[Tango-L] the sexy-tango myth
When Shahrukh Marchant created TANGO-L in the '90s I participated in it for several years. I just returned to it and began by scanning Lucy Lynch's archive of the last couple of years. I noticed that people are still making the silly claim that tango is the sexiest of all dances. Get real, people. Not even a strip tease is sexy. Only people are. Consider a strip tease done by someone you find unattractive or even plain repulsive. Consider your reaction if that same someone does a gancho between your legs or a leg-caress or presses their body tightly against yours, or any of the other passionate tango moves. Is there any act that they can do that would turn you on? In 50 years of dancing several kinds of swing, ballroom, disco, folk, and tropical dances I've found that it's the person and their attitude toward you that is sexy, not any specific dance or movement of a dance. I still remember a stately waltz that I did with a long-time lover that was as sexy as any of the tangos I've done over the nineteen years I've danced tango. It began while we were separated by a room's distance and only caught glimpses of each other at first. For most of the evening while we danced with others we slowly came nearer each other, stealing looks at the other and pretending not to notice the other's existence. The evening was almost over before we embraced and moved onto the dance floor, to circle the room at arms length, doing nothing complicated at all, but lost in each other. Larry de Los Angeles _ Click here for great computer networking solutions! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2111/fc/Ioyw6iighEHn9KdDgwtTmizLzv2RDOGrRpp2PkpOiLH44znzJHa7n0/ ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
[Tango-L] Welcome back Larry
Welcome back Larry.. I used to enjoy your posts. Didn't you write a series of narratives on your adventures in BsAs? They were great, especially as I hadn't been there yet and it was all a bit more mysterious. Mel. ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] Welcome back Larry
Welcome back Larry.. I used to enjoy your posts. Didn't you write a series of narratives on your adventures in BsAs? They were great, especially as I hadn't been there yet and it was all a bit more mysterious. Mel. Oh, I still remember the youthful light grey shirt for going to a young people's milonga and the flawlessly executed giro con lapiz solo on the dance floor between tandas. ; ) Oh, yes, and the cigarette smoke that came into your hotel room from under your door which made you look for another place... ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] Surplus Tanguera - Not
why do these problems NOT occur in the milongas of BsAs and, IMHO, the answer is obvious. The codes of the milonga prevent it. This is a misunderstanding. The codes of BA milongas prevent nothing. They are simply a description of prevalent behaviour. cabaceo should be encouraged even if everybody knows everybody else. Clearing the floor during the cortina should be encouraged. Not dancing consecutive tandas with the same partner should be encouraged. Should be encouraged how and by whom, exactly?? the ladies will need equal education on the use of the cabaceo. Uh oh. Next it'll be milonga etiquette instructional placemats again... -- Chris ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] Surplus Tanguera - Not
Chris, UK wrote: why do these problems NOT occur in the milongas of BsAs and, IMHO, the answer is obvious. The codes of the milonga prevent it. This is a misunderstanding. The codes of BA milongas prevent nothing. They are simply a description of prevalent behaviour. Precisely. The codes are a *result* of what people deem acceptable behaviour, not their source. An etiquette is *a* set of codes that allow people to know how to behave (i.e. to avoid embarassment, ambiguity and loss of face), but they can only work if everybody shares the underlying ethos and social customs. cabaceo should be encouraged even if everybody knows everybody else. The problem with cabeceo is that it doesn't work unless *everyone* at a milonga uses it. Of course, you can build a group that refuses to acknowledge social rules that would be deemed normal outside of BsAs tango (i.e. followers who'll refuse a dance to someone asking for it explicitly), but that's very, very, very sectarian - and it creates yet another hurdle for newcomers and encourages clique building. Let's face it: the cabeceo simply arose as a device to prevent the leader from losing face when a follower refuses a dance. I personally don't live in BsAs and my ego isn't shot down in flames if someone simply tells me no (or even when she uses an excuse like I'm too tired or my feet hurt), so I don't live in a social context in which cabeceo invitations are *necessary*. I do cabeceo at times (certainly with followers who know me) but I'm not going to consider it dogma. Uh oh. Next it'll be milonga etiquette instructional placemats again... Fix the problems (leaders behaving rudely and hogging good followers) and the etiquette's actual implementation becomes irrelevant; it will tend to grow naturally in a form that is matched to established local social customs. -- Alexis Cousein [EMAIL PROTECTED] Senior Systems Engineer/Solutions Architect SGI/Silicon Graphics -- If I have seen further, it is by standing on reference manuals ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
[Tango-L] Why doesn't this happen in BA?
