Exploring Tango: February 2012

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Different Teachers, Different Styles

Reconciling Variations in Instruction and Technique

Competitive ballroom dances have well-defined catalogs of steps and techniques. There are two major styles in ballroom dancing (American and International), but regardless of where you study one of these styles, you'll learn the same steps in more or less the same order, and the techniques will be carefully standardized.

Argentine Tango is far less standardized than 'Ballroom' dancing. Tango is the descendant of Argentine folk dances and has been shaped by diverse international influences since its inception. There are arguably as many styles and sub-styles of Argentine Tango as there are Tango Masters. Most of today's teachers have studied with multiple masters, which contributes to the expansion of stylistic diversity within the community.

The lack of standardization is a positive attribute. Argentine Tango is a dynamic and vibrant art form that continues to diversify with each passing decade. This opens up tremendous creative options for those who are well-versed in the dance, but it can cause some confusion for students.

Sooner or later we'll go out to the milongas and dance with people who have learned a different style. This can lead to passionate discussions as we seek to clarify which techniques and stylistic elements are "right" and which are "wrong." It's important to keep in mind that "different" is not necessarily "wrong," even if it may appear so when initially encountered.

Eventually, we may find ourselves in a class with a teacher of a different style. That teacher may present a technique that contradicts some principle that we have come to believe is both important and immutable. This can result in an uncomfortable and puzzling experience. There's a little voice in our heads that alerts us when something seems to be out of place. "No, no! That can't be right," insists the little voice. "My other teachers trained me to do this movement differently. They said that it would be WRONG to do it like this."

Once that voice starts bouncing around in our heads, it won't be long before one of our classmates feels compelled to blurt out: "Well, my other teacher says..." In other words: "Help! Will someone please straighten this teacher out before they make us learn a bunch of WRONG stuff?"

When this situation arises, and it WILL sooner or later, I would recommend that you take a deep breath, relax, and remember the following.

Keep the Big Picture in mind. Recognize that different teachers have different styles, and different styles will be based to some degree on different fundamental techniques. Accept that this teacher understands the workings of his or her own style, even if it differs from anything that you've learned before.
Realize that you are actually getting a bonus here. You have NOTHING TO LOSE by learning multiple ways of doing something. Eventually, you can choose one teacher's technique over another, or you can master both versions and use them interchangeably in your dancing. You are expanding your capabilities!
Understand also that even though techniques may differ, they may be designed to address the same underlying physical issues. Problems with posture and body mechanics for example can be persistent. Different teachers may address such problems using a variety of techniques and terminology, but the underlying objective is the same.
Unless a technique is causing you physical pain or putting you in immediate danger, it's best to avoid arguments and lengthy discussions during the class. Arguments only waste time. The teacher has probably planned to squeeze a lot of material into the allotted class period. If they need to spend five minutes defending the technical details of their style, that's five minutes of instruction that the entire class is now going to miss. Please save your philosophical differences for an after-class discussion with the teacher. Your consideration will be appreciated.
Follow this teacher's instructions carefully, and ask for clarification if you don't understand something. Note that asking for clarification is not an excuse to challenge stylistic or philosophical differences during class. As mentioned above, arguments benefit no one.

To summarize, I've put together a little 'cheat sheet' for you:

Different teachers have different styles based on different techniques.
Arguing with the teacher is a waste of EVERYONE'S time.
It doesn't hurt to learn new ways to do things. Think of this as a bonus.
Unfamiliar techniques might help to clarify your understanding of more fundamental technical issues.
Do your best to learn THIS teacher's version of the technique. You can always discard it later. Ask for clarification if you need help.
If you begin to feel frustrated, take deep breaths and look at the big picture!

¡Buena suerte amigos, y muchas gracias!

Daniel

exploringtango.blogspot.com

Monday, February 20, 2012

The Persistence Of Perfume

The Spray That Chases Friends Away

You're getting ready to go out to your favorite milonga. You want to look and feel your absolute best. You want to 'dress to impress'. You've showered, washed your hair, and groomed yourself meticulously. You put on one of your favorite outfits. You reach for your favorite bottle of perfume or cologne.

Stop!

Wait!

Hold it!

Time out!

Let's think about this for a moment before we make an unintended faux pas.

If you wear cologne or perfume to the milonga, some small trace is going to rub off onto your partner's hands and clothing. Perfume seems to be engineered to spread from person to person like a fragrant virus. Sharing is inevitable.

If your first partner then goes on to dance with other perfumed people throughout the evening, they'll pick up some scent from each of those partners. He or she could end up going home with a mix of fifteen or twenty scents on their hands.

I can tell you from experience how unpleasant that is.

But wait! There's even more good news! The scent that you've transferred to your first partner will be transferred in turn to their other partners. And that's only the work of one person. If you dance with fifteen people at the milonga, you'll pass your scent on to each of them, and they'll pass your scent on to everyone that they dance with after you, and you'll receive scents from each of your partners and each of their partners. Wow! The entire milonga becomes one big geometric scent-sharing machine, and that's not particularly pleasant for anyone.

My general recommendation for perfume and/or cologne is - DON'T WEAR IT.

