Saturday, January 31, 2009
Tango elements, concepts, and techniques
The thoughts presented here are my first attempt to formalize and put into words a guide which I have developed in teaching tango - the dance. I will continue refining this guide in future blog entries.
When I teach tango to those new to it, and provided that I have about 15-20 hours to do it, I systematize it as follows. I introduce and work on elements, concepts, and techniques. In addition, I introduce exercises which are helpful in developing some aspects of technique.
Elements of tango dancing are those things which are always present in the dance. They are: walking, posture, embrace, connection, and musicality.
Concepts are those things which are applied in a certain situation or scenario of the dance. They include: tracks, cross or hook step, parallel and cross walk system, change of front, change of direction, code, elegance.
Techniques are those things which help us use a concept well. They include: weight transfer, pivoting, leg movement, body core maintenance, axis maintenance, balance, body disassociation, linear and circular/rotational movement.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
tango or not tango
(copied from Dubravko's musings)
There was a recent discussion on Tango-L group about this video (see Milonga en Alemania):
Some comments were lamenting about the "tango nuevo" phenomenon and its repercussion.
I wrote (edited for the purpose of this post):
One thing I like about this context for dancing is the backdrop character of the music.
This music is not danced (tango music is danced) -- it provides a channel, a basis, an opportunity to amplify a mood. And then that mood is danced out in a very personal way, just as the amplified mood is a very personal matter.
Another point about this music is that, for me, it has an equalizing effect on dancing partners in a sense that allowsboth partners to fully and simultaneously create. It presents an enormous playground for improvisation.
In other words, when it is danced well (I have a long way to go, but desire to get there), it allows for a continuous change of traditional "roles" and thus the product, the whole spectrum of dance sensations, is co-creative. Very, very different from classic tango dancing.
As a mater of fact, if you dance to this music in a classic way, you will almost certainly get bored quickly. But venture into co-creation and you will be amazed by the whole new set of sensations. Certainly, some of the "classic" sensations are "out the window" too. Hence, you gain some and you lose some.
Of course, the classic tango is in a way co-creative as well, but with the "roles" very defined and maintained throughout the dance, with very few exceptions.
I am sure there are those on this list who see this in a very different light. I hope we realize that we should not be seeking "the truth" about it, but are simply sharing our own attitude about it which can not be right or wrong - it is very personal.
Finally, should this be called tango? I do not really care and do not wish to discuss at all.
My comment was really only about the music used for that clip not about the dancing. What do you think?
There was a recent discussion on Tango-L group about this video (see Milonga en Alemania):
Some comments were lamenting about the "tango nuevo" phenomenon and its repercussion.
I wrote (edited for the purpose of this post):
One thing I like about this context for dancing is the backdrop character of the music.
This music is not danced (tango music is danced) -- it provides a channel, a basis, an opportunity to amplify a mood. And then that mood is danced out in a very personal way, just as the amplified mood is a very personal matter.
Another point about this music is that, for me, it has an equalizing effect on dancing partners in a sense that allowsboth partners to fully and simultaneously create. It presents an enormous playground for improvisation.
In other words, when it is danced well (I have a long way to go, but desire to get there), it allows for a continuous change of traditional "roles" and thus the product, the whole spectrum of dance sensations, is co-creative. Very, very different from classic tango dancing.
As a mater of fact, if you dance to this music in a classic way, you will almost certainly get bored quickly. But venture into co-creation and you will be amazed by the whole new set of sensations. Certainly, some of the "classic" sensations are "out the window" too. Hence, you gain some and you lose some.
Of course, the classic tango is in a way co-creative as well, but with the "roles" very defined and maintained throughout the dance, with very few exceptions.
I am sure there are those on this list who see this in a very different light. I hope we realize that we should not be seeking "the truth" about it, but are simply sharing our own attitude about it which can not be right or wrong - it is very personal.
Finally, should this be called tango? I do not really care and do not wish to discuss at all.
My comment was really only about the music used for that clip not about the dancing. What do you think?
Tengo Miedo
(copied from Dubravko's musings)
Earlier today I was leafing through the copies of pages from a tango music book I borrowed from a friend thinking which one I'd like to learn. The first one catching my attention was "Tengo Miedo" (if it does not play from that page, try this one).
What a great old tango (it was apparently written in 1929). So, I strummed my guitar and hummed and later sang it with a vigor of new discovery.
Then, I said let me see what I can find out on the web about it. Needless to say, there is lots. I went to Youtube links and found a clip of Carlitos Gardel and Julio Sosa among others (two very different interpretations, I love the Gardel one with the guitars).
A bit further down on the list of links was this one to Three Women of Tango. I thought, great, women are not quite as talked about in tango as men are. What I found was a great story. Well, really three stories, all in one way or another related to "Tengo Miedo." I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Tango dancing, singing or reading about it provides me with endless pleasures. It must be magic. No end in sight! Salimos?
Earlier today I was leafing through the copies of pages from a tango music book I borrowed from a friend thinking which one I'd like to learn. The first one catching my attention was "Tengo Miedo" (if it does not play from that page, try this one).
What a great old tango (it was apparently written in 1929). So, I strummed my guitar and hummed and later sang it with a vigor of new discovery.
Then, I said let me see what I can find out on the web about it. Needless to say, there is lots. I went to Youtube links and found a clip of Carlitos Gardel and Julio Sosa among others (two very different interpretations, I love the Gardel one with the guitars).
A bit further down on the list of links was this one to Three Women of Tango. I thought, great, women are not quite as talked about in tango as men are. What I found was a great story. Well, really three stories, all in one way or another related to "Tengo Miedo." I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Tango dancing, singing or reading about it provides me with endless pleasures. It must be magic. No end in sight! Salimos?
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Intro
I just created this new blog dedicated to tango only. The other blog, my main train, has started to get mixed up with other stuff. So, in a bit, there will more stuff here, as soon as I get it all set up properly.
I will start by copying my "tango" posts from "Dubravko's musings" blog.
I will start by copying my "tango" posts from "Dubravko's musings" blog.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)