I think since I live here, and dance here, I might be a better person to respond to this, rather than someone who has just visited here. KEITH WROTE I think most peiople who have danced outside the milongas of BsAs will recognise the problems you're describing. The question is, why do these problems NOT occur in the milongas of BsAs and, IMHO, the answer is obvious. The codes of the milonga prevent it. CHRIS WROTE This is a misunderstanding. The codes of BA milongas prevent nothing. They are simply a description of prevalent behaviour. My Answer: Sorry, Chris, but I do not agree. In the traditional milonga people respect the codes. We know what they are. The behavior comes from the respect of the codes. In some ways the codes are changing. They are a little bit more informal. But they are still in place. If you go to what are termed practicas or the tourist milongas, the codes may or may not exist. Believe me, we have our own issues here. I do agree with Brick, the DJ is not responsible for the etiquette of the milonga. How can they be? They are too busy dealing with the music. The behavior is set by the organizer of the milonga. Those of us here in Buenos Aires know what to expect by who the organizer is. We know the crowd it will attract. We know the music that will be played. Many organizers here will not tolerate same-sex couples on the dance floor. Some wait until the tanda is finished to tell them, others ask them to leave the dance floor. Others will permit it. Some organizers consistently announce when necessary for the women to keep their feet on the floor, others ignore it. KEITH WROTE: The use of the cabaceo should be encouraged even if everybody knows everybody else. Clearing the floor during the cortina should be encouraged. Not dancing consecutive tandas with the same partner should be encouraged. MY ANSWER: I would have to agree with Brick. While I agree it is nice to have the cabaceo and the clearing of the floor and the consecutive tandas, in some communities it just is not possible. When I lived in the U.S. I always asked men to dance. I would NEVER do that here. The actual codigo for tandas also includes no more than 2 tandas with the same person. To dance a consecutive tanda and/or more than 2 tandas sends a message that you are interested in something more than tango OR that you are with your pareja (partner). If you have a small tango community of 40 people, how can any of these codigos apply? I think that as long as the codigos are respected when people come here is the important thing. The attitude of I am just a dumb tourist, what do I know is not an acceptable excuse. KEITH WROTE: If these 3 simple codes are adopted, most of your problems will be solved. Oh, I'll add one of my own - teaching on the floor should be banned upon pain of death :-) . MY ANSWER: The we will have other problems. There are always problems. But trying to have a pleasant evening, and remembering that tango is a social dance not an Olympic competition would be a good start. As for teaching on the dance floorit should be banned. It never happens to me. Every once in awhile someone who does not know me, and really is not a very good dancer will make suggestions so that I can dance like an Argentine. My standard answer is Perhaps you would prefer to dance with someone else. That seems to shut them right down...along with I can't find your lead... KEITH WROTE: One final point. Most of these problems are created by men. Please don't look to the ladies to solve them. Mostly it's the men who need to be educated although the ladies will need equal education on the use of the cabaceo. MY ANSWER: (I seem to be the male advocate these days) Not all these problems are caused by men. Lots are caused by women too. When I lived in California I remembered women running onto the dance floor to ask my partner to dance BEFORE the tanda had ended. I remember women circling the floor like vultures over the men and not letting them go when the tanda ended. I remember women with their arms folded and glaring at a man while he danced with someone else. Women can be just as competitive as men and just as rude. (We are equal, remember?) Again, I defer to the organizer to set the tone and example. ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] Why doesn't this happen in BA?
