year in which I started becoming comfortable going to Milongas. It's not easy re-learning, or simply turning up at freestyles.

It takes a certain level of chutzpah to do it, but as the great quote from "V" goes "So fake it! We'll never know the difference."

Compliments

I learned to give these - and started to receive them. It's an amazing feeling being told you're a good lead by a good tango dancer, I'd forgotten what it was like.

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- David Bailey, December 31st 2008