Instead, consider the following time-tested approach:

Take a shower and wash your hair. Be as clean as you possibly can be before venturing out for the evening.
Apply deodorant (not anti-perspirant, which can stain clothing).
Wear clean clothes. If you tend to sweat a lot while dancing, wear clothing that will help keep the sweat away from your partners. If necessary, bring a change of shirts along.
Brush your teeth, floss, use mouthwash, and carry breath mints.
Avoid tobacco, spices, garlic, and other smelly products.
Save the cologne / perfume for a special evening with someone who actually enjoys the stuff.

Unless you plan to dance with one and only one person for the entire evening, and UNLESS THEY HAVE TOLD YOU that they enjoy smelling your perfume or cologne, save yourself some money and avoid bottled scents. Everyone at the milonga will thank you silently. Well, maybe that's not completely accurate, but if you DO wear perfume or cologne, several people at the milonga will be CURSING you for it.

Don't let that happen.

On a personal note, I avoid followers who wear perfume regularly. I don't even bother to tell them why I'm avoiding them. I just make excuses and walk away.

Don't let that happen, either.

¡Buena suerte amigos, y muchas gracias!

Daniel

Tango Terminology

* milonga - an event held specifically for the dancing of Argentine Tango by its participants. Milongas are social dances and differ from tango shows where only the performers dance. Milongas are usually held in the evening and into the early morning hours.

exploringtango.blogspot.com

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Welcome to Exploring Tango!

Hello Tangueros, Tangueras, and Tango Fans!

This February marks my twelfth anniversary in the tango community. One-hundred forty-four months have passed since I signed up for my very first Argentine Tango class and struggled through the basic steps.

I have decided to commemorate the occasion by launching my very own tango blog! Thank you for being my welcome guest!

Is this blog only for tango dancers?

This blog is for anyone and everyone, from fresh beginners to advanced students, from seasoned milongueros to people who have never danced the tango before. I hope to post topics that will be of interest to anyone for whom the Argentine Tango has become a passion.

For students I can offer insights and encouragement from the perspective of someone who has struggled with many of the same challenges. For the non-dancer I'll offer an intimate and hopefully entertaining look into the mysterious inner workings of the Tango Community.

By 'Tango Community', do you mean Buenos Aires?

Actually, I am referring to the Global Tango Community that spreads far beyond the dance's native Argentina. Clusters of tango aficionados have sprung up in cities and towns all around the globe. But I'll also spend time discussing a more intimate side of tango, that part of ourselves that changes and blossoms as we undertake the journey toward becoming more and more proficient at the dance.

What do you mean by "that part of ourselves that changes"?

The Argentine Tango is much more than a dance. It's a community. It's a folkloric tradition with diverse influences. It's a rich catalog of virtuosic music. It's an internationally acclaimed art form. For many people, tango is a way of life.

Learning the Argentine Tango is like moving to a new country. Not only do we need to find our way around (steps and sequences), but we need to learn new ways of communicating (embrace) within the syntax of an unfamiliar language (lead and follow). We need to gain familiarity with established traditions (music, styles) and an appreciation for time-honored customs (milonga etiquette). We'll adjust to a different pace of life (rhythm, syncopation). We'll learn how to deal with a new currency (connection) as well as how to trade it for our ultimate objectives (artistic expression, meaningful tandas, partnerships).

We'll even learn some new traffic rules along with strategies for dealing with those who occasionally neglect to follow them. ;-)

When you spend a significant amount of time immersed in a new culture, the experience changes you forever. You forge new friendships. You're exposed to new perspectives and new ways of thinking. You explore new sights and tastes and adventures. The Argentine Tango has a similar effect on us as we immerse ourselves in its practice, its traditions, and its culture.

Why is the blog called Exploring Tango?

Because that's what we do every time we dance. We explore. We explore our partners. We explore the spirit and complexities of fine music. We explore steps and embraces and techniques. As we navigate a small dance floor, we are simultaneously exploring the larger tango experience, an expansive frontier of emotion and nuance and possibility. The further we endeavor, the more we learn not only about this new dance but also about ourselves.

Are you some kind of authority on tango?

No more than anyone else. ;-) I've been doing this for a while and I've studied with some remarkable teachers, but I would prefer to believe that we ALL have valuable perspectives to offer. We all have insights to share. As we chronicle our tango experiences, we contribute to the collective knowledge of the community, which benefits everyone.

Okay, but don't a lot of people blog about Argentine Tango already?

Sure! But a lot of people DANCE the tango already, too. Just because someone else is already doing something doesn't mean that we shouldn't do it as well. We all have something to offer, some unique set of qualities that makes dancing with us unlike dancing with anyone else. One of the most beautiful aspects of Argentine Tango is the way that it helps us to get to know each other. Blogging is an extension of that process, a verbal counterpart to the physical communication that we share on the dance floor.

In Exploring Tango I'll share insights and information along with experiences good and bad, humorous and regrettable. I'll discuss openly all of the facets of the dance that I understand, and I'll muse about the aspects that I have yet to fully comprehend. I hope that each reader might find something here that strikes a chord with their own tango experiences, something that helps them make the best of their own personal tango journey. That would mean a great deal to me.

¡Buena suerte amigos, y muchas gracias!

Daniel

Tango Terminology

* tanguero/tanguera - a male/female dancer of Argentine Tango.

* milonguero - an expert tanguero who has spent years dancing in milongas.

* tanda - a series of songs or pieces of music of a similar style that are played consecutively at a milonga. A couple will dance the full tanda (typically three or four songs) before moving on to dance with other partners.