Deby Novitz wrote: The behavior comes from the respect of the codes. No, it doesn't. The codes come from a common understanding of what behaviour is acceptable, and the actors *choose* to abide by them - i.e. the behaviour comes from a free will decision to abide by the codes, or from a fear to be judged negatively by peers if you don't follow the codes. The codes themselves are powerless (as the actors aren't programmed automatons, but people with free will). Social pressure does have power, and *that* is the forcing factor. Try to transplant the codes into another social setting (with less social pressure to be courteous, codes or not) and they'll fail miserably. -- Alexis Cousein [EMAIL PROTECTED] Senior Systems Engineer/Solutions Architect SGI/Silicon Graphics -- If I have seen further, it is by standing on reference manuals ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] Why doesn't this happen in BA?
--- Deby Novitz [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I think since I live here, and dance here, I might be a better person to respond to this, rather than someone who has just visited here. You could also check out the first two posts at: http://tangocherie.blogspot.com/ Where you will find at least one milonga organizer who is trying to enforce the codes. If he doesn't. the local patrons will go elsewhere. Remember, too, that in BsAs, there are choices every afternoon and night of the week - at least 15 different milongas happening around the city. Nancy Six more days to Mecca. Rito es la danza en tu vida y el tango que tu amas te quema en su llama de: Bailarina de tango por: Horacio Sanguinetti Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
[Tango-L] Media lunas (edible) at 5:00 AM
Greetings, Just got back from Buenos Aires and still going through withdrawal. Just a few observations because of length restrictions on the list. Some milongas are experiencing a change in the type of dancers that frequent them, meaning the ratio of tourists to locals, and by consequence the style of dancing.Nowadays you can find younger crowds and more adventurous dancing like the nuevo style or you can search out the traditional ones. Some milonguero friends of mine there told me they no longer go to certain places because of the tourists so if you want to be with the locals, you have to do a little research. Confiteria Ideal is full of tourists for example...not that one shouldn't visit this venerable institution. But as Deby pointed out on the list, the crowd often depends on the organizer. That is something to consider when you go so you can feel comfortable where you go. One of the pleasures of the milongas for me is the dressing up. It is common to see men in suits and women in nice dresses at Sin Rumbo, Salon Canning, especially at Sunderland on Sat. night. Not all of the locals dress up of course, nor do they all dance well and follow the etiquette, but they tend to be exceptions. I took some classes with El Chino Perico (Ricardo Ponce) there. It was a high point of my trip as he was gracious enough to also spend most of the evening at my table at Sunderland. He has danced many years and is considered one of the greatest milongueros. If you are interested in seriously refining and polishing your dancing (meaning not just learning more steps) he is someone I would recommend. He will be teaching in France next month so he will not be back until late May. He is usually at Sunderland on Sat night. Most mornings we ended up at a confiteria for media lunas (croissants) before heading back to the apt to sleep. Sometimes if you are lucky you will get them fresh from the oven...the icing on the cake of a great night of dancing. I found tango books, old tango magazines, CDs...if anyone would like more information I would be happy to send it off list. Cheers, Charles ** Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp0030002851) ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] Why doesn't this happen in BA?
