Dance/Book: How do you analyze dance? "Anatomy of physical motions" by Daisuke Sato.

 I dance. I also watch dances. It is my hobby and I have no need to do it professionally (lucky me).

I developed my own system to analyze dances, so that I can appreciate dances more, dance better, as well as I can diagnose and compensate (in social or stage dances) partner if necessary.

I have not disclosed my system in a comprehensive manner, although, maybe in this blog some parts were mentioned here and there. 

But there is a book (in Japanese) by a sport coach/instructor who dared to publicize his system to analyze and judge sports motions for better performance.

The author is Daisuke Sato. He was an award-winning coach for Japan Rugby association, also coaching various other sports (running, soccer, baseball, basketball, etc). The book "Anatomy of physical motions" (in my translation) was published in 2023.

Here is my summary of his message.

[Nine parameters to analyze the 3 layers of performance pillar]

Systematic viewing has merits. Each parameter can be analyzed separately and can be judged as a strong point or a weak point. By adopting his system, it makes it easier to see why some dances are great, and where you/they can work to improve.

Also, skills, techniques, ability and foundation are poorly distinguished by most. 

His system can nicely explain away many confusions and questions.

Such as;

Q: Why dances by very muscular guy or fat/curvy people tend to have diminished appeal? 

A: Too much muscle/fat can obscure visible lines. 

Q: I work on embellishments as a follow, but can hardly use them. Why?

A: Two possibilities. Your lead may not be giving enough time or support for your embellishments (his skill issue), or you may not have the skill to identify when to use them (your skill issue).

Q: I have been dancing Tango for a long time, but my dance does not look as good as I want. 

A: Many possibilities and that is why dance coaching should be done in person. But, the "look" issue is usually tied with how you present your lines (posture) and your knowledge on Tango (technique demonstration). Only when you master and can show your techniques, the next level (i.e., skill issue) comes in to the picture.

.....

  (To be clear, these hypothetical Q & A are my writing, not his.)

His system is highly convincing to me. I am going to merge his sports performance-oriented system to my more dance-oriented system. There will be some modifications needed. As two people are involved in partner dancing, we need to run this performance analysis for two people at once, for example. 

In case of Tango dancing, a few days ago I wrote a comment on a video for adornos (embellishments).


"These adornos (embellishments) are techniques. Use these techniques at the appropriate time is a skill. Practicing techniques and improving skills so that you can dance Tango is passion."

When people use the word passion, it can cover and mean many different things. In my book, passion is most involved in why you are even doing all these.

In other words, passion is an element of foundation.

I almost added another line to the above comment; 

"And saying 'but, but, I am feeling so much. I measure Tango by how I feel!' without showing any sign of techniques or skills is emo."

I am a scientist. I tend to seek supporting evidence for a claim. As dancing is very visual, evidence is presented right here (or not). 

Perhaps, that is a reason I love dancing.

Dance/Life: Eyeglasses for masquerade. Halloween spirit continues.

 I was looking for prescription eyeglasses for Halloween that can also be used for masquerade or other parties.

Something that looks like a Venetian, Hero, or Bandit mask. Or with Rhinestones and bling.

[Examples of my "party glasses" pick.]

They have to "go all the way" for party purposes. They have to be signaling that they are for party and not for regular time. No way for business uses. Don't care if they are for male, female or unisex, but they have to be large/wide enough for my head. And I have to like them and approve the look with them.

Recently, a few online companies offer really inexpensive eyeglasses, like $119-129/3pairs, or BOGO (buy one get one) deal. Even with photochromic lenses made of MR high index thiourethane resin material, about $40 per eyeglasses.

They are coming from somewhere in China. I don't mind where they are made. These "Made in China" glasses are decent eyeglasses with good prescriptions and newer Mitsui Resin (MR) high index lens material (which is Japanese). I used to buy polycarbonate photochromic lenses, but I am picking MR photochromics now, as photochromic coating on polycarbonate tend to peel off after some time. Manufacturing and shipping take about 2 weeks, which is fine considering traveling time from China to US.

Why not trying something fun for holiday parties? 

I used to like inconspicuous rimless or half-rim. Now I like something bolder that add to face, change face, or "mask" face. Let's just blame lingering Halloween spirits.

I am getting the first of a few shipments. I'll test them in upcoming parties.

Also wondering if these eyeglasses companies step up and start making more outrageous costumes/masks with prescription lenses.

Life: Refrigerator breakdown. How did they live without refrigerator until 110 years ago, I wonder?

"In 1913, the first electric refrigerators for home and domestic use were invented and produced" (Wikipedia).

The big old fridge in my apartment stopped working last week. 

It have been here for at least 11 years, since before I moved in. Death by old age, I guess. As it is a really old model, it will just be replaced.

 

Consequences of fridge breakdown came fast.

All frozen food thawed in 1.5 days. 

Milk get curded (spoiled) in non-refrigerated condition. (2.5 days).

