tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post4107908059362426651..comments2024-02-23T08:34:49.655-08:00Comments on My Tango Diaries: Heartbroken and musingsMarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08960763038363579526noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-19161342935664699102010-04-19T13:44:34.433-07:002010-04-19T13:44:34.433-07:00@mari :)
At the beginning of tango we (I use '...@mari :)<br /><br />At the beginning of tango we (I use 'you' and 'we' in a general sense here) need to try everything out but hopefully at some point we understand that we need to build on a good foundation and stick with a teacher/style and really learn it to our best ability. <br /><br /> Then there is the moment when, after you have studied, that you need to go out again and explore. Sometimes this leads you full circle and you come back to what you studied but other times you diverge and do your own thing.<br /><br />At the moment I feel that the newer dancers are still in the first adventure phase and look at the keep-it-simple styles with disdain. <br /><br />If after each style has gotten to a certain level of dancing then maybe we can all share the floor but in these learning moments it simply creates chaos.Kirrahttp://www.tangocorazon.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-46271412890926525222010-04-14T07:24:32.699-07:002010-04-14T07:24:32.699-07:00@Kirra - thank you so much for your comments. I ha...@Kirra - thank you so much for your comments. I have found myself, quite recently actually, being chided on both ends of the spectrum. Some friends and dancers tell me I'm too conservative, too tied to the past, unwilling to admit that tango is evolving (none of which I think is true of course). And then the other side, when I do dance to "undanceable music" (nuevo, neotango, alternative) and, when the floor allows, engage in some larger, more dramatic dancing - I've been told that I'm not setting a very good example. *shrug* I've stopped trying to explain all the time. I do what I can, write what I can, but in the end, people will believe what they have already chosen to believe. I like that Fred Astaire quote. I think I feel a post coming on . . . lol<br /><br />@Anon - agreed. Thank you for your comment. :)<br /><br />@Margo - so glad to hear from you! I need to catch up on your blog! I think I'm definitely in it for the abrazo lol<br /><br />@Suze - I like your blog so much - I'm so happy that you posted a comment. I think my response will end up having to be another post lol - I get too long-winded. <br /><br />To a large extent I think you're right, we are talking about different dances - or rather opposite ends of the spectrum of something we've labeled tango.<br /><br />(Forgive the limiting generalizations ahead.) <br /><br />On one end there seems to be the very communal, conservative, internal, small space tango - danced mostly to Golden Age music, on the other end - avant guarde, experimental, larger space, invididual artistic expression focused dance which is frequently referred to as "neuvo". Like I said these are just generalizations and the bulk of dancers that I've encountered in person and online fall in the middle - depending on their mood, the people around them, the space available, the music etc. <br /><br />The problem comes when dancers on opposite ends of the spectrum need to share a space - leaving the neuvo dancers feeling stifled, and the traditional/salon dancers feeling their space is being intruded upon. Tango, outside of a stage performance, is a social experience with expectations that everyone will respect one another and their space. When that can no longer be accomplished, separate dancing spaces maybe necessary. But, because time and money are limited, holding separate milongas forces the large number of dancers "in the middle" to choose. If a community is still quite small, then dividing milongas up that way can be damaging to the common ground necessary for a community to thrive. It's a tricky balance.<br /><br />And machos at the milonga don't make me want to connect either. It can't be a conversation if only one person gets to talk. Seems like there's a couple in every crowd. :/Marihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08960763038363579526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-5238280570421212262010-04-13T14:32:07.007-07:002010-04-13T14:32:07.007-07:00Hi Mari
To me they should actually be two differen...Hi Mari<br />To me they should actually be two different dances. While I can see the beauty in salon, as a professional dancer I feel the need to express with my body fully, not solely with my heart. I can see doing that with someone you are connectd to but the majority of machos at the milonga dont make me want to connect. When I dance nuevo with a good leader, I am truly dancing. I wrote in my book that it is a subject that causes bitter disputes but was told I was wrong...<br />Glad I found you after someone linked from your blog. un besosuzehttp://www.lasttangoinbuenosaires.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-3247093193909869992010-04-08T09:53:10.161-07:002010-04-08T09:53:10.161-07:00I agree with Keno... I love to just walk and feel ...I agree with Keno... I love to just walk and feel my partner leading me around the floor, his chest again mine, his cheek against mine...<br /><br />Damn that's soothing!<br /><br />=)<br /><br />I think I might be in this for the Abrazo...<br /><br />Great post...Margo Romerohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07092688630821916143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-79892632123557554832010-04-06T15:39:37.465-07:002010-04-06T15:39:37.465-07:00For me, all the above sentiments about tango are l...For me, all the above sentiments about tango are lessons in life. They've helped me grow as a person. Through tango, into my wider life.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-20967593062425067522010-04-06T14:59:21.072-07:002010-04-06T14:59:21.072-07:00One more thing...
