8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dance Tango, Be Whole, January 17, 2006
This review is from: The Tao of Tango (Paperback)
The Tao of Tango by Johanna Siegmann is a delightful chronicle of her discovery of the inner world of Argentine Tango - plus an insightful look at the application of Taoist philosophy to both Life and Tango.
On the surface, Tango is rooted in the sensuality and seduction that goes on between a man and a woman. But deeper things are going on. As Ms. Seigmann discovered, it is a conversation "in some language of the soul that resided in some part of me I never knew existed."
Drawing on key principles of Taoism, Ms. Siegmann shows how all people, whether men or women, are mixtures of characteristics that are either yang (masculine) or yin (feminine), and in order to be successful, in either Life or in Tango, each person must have these energies in balance within themselves. Yet in our post-Feminism world, this is rarely the case, for either gender. Johanna Siegmann discovered, as have many others, that learning to tango is much more than learning a new dance.
In order to dance tango properly, whether we are a man or a woman, we must be in touch with both our halves, both the confident masculine part, and the sensitive feminine part. Per Ms. Siegmann, "True happiness lies in the mutual embrace of both our [masculine and feminine] energies." Only when we can draw on both these qualities will our tango have the deep character for which it is so justly revered. In a real sense, it is a journey of self-discovery and healing. We find that, whether interacting on the dancefloor or in a Life relationship, having our energies in balance promises nothing less than a resolution of the age-old "battle of the sexes."
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
East meets West on the tango floor, January 4, 2010
This review is from: The Tao of Tango (Paperback)
Ms. Siegmann deftly sheds light on this unique dance form from a spiritual/ metaphysical point of view. In particular, her distinction between male/female energy and behavior is a powerful concept that helps us provide a framework to better understand gender issues in our still somewhat patriarchal culture. She shows that tango can be treated as a metaphor for many areas in life, including a deeper understanding of our own natures.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
It's About the Connection, December 19, 2005
This review is from: The Tao of Tango (Paperback)
This book is not so much about steps or sequences, so don't expect to learn cool moves from it. It's more about what lays beyond the movement. A balance between two energies: feminine and masculine that is what creates that strong unforgettable connection between people in dance or in life.
I recommend this book to anyone, either you are dancing tango or not; it's short and very easy to read. And if you don't find a nice dance technique suggestion in it, you might find something that would be applicable in your every day life in a relation with your significant one or friends, or colleagues at work.
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