[Tango-L] Choreography. And Improvisation.

[Igor Polk]

"I'm still under the impression that choreography is generally referring to
prepared, rehearsed performance though I think one could correctly speak of
improvised choreography. "

I think the same. There is a paradox here as you mentioned. I'd like to
emphasize that.

The paradox here is that yes, it does not necessary to be rehearsed !

Knowing principles of creating a performance dance, an artist can make an
improvisational dance right on spot, which is choreographed right in that
moment.

Choreography is an art of making the great-impact dance out of all sorts of
dance elements taking in account the situation in the place of performance.
Improvised or rehearsed it does not matter very much. It can be totally
improvised dance, but at the same time highly choreographed.

Choreography and improvisation are not antonyms, they are on different
levels. Choreography lies on the level higher. You can not counterpose them.

In a sense, a tango leader is the one who is a choreographer in tango dance.
A choreographer who's audience and at the same time a principal dancer is
his partner.

Igor.



  -----Original Message-----
  From: Jonathan Thornton [mailto:obscurebardo at gmail.com]
  Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2006 11:50 AM
  To: Igor Polk
  Cc: tango-L at mit.edu
  Subject: Re: [Tango-L] Choreography. And Improvisation.


  Igor,

  The first antonyms that came to mind were prepared or rehearsed. Wikipedia
has this to say:

  Improvisation is the act of making something up as it is performed. This
term is usually used in the context of music, theater or
dance.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improvise.

  Think of the difference between the performance of a string quartet and a
jazz quartet jamming.
  Performance tango is like the former and dancing social tango more like
the latter.

  I'm still under the impression that choreography is generally referring to
prepared, rehearsed performance though I think one could correctly speak of
improvised choreography.

  Improvisation has a lot of meanings that are related but with nuances of
distinction.

  Jonathan Thornton


  On 7/26/06, Igor Polk < ipolk at virtuar.com> wrote:


    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.






  --
  "The tango can be debated, and we have debates over it,
  but it still encloses, as does all that which is truthful, a secret."
  Jorge Luis Borges