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This seems like a semantical and intellectual argument that you are parsing for the sake of having your say No - for the sake of making sure that everybody understands. She is claiming 1. the codes force behaviour while also claiming (correctly) 2. they don't work everywhere. The codes are obviously valid in BsAs, as in Rome, you should do as the Romans an no one is disputing that. Not *everyone* seems to understand the second point, though, which was why I tried to clarify. The codes do not force behaviour outside of the narrow context in which they live. because it doesn't really discredit what she is saying. Quite. We're in violent agreement on most things. The milongueros do respect these codes. In BsAs they do, and I wouldn't dream to want to change the codes over there, especially not as they're working (most of the time). On the other hand, in other countries, different codes to achieve the same aims (i.e. courtesy and a lack of unnecessary social friction) might be better. In this country, there is absolutely *zero* peer pressure for people to behave according to the original BsAs codes (cabeceos aren't understood and more forcible ways to invite followers pre-empt the cabeceo, when there are cortinas some people will continue to dance tango to cling to a follower they want to hog for a long time, etc. etc.). So we need other ones, as brainwashing people into simili-portenos doesn't seem to work wonders. And I don't lament that fact; I just resign myself to the fact that we aren't portenos and that the social context is different, instead of trying to pretend it isn't and that anyone can (or even should) single-handledly Argentinise everyone around. The better codes stick close to local social customs, the more chance there is for general acceptance, as few people will conform to codes that appear very alien to them. -- Alexis Cousein [EMAIL PROTECTED] Senior Systems Engineer/Solutions Architect SGI/Silicon Graphics -- If I have seen further, it is by standing on reference manuals ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] Surplus Tanguera - Not
If a man who dances repeat tandas with the same woman is a tango hog, is the follow who dances repeat tandas while there are surplus follows who are not dancing (indeed, many have not danced a single tanda all night) also a tango hog? When I brought this topic up about having a hard time getting even a single tanda when there are surplus follows (particularly because women are discouraged from asking), -- the observations were: A. You obviously are not good enough. If you were a good enough dancer you would be asked even though there are many extra women. B. Be more physically attractive. C. Learn to lead (in your case, surplus men, it would be learn to follow...and don't forget to make eye contact with those leaders out there, so they will invite you to dance). D. Pick up and move yourself to another city. So, overstocked-tanguero-dudes, that's my advice. Tony wrote: The phrase Tango Hog was used recently - someone who keeps a partner on the dance floor for tanda after tanda. I saw something like this happen once, let's say Guy #1 is dancing with an attractive girl for song after song, and Guy 2 wants a dance, gets impatient and goes up to the pair on the dance floor, between songs, and says something. Next thing I see the two guys arguing in the kitchen about right etiquette. I'm guessing there was nothing happening between guy #1 and the girl. Even so, I don't think another dancer is really in a position to say anything without looking a bit desperate. And surely if the girl was unhappy she would have left the dance floor. I can see that a DJ being outside of a situation like this has the chance to say something to encourage changing partners (couples excepted of course), without directing attention at any pair in particular, or whatever codes a community decides on. Tony -- Carol Ruth Shepherd Arborlaw PLC Ann Arbor MI USA 734 668 4646 v 734 786 1241 f Arborlaw - a legal blog for entrepreneurs and small business http://arborlaw.biz ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] Surplus Tanguera - Not
Carol Shepherd wrote: If a man who dances repeat tandas with the same woman is a tango hog, is the follow who dances repeat tandas while there are surplus follows who are not dancing (indeed, many have not danced a single tanda all night) also a tango hog? When she dances six tandas with the same leader just because he's good and she doesn't want to be invited by lesser gods? Sure. When she dances one or two tandas wih a leader but is then invited back onto the floor all the time? No. Hogging doesn't have much to do with the amount of time on the dance floor, but with lack of rotation - i.e. not giving others a chance to dance with your current dance partner. -- Alexis Cousein [EMAIL PROTECTED] Senior Systems Engineer/Solutions Architect SGI/Silicon Graphics -- If I have seen further, it is by standing on reference manuals ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] Surplus Tanguera - Not