Not wanting to take chances, I trashed cod, shrimp, squid, salmon and tilapia. They were smelling funky. (2.5 days)

Fermented foods like yogurt, kefir and Kimuchi were hard to judge. As cold front is passing by and outside is quite cold (26-45F), they are in a box on outside porch with some vegetables. I'll see them later. (day 5 today)

Of course I talked with landlord. She responded quick, and new one should be delivered and installed tomorrow morning, one week after breakdown.

A few new things I learned.

Cereals can be eaten with water. 7% of US people eat it with water, not milk.

Tomato-based pasta sauce can be good up to 5 days in room temperature, due to low pH (acidic).

USDA says eggs should be refrigerated all times, because US eggs are washed at production sites by law and lost protective cuticles. The treatment makes washed eggs vulnerable to Salmonella invasion when taken outside of fridge and "sweating" in room temperature. USDA also says eggs can stay outside of fridge up to 2 hours.

Freezer-refrigerator alternative is use of freshly cooked dried food (pasta, rice), fruits (apple, banana, etc), and canned foods. Much like out for camping.

Most condiments are okay in room temperature at least for a week, although encouraged to be refrigerated after opening.

As we cannot store cooked food for long in room temperature, each cooking portion should be small and prepared freshly, every time.

It has been mild nuisance, but not a big deal. Not even remotely close to a disaster situation like in the Gaza strip unfolding in this month. Peaceful life here. Better be happy about it.

After new one comes, I am going to restock frozen foods and stock up some canned foods, too.

PS 

I needed to repair my car this month, and it was not cheap. Breakdown of somewhat big items back to back. Maybe I should be mindful. According to my life lessons from Mahjong games in my student days, I may be in a rough/choppy water phase now. Although chances for big gain may be there as well, I got to be careful and trust my intuition in such a time.

Dance: What makes your Tango look good? milongas in Dallas 10/7-10/8

 "What makes your Tango look good?" is a question I have had for quite some time.

 I do have my liking when I watch Tango (or many other dances), be it by videos of professionals or by any dancer in milonga/dance party.

Recently I traveled to Dallas for a couple of milonga (10/7-8/2023). It is nice to go out and dance with different people sometimes.

In milonga, I take my time to dance and to observe. While I observe the dancers, there are dancers who give off an impression that they are a cut above.

 

That circles back to this title question; "What makes your Tango look good?" 

I try to give my temporal answers here. 

There are layers of things that make your tango look good, or even beautiful.

(i) Individual's techniques and body 

In milonga, I can see dancers up close. 

So that I can watch details in each dancer's techniques and presentation of the body, such as foot placement and articulation, leg lines and alignments, overall body lines, smoothness of hip rotation, clean weight transfer, balancing, timing of the motion, and presence (or absence) of intent. 

These are technical abilities that make each dancer's Tango look different. Some are better than others, as dancers.

Adding more "play" makes you a playful dancer. You can add individual flavor as a dancer.

Dance has aspects not different from body building. You can see it in your body as techniques, motions, motion ranges/flexibility, timing, and intent. 

If you think you are a dancer, you better develop the physical traits of good dancers, along with the dance domain-specific knowledge and techniques.

Let your body talk that you are a (Tango) dancer.

(ii) Partner work

Individual's ability is one thing. How they are using the techniques to dance together (partner work) comes next.

There are many styles in Tango. Even in a milonga, stage-inspired dynamic dance and hug-and-wiggle intimate (but not very showy) dance can be seen next to each other.

Getting two individual's dance styles aligned is a part of partner work in social dance. How well it is done (or not) is a point that is fun to watch.

(iii) Use of music and musical interpretation as a couple

Dancers are a part of music and instruments to visualize the music. Tango has great room for interpretation. How they dance the song together is another point that is fun to watch.

When I am using "drawing energy flow line" type of lead, I do predict her steps (what I lead; giro-molinette, walk-cross, etc) but do not micro-manage her foot steps or her foot placement, or how she add something. It is her job and I need to trust her to do her dance.

Music should inspire lead and follow both. I can slow down and trust her to do something for upcoming piano arpeggio.

Or I can dance the fast passage myself. 

Or, I may ask her to speed up together, or keep her still on her axis, or....you get the idea.

There are many ways to use music for her, for him, and for both, to dance a Tango, all improvised.

(iv) Mindfulness and quietness

This "mindfulness and quietness" is not always easy to find in a milonga, because few people dance with mindfulness. Let alone quietness.

Good Tango, in my opinion, has deep quietness in it. Somewhat like the cool and sacred air in big cathedral.

Athleticism, heat and sweat are one thing and important, but I like it when the dance has the look of "pieces together and complete".

(v) Beautiful dance with Aura

Once (i) to (iv) are combined and integrated, there can come a dance with radiating aura. I call it beautiful dance.

I want to see (or dance) beautiful dance.

These are random thoughts while I was watching Tango in the milongas.

[Milongas in Dallas, Neon Saturday and Animal Sunday]

Flu shot tomorrow.