Jack says: "Don't we talk a lot about the feeling of tango. I know it's very
important to me [understatement!] and the feeling I have when I watch a man and
a woman is completely different to when I watch a man and a man. They can both
be fabulous and very enjoyable, but different."
Hi Jack,
I totally agree with you. Precisely this is what I have been
trying to explain : Tango may be danced in different ways, as there are
different styles,
which have different purposes. The music and the style (along with the place,
available space, partner, general athmosphere, the way you are at the moment)
provide changes in the way you feel.
Dancing to Piazzola or to any music for instance: At the beginning most people
prefer certain tango orchestras because they have a predictable beat. They know
what to expect as they get familiar with the tango tempo.
After a while they discover that some tango orchestras are easier than others
to dance to. Are more regular, without extremes .
Pretty soon they become conscious about the fact that tango has a beginning,
a mid portion, a preparation for the ending and an ending. That it runs like a
river, slowly and serene at times and fast like a torrent at other moments.
This requires an artistic interpretation of the music through the dance, with
changes in dynamics. You have to learn to dance with feeling, with fast or
slow moves or pauses in order to synchronize with the music.
The day arrives when you can dance to any tango orchestra with ease, they are
all different and evoke different feeling which should be danced accordingly.
You have been improvising, and now discover that to improvise to certain music
could be very difficult, but if you know that music well enough you can find
certain moves to correlate with it and then you choreograph for an exhibition
to some strange music. (Piazzola for instance).
You have to understand that there are many styles, they have different purpose
(to dance socially, or to act on stage, or to surprise with unexpected moves,
or to impress with elegance, or to bring back dancing forms from old times,
etc.) .
You concentrate in social dancing, develop musicality, connection and feeling,
while others do it in stage tango, developing high degree of skill, elegance,
and knowledge of the dance. Both are equally tango, they are different. One
is not superior to the other, they have different purpose.
Some tango dancers know only one aspect or style of tango (are totally ignorant
about other styles and possibilities, they never saw a tango musical) to the
point that when they see something different they doubt that that dance so
different from theirs could also be tango. Their first reaction is "this is not
tango", the second invariably is " this is not for social dancing".
They are wrong both times, this is a different style of tango and given the
right circumstances (mostly available space to dance) can be used for social
dancing.
Others are well versed in different styles that they use to adjust to different
circumstances.
Summary: if you are contented dancing milonguero, you do not need anything
else. Those that dance on stage have connection, great skills, lead to
perfection, have feeling, ...but those elements of tango are different, the
feeling is different...very different...
Best regards, Sergio
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