you don't choose a partner during the cortina...the cortina gives you time to leave the floor, sit down, re-adjust and look around to see who you might want to make contact with for the next tanda. Yes all of 20 or 30 seconds. In BA it works fine because everyone (customarily) uses the cabeceo. The woman can avoid the gaze of suitors and wait for whom she prefers. Elsewhere, guys can leave their partner at the end of a tanda and march straight over to the next partner THEY choose. Makes it very difficult in our polite culture for them to refuse, even for a rest. For that, they have to leave the room. Anton ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] Surplus Tanguera - Not
I shouldn't describe your first post as fantastic Skip, just because I agree with all you wrote. What the hell! Fantastic post Skip! Hope we don't have to wait too long for more of your observations and insights. Probably a little more condensed though. Anton ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] Surplus Tanguera - Not
Carol Shepherd wrote: If a man who dances repeat tandas with the same woman is a tango hog, is the follow who dances repeat tandas while there are surplus follows who are not dancing (indeed, many have not danced a single tanda all night) also a tango hog? Hey, I didn't coin the phrase! :-) Actually, I think it's a bit harsh, but since the term's been used and we know what it refers to... although there has to be a better way to put it. When I brought this topic up about having a hard time getting even a single tanda when there are surplus follows (particularly because women are discouraged from asking), -- the observations were: A. You obviously are not good enough. If you were a good enough dancer you would be asked even though there are many extra women. ... I don't reckon this is the case, at least not always. At the last milonga I attended, half way through, I sat with a friend who was upset, and tearful. When she spilt the beans, it was basically that she wasn't being asked for dances by anyone she didn't know, and this had been her experience at other places. We had a long chat about signals, etiquette, what's going on in male dancers' minds when they're looking for someone to dance with (I have a bit of an advantage on that topic), then we danced for a bit. When I caught up with her at the end of the night she was beaming. She sent out the right signal and was getting asked for dances. Cheers Tony -- www.oakebooks.com/ezines/index.php Martial Arts : Health : Dance ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] Surplus Tanguera - Not
Anton wrote: I shouldn't describe your first post as fantastic Skip, just because I agree with all you wrote. What the hell! Fantastic post Skip! Hope we don't have to wait too long for more of your observations and insights. Probably a little more condensed though. Anton- Thank you for the compliment! I will post when I feel I have something contributory and intelligent to say, which, for good or for bad, is not very often. Sorry about being verbose, but I am very careful to write in a way that minimizes the possibility of being misunderstood. I think that the terse one-liners are often misinterpreted and frequently lead to much of the animosity we see on the list. Regards, Skip ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] tango music
At 07:12 PM 4/16/2008, Dubravko Kakarigi wrote: Is there an e-mail list with the focus on tango music? Thank you. Yes, the Tango DJ list. Are you a milonga DJ? Marty ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] Surplus Tanguera - Not (reply to Skip's 1st)
Skip, Skip Augustine wrote: I [...] have sat out many a tanda of music I would love to dance to, because by the time the music started there was no one appropriate left to dance with. Have you considered dancing with someone inappropriate? I think this manner of picking (or trying to pick) the right partner AND the right music is a little silly sometimes... especially since it's the DJ who picks the music /for/ the dancers. Still, I think a good DJ doesn't disappoint, in the event that you get a partner first (and relax your expectations a little). More on this below. it is not at all uncommon while doing this [trying to secure a partner] to have another leader walk right up to her (even if she is in conversation with someone), stick out his hand and say Would you like to dance?, and the lady will accept. Sounds like the lady is a bit short on manners too, if she abruptly drops her conversation to accept so abrupt an invitation. Have you anyone exemplary of /good/ conduct in SD? We have several leaders in our community that I unapologetically refer to as tango hogs. They dance a tanda, usually with a desirable follower, and then stay on the dance floor and engage the lady in conversation for the duration of the cortina. Then it's Oh, more music! Would you like to dance another? People do this in DC too-- I'm often one of them. Typically we've already decided to dance more, however, so it doesn't matter what the music is. If we really don't like the music when tanda #2 starts, we simply leave the floor, and perhaps find other partners (or each other, if there are no others) if the next song is to our liking. Sometimes though, people book tandas ahead of time-- like, say, a milonga tanda. Partner XYZ says Sorry, Jake, I told PQR I'd dance the next milonga set with him. I don't do this, but I don't mind it at all. I think it's kinda cool, in a way. If the DJ is sticking to a predictable cycle-- TTVTTM, for example-- it's very easy to manage. This regularly happens, and can last for anywhere from three to six tandas. Three to six tandas with one partner, however, is downright absurd. 