[Tango-L] Transition from Intermediate to Advanced

[Ron Weigel]

On 7/5/06, Jonathan Thornton <obscurebardo at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I am not a complacent intermediate because I work  on improving my
> fundamentals and I do challenge myself to learn some new material but most
> advanced material is beyond my ability to assimilate to the point I can
> dance it expressively. So I'm a close embrace 5 step dancer some folks on
> this list are so critical of.
>
> So although I enjoy watching advanced dancers and wish I could join that
> group I'm more concerned that intermediates develop sensitivity to the music
> and partnering and keep refining their fundamentals. I think those two
> things are enough for satisfying dances. I think an expectation that most
> dancers can, should, or need to become advanced is unrealistic as many
> people don't have the abilities, time, money, or inclinations to reach that
> level.

Jonathan is right on track. In Buenos Aires milongas one sees very
little of the complicated choreography that one sees at American
milongas. However, one does see quite a few good 'close embrace 5 step
dancers'. One of the main characteristics that differentiates the
advanced dancers in Buenos Aires is their musicality - their ability
to interpret the music in creative ways.

What I find surprising about so many Americans is that they want to
run before they know how to walk or, in today's terms, they want to do
off balance moves like colgadas and volcadas before they've learned
how to maintain their balance. Numerous dancers ignore the
fundamentals of good connection with partner and music and good
navigational skills that are acquired by remaining in regular classes
and instead supplement their tango education by picking up the latest
hot shot moves that can be emulated by taking an occasional workshop
or perhaps by learning it from their friends who learned it last
week's workshop. Advanced choreography may appear to make someone an
advanced dancer, but when dancing with them one has a different
experience - often a jerking ride that requires a call to the
chiropracter in the morning.

I don't think Tom was talking about that kind of 'advanced' dancer. In
reality the less conspicuous dancer who has been working on balance,
connection, awareness of partner, musicality, and navigation is the
more advanced dancer.

Assuming the quality of instruction is good and the student has the
right focus, staying in classes and taking private lessons will
improve the fundamentals. One can only become an advanced dancer after
mastering the fundamentals. One doesn't need an extensive step
repertoire to become an advanced dancer.

Ron