My teacher said, "Some peop...One more thing...<br />My teacher said, "Some people put tango on like a jacket, for others, for us, it is in their blood."<br />And he also like to paraphrase Fred Astaire. "It is not what you do, but how you do it."Kirrahttp://www.tangocorazon.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-48389740577576749132010-04-06T14:54:58.717-07:002010-04-06T14:54:58.717-07:00I too have taken what should be a benign comment p...I too have taken what should be a benign comment personally. Tango is my 'church', my 'religion', I can't help but want to convert folks who don't understand. I have spent much energy on this in the past and now just smile and nod.<br /><br />Unfortunately I have been personally attacked and called an arch conservative, a close-minded traditionalist, and a misogynist by a neo/nuevo teacher. Folks who know me and take my classes know this is not true, but all of his students believe him. I find this attitude to be more the norm these days with the different styles. It breaks my heart.<br /><br />Thanks for your post. You seem to put into words what I cannot.Kirrahttp://www.tangocorazon.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-87048279951950040952010-04-06T09:53:00.649-07:002010-04-06T09:53:00.649-07:00@TangoTherapist - we must be sharing the same tang...@TangoTherapist - we must be sharing the same tango air to be publishing at the same time. I can hardly wait to see/hear more about our tango walk - maybe during practica next week?<br /><br />@anon - stage tango classes are starting soon here. It's a sound business model and I can certainly understand the attractiveness of the idea. I can't help thinking we have plenty of stage dancers already - just looking for a stage. :/<br /><br />@tangocherie - I have to agree - they are different. I was reminded by two people via email that I have in fact danced nuevo and certainly appeared to be enjoying. Totally true. I've never said I disliked it. But for me it's a little like a fancy dress party. It's fun and dramatic and I feel a little exotic when I'm doing it - I just don't feel like me. It's fun, but it feels like a different dance. For other people dancing chest to chest, temple to temple, feels clausterphobic and unnatural - forced. Who would want to feel that? We all want, and feel natural, doing different things. Live and let live - as long as there's room on the pista. That seems to be the tricky part.<br /><br />@Keno - I think I should get t-shirts made with that line. Of course I'd probably get sued. But still. What you said reminds me of how important it is to see how people are dancing, what their preferences are, before we ask for/accept a dance. <br /><br />@Alex - well no one could accuse you of holding back your viewpoints lol. I addressed much of this already on your FB comment, so I won't duplicate it here. I do so enjoy your comments and your blog!<br /><br />@anon#2 - great site - thank you for sharing. The blog has been added to the roll on the main page.<br /><br />@londontango - thank you for you comments. I can't help thinking how lucky you were to see that style, and really enjoy the music, so early on. Less certainly feels like more to me.Marihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08960763038363579526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-73162185798281304882010-04-06T08:10:11.307-07:002010-04-06T08:10:11.307-07:00Hi Mari,
I came to Tango having first listened to ...Hi Mari,<br />I came to Tango having first listened to the music and then watching people dance in close embrace many years before I had a chance to try it. In my journey, I have done all of the moves until I was confident in sticking with my own dance, which is what I saw in the first place. I may dance less, but I get what I want. Sometimes less really is more.<br />And Cherie is right about dancing in the style we choose.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-21638483484537922912010-04-06T05:33:53.505-07:002010-04-06T05:33:53.505-07:00@alex- tango trance, great description. I call it ...@alex- tango trance, great description. I call it entrega:<br /><br />http://insearchoftango.blogspot.com/2010/02/entrega.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-85859581557484310952010-04-05T20:05:39.965-07:002010-04-05T20:05:39.965-07:00I've tried to steer clear of this subject on m...I've tried to steer clear of this subject on my blog, ever since my "Nuevo is Ass-Wiping, and Milonguero is Ass-Kicking" post caused such a stir a couple of years ago.<br /><br />But I may have to wade in.<br /><br />The vast majority of people drawn to tango think of it as "just another dance". Texas Two-Step. West Coast Swing. Lindy Hop. Salsa. Ballroom. They are all "just" dances - and Tango is lumped in there with all of them - a casual recreational social activity, much like a pottery class.<br /><br />We who "get" that tango is much more than "just" a dance are in the minority.<br /><br />I have my theories on why this is - but they would be too lengthy to get into here. Maybe I'll finally do a post on it.<br /><br />Or maybe I'll be back here.<br /><br />P.S. The majority have every right to experience tango on their own terms - even if it is in a distant open embrace. The sad part is that they will never know the true beauty of the tango connection, and the ever-elusive tango trance. <br /><br />I'll say it again here, as defined by Dan Boccia, the tango trance is <i>the state of being so completely immersed in the music and so profoundly connected to your partner that movement flows from within the partnership absent conscious thought."</i>AlexTangoFuegohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13021896615610939454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-60007782443172453732010-04-05T19:17:30.119-07:002010-04-05T19:17:30.119-07:00"Oh honey, tango don't care what style yo..."Oh honey, tango don't care what style you dance, long as you show up (to the milonga)." This is so wonderfu, I don't care what a follow wants in big moves, I dance with people who love to walk. and feel the music. But this is just me.Kenohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14785734894231031967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-9249159400035194332010-04-05T17:00:32.814-07:002010-04-05T17:00:32.814-07:00Mari, the thing is, they are two different dances,...Mari, the thing is, they are two different dances, with even different music most of the time. Only the name of tango is the same.<br /><br />Instead of trying to reconcile this fact, we need to accept it and just dance on in whatever style we choose. Just not all of us trying to do it in the same salon.tangocheriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10012220622641996877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-54530800652500598892010-04-05T15:52:18.847-07:002010-04-05T15:52:18.847-07:00great post. i feel the same, and sadly where I liv...great post. i feel the same, and sadly where I live I see the power of numbers overwhelming - there are more people wanting and learning stage tango, and fewer and fewer dancing by walking with the music.<br /><br />but we keep the flame burning.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370884568160752646.post-45484559870621674972010-04-05T11:57:04.365-07:002010-04-05T11:57:04.365-07:00Okay, Mari. People are going to think that we are...Okay, Mari. People are going to think that we are colluding on our Austin Tango Blogs. I just saw this after publishing about the power of a tango walk. I should go back and make a link but everyone who reads my blog reads yours anyway. :-)The Tango Therapisthttp://tango-beat.blogspot.com/2010/04/rejection-solution-four.htmlnoreply@blogger.com