I've been thinking about some common elements in several different threads recently on Tango-L. These include New "nuevo tango" Sacrifices Tradition and Grace, the Atlanta Tango Festival Video, and the Flaco Dani videos.
I find myself wondering how many tango dancers understand the relationship between elegant movement and good dancing. I suspect most see elegant movement as a matter of style, rather than an essential element of technique for dancing tango. In my experience, the body control necessary for elegant movement is an essential element of good leading and following. (I'm not writing about being stiff. That isn't good body control either.) A lack of elegant movement limits the ability to dance. A leader who attempts to lead improvisational movement without sufficient body control makes it difficult for the follower to execute her steps. Some women can compensate for these problems. A follower who moves without sufficient body control, knocks the man of axis and makes it difficult for him to execute the accompanying steps to the woman's movements he has just led. Again, some men can compensate for these problems. Sacrificing the quality of movement, sacrifices the quality of the dance. With best regards, Steve _______________________________________________ Tango-L mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
