Let's face it, the great majority of those who want to learn to dance tango are inspired by what they see on their TVs or computer screens. They see a spectacular performance by a beautiful, often young, couple oozing with passion. They are attracted by a visual and they project emotions onto it. Yet, they know nothing of the true emotions felt by tango dancers because they are seeing a performance, a show.
Then they sign up for tango classes and demand to learn what they saw. Too many tango instructors are eager to offer that to their clientele by teaching them the figures for which they know, or should know, that the students are not capable of executing. The students get frustrated and often leave unsatisfied, mostly with themselves, for not being able to learn to dance tango, they think.
But did they study tango or sequences some would call "tango figures"?
I lead a praktika (argentine practice sessions) here in Dubrovnik last evening. I was asked to help dancers practice certain material (figures) taught at a workshop not too long ago by another teacher. I did that with some, as the time permitted, additional technical details needed to execute the said figures. Everyone wanted to dance the figures taught at the workshop since that was what the praktika was supposed to be about and, to my knowledge, few understood why they had hard time with them.
One person, though, stated quite strongly that I should, rather than reviewing another teacher's material, lead or teach my own stuff. If I had done that, I would have, among other things, insisted on practicing walking, keeping balance, pivoting, communicating, listening to the music and dancing it, learning and applying the basic structure of a giro, etc. Maybe out of ignorance, the group wanted to practice the figures and not the technical stuff. Perhaps I should have not acquiesced.
Next time I teach the beginning classes I will not succumb to teaching the figures but will teach elements, techniques, concepts, and ideas that express the feelings, letting the "figures" just happen--or not, but the feelings will be expressed, shared and will persist, which is what tango is about. We dance the Argentine tango not for the spectators but for ourselves.
Good post my friend. Note though: that different people dance the Argentine tango for different reasons. And you do not really know what they are unless you ask. So my question is: had you just learned technique from the beginning as opposed to figures (walking, balance, etc.) would you have stayed with tango? Would most people? I believe that each lesson should offer a mix. Perhaps 65 percent walking and more fundamental stuff (which is not so fundamental) and 35 percent "more fun stuff", at least from the perspective of beginning or intermediate students. The fun stuff gives them something to look forward to. This is just one man's opinion.
ReplyDeleteI agree that different people dance for a different reason and, when I teach, I do not send them to "prison" if they do not like my teaching approach. Dancing "for fun" is no crime, especially when it is done well for which good technique is essential.
DeleteI too resort to just fun sometimes when I discover that my partner can really respond and contribute--i.e., has enough technical skills to do it.
Which technical skills? Those of efficient walking and turning, maintaining good posture/balance, keeping the elastic but communicating embrace, holding a conversation with me, responding to the music, being aware of the space around us.
Yes, I started my tango learning journey by trying to learn about 14 figures that my then ignorant teachers taught. And I was frustrated to no end for not being able to execute them or because my partners did not know them. I almost quit several times. What kept me going was the enjoyment my partners expressed (and I felt) when we just walked, but walked together and to the music.
Very soon after, I encountered our mutual teacher, Gordon, A.P. Then I started going regularly to Buenos Aires where I encountered a different approach and started thinking in terms of structure of the dance which lead to understanding the importance of basic techniques. Another of our mutual teachers, V.C., also contributed significantly to the path I am on now.
Give that man a figure, dear Dubravko, because it will give him confidence. And confidence is Tango. With confidence comes endurance to do the sweat work, to want to do better and smoother. Each figure has elements that can be practiced as "technique" without knowing it. As you get better you have all these exercises under the belt, and you know which ones will improve your "figure". This is just one woman's wish for confident leaders, no matter how simple the figure.
ReplyDeleteIf I teach a person how to walk and how initiate/respond to a walk with its myriad variations, did I teach them figures or techniques? I would say I taught them both, but I taught them a technique which they practiced using the walking "figures", without calling them that, which they can now use in any situation, be it a pre-designed "figure" or not. There is, naturally, much more to that.
ReplyDelete