The Tango Slump

I recently had occasion to console a friend about their Tango Slump.

The Slump happens to absolutely everyone, and involves the fear that the love affair is over, the way torrid, whirlwind, breathtaking love affairs are often over just when they're getting started. Just when we're figuring out what works. Just when we're about to get REALLY serious.

And The Slump always seems to catch us by surprise, because its progress is gradual, insidious, creeping, which all of a sudden looms larger than life and cannot be ignored. And we are crushed. And mopey. And forlorn and disconsolate, even though we peek in our closet to glimpse at all those shoes and outfits that only last week made us giddy with anticipation at wearing them.

And this is what I told my friend:

Do not worry about your Tango Slump. You are not alone. You are not the only one who has ever plummeted from the Peaks of Limerence into Valley of Listlessness. It is one of many traversals that you will experience in your tango life. They happen to everyone at regular intervals, usually when you hit certain milestones in your tango journey:

• When you realize that not everyone you thought was a great dancer IS a great dancer;
• When you realize that you are progressing but the person who brought you into this divine mess is NOT;
• when you realize that you are progressing but none of the men are - and THEY still get to dance whenever they want;
• When you realize you've become an embittered, snippy wallflower because every younger woman with ever shorter skirts (who cannot do an ocho to save their lives) STILL dance more than you;
• When you realize you dance better than your teacher;
• When you start noticing the fickleness of tango people - who adore you at one milonga but look right past you at another.
  

Ah yes, there are many low points in this journey. Only to be vastly outnumbered by the wonderful highs. Just remember, dear tango friend, that even the widest plateau has an edge, and you will eventually fall over it, back into the arms of your Tango love. No matter what the flavor du jour of your Slump, you will constantly find new things to love about Tango.