Tango Uncorked #12 - Catherine Young - "The perfect step." Cleveland Series Part 1/4

I went to Cleveland this past weekend for the 8th Cleveland Tango Bowling Marathon and grabbed a few people to sit and chat with. My first guest was Catherine Young from Madison Wisconsin.We chat about her time in the arts, working in tango in Madison, and also her idea of the perfect step.
It's a fun conversation.

 

• (02:44) Catherine Young introduces herself as a tango teacher from Madison, Wisconsin.She discusses her background in voiceovers and her connection to a character named Kaya.
• (09:04) Catherine highlights how her musical training enhances her tango dancing, allowing her to adapt to different partners' musicality. She reflects on the challenges of dancing with partners who may not be as musically inclined.
• (11:07) The concept of 'one perfect step' is introduced, describing a profound moment in dance where a single step aligns perfectly with the music, creating a deep connection between the dancer and the music.
• (13:20) Catherine shares an experiment from a musicality class that focused on internal musicality rather than movement, emphasizing the importance of feeling the music even when not physically dancing.
• (14:10) The discussion explores the significance of compression and release in music, suggesting that these elements create a more interesting narrative in dance than simply adhering to the beat.
• (16:57) Catherine recounts a teaching method that illustrates the duality of traveling and pausing in tango, reinforcing the idea that dance involves waiting and responding to the music rather than continuous movement.
• (19:30) A class exercise called 'hug and sway' is described, which emphasizes connection and musicality in close embrace, allowing dancers to express themselves without necessarily moving across the floor.
• (20:11) Adam discusses the importance of communication and connection in dance, aiming to give followers more artistic freedom to express musicality, especially when dancing with less musical partners.
• (20:37) The concept of 'choose wisely' is introduced, encouraging dancers to create tension and anticipation in their movements rather than stepping constantly, likened to a teenager managing a limited budget at a mall.
• (25:12) Catherine reflects on the value of imperfections in performance, suggesting that mistakes can enhance relatability and connection with the audience, and emphasizes the shared experience of creating art together.
• (29:32) The conversation concludes with reflections on the importance of focusing on the moment rather than a destination in dance, likening it to moving in a circle without a finish line.