Hola list, I've been reading with much interest lately all the postings on this subject. For the record, here in the US, I'm considered pretty traditional, and to a large extent, am at odds with much of my community, because I advocate the use of the cabaceo, the tanda format, the old guard and golden age music during milongas, and traditional "milonguero" courtesy and respect on the dance floor. I've travelled to Buenos Aires twice for a total of nearly two months, etc, etc. I love Janis, and her postings, and have a lot of respect for those such as Ron, who are "right wing" in their views regarding the music and the dance. But, I do disagree with them at times, and here's one of the big times. I did not care for tango music when I started the dance. I got into it because a neighbor invited me to a milonga. It happened to be on a weekend when the sponsoring teacher also was sponsoring a workshop featuring Daniel Lapadula. I was awestruck, and needed a new hobby, so I started lessons the next week, and have been working at improving my dance ever since. Anyway, I did not grow up listening to tango music, had no idea of the culture, or the codes, etc. I struggled for 2-3 years, and where the majority of men quit and try something easier, like salsa, I was not going to let tango get the best of me, and I persevered. I've grown to really love tango music, and now I CAN "feel" it, it is getting into my bones. But I DID grow up listening to the blues, a form of music that I feel is particularly suited to dancing in a style similar to that of tango. I don't care if its really tango or not, that's not important. What IS important is; that's the music I grew up with; that's the music I've "felt" all my life. And its also important that I really enjoy it. Like Jake, I've always been inclined to snap my fingers on the upbeat (or in the south, the backbeat). And here is what's really important; I would not be anywhere near the dancer I am today had I not learned and worked at dancing to this music. It has taught me so much about musicality that transfers easily to tango music...so much you wouldn't believe. And the gist of it is, that's everything about tango; the music and the ability to dance to it with musicalilty. It kills me to see 98% of the US dancing tango 1-2-3-4,1-2-3-4, over and over and over. Or 1-2, 1-2, 1-2. no pauses, no imagination, no playing with the rhythms, no pauses at all, especially no pauses where they should be, where the music tells you to put them. I am a strong advocate of dancing "tango" to music that you feel, and using what you learn doing this to help you learn to "feel" tango music. There is no music richer, more inspiring, or with more feeling than tango. But if there is anything that can help you to learn this, and feel this, use it. The blues helped me. And as a kind of an aside; in support of musicality, I'd been dancing for about five years when I met Senor Ricardo Vidort. He had watched me dancing the night before at a milonga in Denver (I could feel his eyes on me, but I didn't know who he was). We talked for thirty minutes the next day before he told me his name, and I mentioned that I was sorry I had not taken any of his classes. He told me I didn't need his classes, or anybody else's; he told me to dance often and just listen to the music; just work on feeling the music. I know there's a limit on the length of these postings, and I also know there will be some asking for specifics, so I'll cut you off and continue... My warmest!!!! Michael
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