4. Some responders to this thread have suggested that the DJ is in some way responsible for this situation. I respectfully (and vehemently) disagree. I don't, and I'm a DJ. The DJ's tanda selections are-- to a large degree-- responsible for the ronda. (Many DJs accept this as a commonplace, even if most dancers aren't aware of it.) Likewise, the DJ's cortina selections influence the dancers' behavior between tandas. (I've watched DJs wreck an entire tanda by using a bad cortina to introduce it. I've seen a few break the spell in a very ugly way, by crashing a good tanda into a bad cortina.) Whether or not people are picking partners during cortinas, I think the cortina should prep the dancers for what's coming next, in some way. For instance, if I'm following a melodious tango set with some light milongas, the cortina will most likely be on the peppy side. Were the tandas in the reverse order, I would most likely choose something else as a cortina to create an effective transition for the dancers. I'm not saying most dancers notice this consciously. I think most dancers react to it though, because I sit there and watch them. So if you get a partner during a cortina, and then the tanda begins and it's not what you were expecting at all-- if you find it jarringly counter to your desires, that is-- then I'd say you have a DJ problem. Or else that you're being way too picky when it comes to music. Have you ever considered chatting up the DJ, to find out what's next? Maybe that's the answer for your situation. The DJ's job is to play music that a majority of the people will like, and maintain the energy of the milonga through the selection of music. Precisely: and the cortinas are a subtle part of how that ride gets created. Further, the cortina can heavily influence how much you like the next tanda-- which is my point above, in a nutshell. The DJ is not an etiquette policeman (or woman), even through indirect means, such as inclusion or omission of cortinas. If I were a DJ in your community, and I saw the behavior you describe, I would do all I could to improve the situation. Probably I would start by using 45- or 60-second cortinas instead of something shorter. Or I'd frame the cortinas in more silence, to break up the tandas even further. What's puzzling me is why do the women put up with this behavior? Do they like the attention, and don't find it rude, or are they too polite, or timid, to speak up if they don't like it? Or what? I've asked a few women about this in the past, and I've always gotten the same response. When a guy is hogging them, they don't know what to do. They just act polite, and stay with him out of fear of being impolite. Such are the responses I've gotten anyway. I'm glad not all women are that self-effacing. Jake
Re: [Tango-L] Why doesn't this happen in BA?
In the traditional milonga people respect the codes. Those who respect the codes respect the codes. Those who don't don't. Some organizers consistently announce when necessary for the women to keep their feet on the floor, others ignore it. Well, quite - some respect the codes, some don't. The actual codigo for tandas also includes no more than 2 tandas with the same person. To dance a consecutive tanda and/or more than 2 tandas sends a message that you are interested in something more Again, some respect the codes, some don't - especially when necessary to send an important message! -- Chris ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
[Tango-L] New nuevo tango Sacrifices Tradition and Grace
Here's a great article by Terence Clarke on Tango Nuevo, with the popular DNI school in BsAs as an example of what he terms Playground Tango: http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/04/15/125453.php http://tangocherie.blogspot.com/ ** Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp0030002851) ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] New nuevo tango Sacrifices Tradition and Grace
If only the founders of DNI would have the courtesy to wear cargo pants. (Or any pants, for that matter) http://www.marytango.com.ar/index_ingl.html Neil ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] New nuevo tango Sacrifices Tradition and Grace
