When people ask me: “Why do you practice?” I tell them: “I practice for the opportunity, to be more ME!” And this is why I wrote this guide. To help you form a constructive mentality around practice and change, help you fight mental icebergs that are keeping you back, help you set up your framework, your practice, your own Tango training and your path to becoming more YOU every day! A few years ago, I moved to Canada from Greece. It has been the toughest period of my adult life so far! And though I stayed in Canada because I saw the opportunity to earn my spot in a growing Tango community, somehow either because it was a tough adjustment and I didn’t quite deal with it in time, or because my ego got the best of me, I failed to see that: I needed to work even harder - You can’t always get what you want and - If you try sometimes you get what you need. Haha! I am sure the Rolling Stones have said it better than me, but that is really what it comes down to! So I started working-out more intensely. I actually made fitness another career for myself. I started practicing my Tango, every day, with a set schedule, adding a few minutes to my practice every time. Some things worked and some didn't. But soon I started seeing results. First personal test (after a few months of training) ; I went to a milonga wearing high heels! Danced in my Tango heels for the whole night. Slipped into my outdoor heels again and walked to the subway like a Pro! Passed! Getting stronger kept me going. Balance was growing more and more effortless. Posture became more a state of being rather than a Tango suit that I had to remember to put on when I was dancing/ teaching. And those extensions…aaah! finally effortless! Strength brings you confidence. Confidence brings you power. And as a Tango friend said to me: “Now, it is like driving a Ferrari!” The greatest test though —and this took a bit longer for me to pass—is to truly enjoy every step, no matter who I was dancing with. Now my whole body is dancing! I am truly moving from within, not just making use of the right muscles, but really creating movement from within. It is truly such an amazing feeling, the greatest reward. A gift only you can give to yourself! And you should, because you deserve it! And this is what this guide is all about. It starts with identifying Mental icebergs, Boundaries and Limitations in Parts 1 and 2; - then we are looking at how you can identify your Level and set Goals accordingly in Parts 3 and 4; - moving on to Part 5 with Reasons, Incentives and of course Scheduling; - Part 6 has Practice Drills with accompanying practice videos; - supported by Part 7 with Alternate ways to practice Tango borrowed from other movement practices also accompanied by videos - and lastly Part 8 covers Social skills and Milonga etiquette. My goal is to help you form a constructive mentality around practice and change, help you fight mental icebergs that are keeping you back, help you set up your framework, your practice, your own Tango training and your path to becoming more YOU every day! I hope you will enjoy the journey! Chrisa