[Tango-L] Why I do dance close embrace

[TangoDC.com]

Interestingly, almost all the reasons you offer, Sergio, are reasons why 
someone might dance close-embrace *exclusively*. Or why someone might 
defend dancing that way, against other styles, polemically. (I find it 
bizarre that so many people have this mindset, but they do, and that's 
ultimately more their problem than mine. Perhaps you framed this thread 
that way on purpose.)

For my part, I choose to dance close-- provided nothing else compels me 
to do so-- because it's a unique form of dancing, with its own feel and 
expressive possibilities. Like everything else, it has its limitations; 
but it also has options that aren't readily available by other means. It 
is a genre of tango, as it were; it has its conventions, its sub-genres, 
and so forth. Sometimes it's the best decision. And sometimes I dance 
open because That's the best decision. Sometimes things change as the 
song progresses. I "prefer" nothing; I choose to strive after quality.

But when it comes to loose change on the floor, I'm open-embrace all the 
way, Chas. Your way may work in Buenos Aires, but that's only because 
you have to hide the coin with your shoe and drag it to the end of the 
tanda, because there's no room to bend over and pick it up. (Not that 
you actually "drag" it... the coin is going there anyway.)

Jake Spatz
Washington, DC


Sergio Vandekier wrote:
> 1 - Because after learning several different tango styles I prefer close 
> embrace.
>
>    Because I like the closeness to my partner that allows an intense 
> communication and a better interpretation of the music.
>
> 2 - Because I learned only this style. I was convinced that this was the 
> only possible way to dance tango socially, actually I ignored that there 
> were other tango styles.
>
> 3 - Because I only learned this style and it is the way everybody dances in 
> the club where I go.
>
> 4 - Because after trying different styles I decided that this is the best 
> for my age and my dancing skills.
>
> 5 - Because it is danced in most milongas in Buenos Aires. I decided that 
> the dancers of other styles have problems dancing socially (collisions, 
> disturbing other dancers), so I decided that this must be the only possible 
> way to dance socially.  Although we have plenty of room to dance, we imitate 
> the crowded conditions of Buenos Aires.
>
> 6 - Because that is the style my partner prefers.
>
> Can you give any other reasons?
>
> Sergio
>
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