Thank you Kathryn!
Yes, most of them are "undertaught". To do all the things Razor Girl described, with the few exceptions which are exceptional ( and usually having a great deal of experience in other dances, ballet, or ice skating ), it requires tremendous amount of dedication to training. She should be able to do things way beyond simple following and elementary technique, which are a must anyway. It was discussed here before: too many women learned basics, then picked up something from average ( it means mediocre ) leaders stopped learning anything. While for the truly advanced dance they need to learn a lot. It is difficult for them to advance. They are in this position because they are followers - it means they are at the mercy of men they are dancing and practicing with. While a man can choose what to do, what to practice, women usually can not do much ( remember, she is not on the level we consider to be high ). Some of them can not even imagine what is there - on high level. Men can. Some of them dance with genius ladies occasionally. They know what it is about. Now, here is a question: Who is the best teacher to train women to be advanced? The one dancing with whom a lady shows much higher level than usual. The one who is able to dance her beyond her imagination. Igor Polk. From: Kathryn Johns [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2007 19:31 To: Igor Polk Cc: Ed Doyle; [email protected] Subject: Re: [Tango-L] Women's role Does anyone realize or acknowledge how"undertaught"followers tend to be? How would a lady with a great desire,and perhaps latent ability, to do the things you so beautifully describe and be the follower who can have fun herself and play with you leaders without spending oodles of time and money to travel to the few places advertising that followers are catered to and given ways,means and permission to be something more than a pawn in the game? If all that is available for instruction are males(yes,from Argentina too!),the attention is generally on the leader. Some otherwise good instructors either forget (?!)or don't know how to guide followers except to repeat ad nauseum "keep your energy up"! And to make matters more difficult,disdain to dance in practica or milonga with less experienced followers unless they are young and/or pretty,then it doesn't matter if they can dance or walk and chew gum at the same time. After the initial learning curve of giving up control,there is little to get excited about except the eternal hope of arriving someday to some cherished place that you've seen in a movie or heard about from someone who has been there, or if you still believe the fairy tale that tango is all about the woman...with respect and to make her look her best. You have to dance with(and learn from) a lot of frogs. Maybe I am mad at men too.....but more with the system that accepts this. Kathryn On 7/26/07, Igor Polk <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Ed, I never was in any doubt that she is a good dancer and has many friends. It shows. I hope I will get a chance to dance with her.. So, what would you say about what I said: "A lady is never free to interpret the lead" following with my explanation? BTW, I am not against distracting of the lead in ladies interpretation of the lead. Consider it as a puzzle. Igor. _______________________________________________ Tango-L mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l _______________________________________________ Tango-L mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
