[Tango-L] Choreography. And Improvisation.

[Igor Polk]

Manuel,

"rehearsed" does not mean "choreographed".

Choreographing - it is not rehearsing !

It is creating a dance to the certain music ( most of the time ) before the
performance. CREATING !

It is not just defining the sequence of steps. It is making the dance
interesting, making connections between elements, crating beginning, the
body of the dance and the end. It is introducing an idea, a message into the
dance. It is staging it: making it look best to fit the place it is danced.
There are dozens of thing to consider, including where light is falling at !
This is an art by itself. Sorry, I put my humble opinion here - I am not a
specialist, but I am sure you will find plenty of information about it.


It  looks like the word "Choreographed" is used as an antonym to the
"improvised", but this is not correct. I can not find an antonym to
"improvised", may be other who know the language better then me can tell. It
is difficult because there are many levels of improvisation.

Improvisation is not "any move can happen next". Then, what move is the
best?
There are building blocks of many levels which an improviser uses.

Improvisation in dancing is rather a skill and art of modifying the pattern,
or familiar technique, changing rhythmical pattern, mixing elements,
changing style, body ways to do things, to react, and to affect. It is
looking for something new, and this new does not necessarily has to be big!
Very little. And in the ocean of sensitivity what is tango it is quite
enough to make a new sea.

You said it so well: the peak of improvisation is "where things just
develop". Dancers do not make the dance anymore, it grows, develops itself.
But dancers should be ready, be able to follow the demands of it.

Igor.