I met Monica Paz in June of 2024 while participating in her workshop. I was very comfortable with the language and concepts she was teaching. They were very similar to my teacher whom I studied under for eleven years, and I once again felt challenged. For the next year I focused on building a better tanguero body, listening to tango music constantly, and of course dancing, lots of dancing. I can not say that I felt significant improvement, always being in the middle of change, but my partners felt something and were very encouraging. She inspired me as well to focus on the needs of my own community, even developing and teaching a workshop on floorcraft. Which was the most significant part of the hard work I did in the year leading up to her return.
When she returned in June of 2025 I was excited to show her all the hard work I had done,as well as terrified she would not notice. Luckily she did, the compliment was brief, and once again the hard work began. I realised all the hard work had only made me available for more nuanced teaching, and once again I was in the middle of change. Its where I plan to stay going forward.
I will say the three major concepts that I received during my time working with Monica are:
Always practice the simple things that are hard to do,especially the ones that are easy to forget.
Never stop dancing alone,It is where you strengthen your connection to floor,and find your personal musicality.
And the Most important one Everyone deserves to be treated like a Diamond.
Thank you so much Monica, and I want you to know that when you talk about Tango, it is the way I feel about Tango , everytime.
Un gran abrazo,
Mickey
Michael Moreland