I was at Practica X one night when Dana Frigoli Pablo Villarazza (the founders of DNI) and Pablo Inza and Mariela Sametband danced improvisationally to music selected by the crowd after a tandem seminar. Milena Plebs showed up to watch them perform and was enthusiastically appreciative. It's interesting to consider that, in contrast to other people's scornful denigration... I've never attended a class at DNI, and that evening at Practica X is my only experience of Dana Pablo. To me it seems that they clearly offered much to deepen the tango of dancers no matter what their personal style of social dancing might be--and their improvisational performance was exquisitely musical, creative, displayed much dynamic range and graceful technical facility, intimately connected, evocative and inspiring. --Ira Ithaca, NY At 7:22 PM -0700 4/16/08, Huck Kennedy wrote: As I read through this article, I was so hoping for a cargo pants reference and almost thought I was going to be disappointed, when finally--Yes!! It showed up in the next-to-last paragraph. Fantastic! Bravo, Mr. Clarke. At 11:34 PM -0300 4/16/08, Tango Tango wrote: If only the founders of DNI would have the courtesy to wear cargo pants. (Or any pants, for that matter) http://www.marytango.com.ar/index_ingl.html Neil ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] Modern dance incorporates a few tango moves
Mario, I think you've got this backwards. I believe these are supposed to be Tango dancers so it's not modern dance incorporating a few Tango poses, it's actually Tango incorporating a lot of modern dance moves. The question is, when does it stop being one and become the other. On that I have no comment. However, if Tango dancers are going to incorporate a lot of Latin dance figures, then they should really take lessons in Latin dance technique. The underarm turns in this video look a lot like really bad Rumba or, even worse, really bad Salsa. IMHO, Chicho should stick to Tango as he's no Latin dancer. Fortunately, in this video, he's saved by his parner, Juana. Just my opinion. Keth, HK On Thu Apr 17 9:14 , Mario sent: It's nice to see modern dance incorporate a few tango poses. They sure have come a long ways since ballet slippers..at least now, it's modern shoes and some more contemporary movements. http://www.youtube.com/watch\?v=z5zBmnShASAfeature=related ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
[Tango-L] New nuevo tango Sacrifices Tradition and Grace
I agree with Skip's posting about the soundness of DNI technique. I regard myself as a tango dancer who enjoys both close and open embrace. I also took private lessons and practiced with their teachers. What they teach applies across close and open embrace. DNI also offers a total package - I took a program that, apart from tango, included a yoga session and a massage. To my delight, I found my body liberated from the kinks that had previously impeded my dancing. I became more aware of my breathing and how it helped me with where I was sending my energy in the dance. On my return home, I found to my surprise that I could apply what I had learnt to another dance-form and I moved with all-round greater ease as a result. For me, the DNI training affected me from head to toe. I also found that the rapid expansion of student numbers at the DNI studio has placed strains on group-class space and time pressure on the hard-working staff. However, Dana and Mariela remained as charmingly attentive as ever. I am speaking from my DNI experiences of 2006 and 2007. I am looking forward to renewing my training with Pablo and Dana at the Berlin Tango Festival this May. _ Search for local singles online @ Lavalife - Click here http://a.ninemsn.com.au/b.aspx?URL=http%3A%2F%2Flavalife9%2Eninemsn%2Ecom%2Eau%2Fclickthru%2Fclickthru%2Eact%3Fid%3Dninemsn%26context%3Dan99%26locale%3Den%5FAU%26a%3D30290_t=764581033_r=email_taglines_Search_OCT07_m=EXT ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] New nuevo tango Sacrifices Tradition and Grace
Great article. Thank you, Huck. I think that it is OK that they dance that way. For now. If they are under 30, they probably do not have the inner resources to appreciate the finer things of tango that the author refers to. Some of it may be even scary for them. But if you give them 10 years or so, they might change. By that time, all of the current traditionalists of whatever age might be dead, and so these people will be the future dancers. And they will not dance as they do now. This stuff is deeply unsatifying after one achieves a level of maturity that commands self-respect. So tango nuevo is a great trick meant to suck in the young and innocent, and keep them there until they become smart enough and mature enough to be trusted with the real thing. Nina At 08:22 PM 4/16/2008, Huck Kennedy wrote: On Wed, Apr 16, 2008 at 7:04 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Here's a great article by Terence Clarke on Tango Nuevo, with the popular DNI school in BsAs as an example of what he terms Playground Tango: http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/04/15/125453.php As I read through this article, I was so hoping for a cargo pants reference and almost thought I was going to be disappointed, when finally--Yes!! It showed up in the next-to-last paragraph. Fantastic! Bravo, Mr. Clarke. Huck ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
