[Tango-L] Missing Magic

[Tango22]

Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:06:49 -0300
From: Shahrukh MerchantSubject:
Re: [Tango-L] Missing Magic

Art and commerce (of art) have always had an uneasy symbiosis, and  
Tango is not immune to this. What the recent internationalization  
phenomenon has done is upset that balance. International interest and  
money feeds the commerce *but does not have the same stake in the  
culture*.............., without even the strength of a sense of  
identity behind it. Contrast that to a century plus of local Tango  
culture in Buenos Aires (ok, Rio de la Plata region), where the  
culture is furthermore intertwined with a strong sense of identity  
that is part of
a subconscious national identity. Which do you think is more likely to  
care about preserving traditions?

Now that is an interesting question Shahrukh, that begs a response.   
The assumption might the the latter, but I'm not so sure.  The  
advantage most western Tango converts have is wealth.  Some  
foreigners, with sufficient perception and patience learn to  
understand the essence of Tango that attracts most people in the first  
instance.  They have the luxury of being in a position to protect a  
tradition that they find so entrancing, because they do not need to  
survive from teaching Tango.  The also often have a convert's  
enthusiasm.  Compare this with the stream of 3rd rank "maestros" who  
pour out to the US, Europe, Australia & Asia.  Many are not wealthy,  
and when an opportunity to travel and make some money presents itself,  
they are not about to miss it. (not a criticism, just a statement).   
Nor are they very focussed on preserving a tradition (other than  
words).  I have not seen one such "maestro" who does not attract  
customers through performance (mostly average) and then proceed to  
teach semi-performance to a gullible audience who believe it is the  
real deal.  Hence the hybridisation of modern Argentine Tango around  
the world.  Tete said to a class we attended in Buenos Aires, "If you  
(the local dancers) continue this way, the foreigners will return to  
teach you how to dance Tango".

John