[Tango-L] milonga-milongueros

[Deby Novitz]

For the record no teachers ever admits that they take or have taken 
classes from other teachers...only when the teachers are dead.  Mimi 
once said if the people who teach would tell them that she had been 
their teacher, then they would take from her, not that teacher.  She 
says no one ever admits it.  Case in point, Carlos Gavito started taking 
lessons from her father when he was 16.  He studied with Mariano I think 
8 years.  He never once talked about those beginning lessons.  Instead 
he talks about learning in the milongas.  After knowing Mimi, knowing 
Gavito, it was very clear to me the influence of his dance.  Yes, he 
adjusted the movements to his own style as any dancer should, but his 
foundation was pure Marianito. 

Once in conversation with the both of them (Gavito and Mimi) he talked 
about her father.  They talked about learning together.  Yet, Gavito 
never mentions his time with both of them.  Simply put, if you knew he 
studied with her father, then you would take from the daughter. 

The dance world is competitive, jealous, and to be honest ugly at 
times.  It is not always about wonderful soulful music, and people who 
love to dance.