[Tango-L] Tango Roles

[Sergio Vandekier]

Dear friends of tango,

                    The premise is that in tango like in life there is a 
masculine and a feminine role.

These roles are played when you dance or perhaps they are not evident in 
your dancing.

I am going to translate some paragraphs from Nicole Nau's book "Tango, Un 
Baile muy Portenio"
the book was edited in November of 2000.

I could explain this according to my own experience but I am going to avoid 
doing that due to all the problems we have been having before.

What follows is not antiquity, is today. It is not my saying this is the way 
it is . is a German woman who came to Argentina to learn about its culture, 
tango and life in genral.

Nicole Nau says in her book (page 159):

" Generally speaking the  world of the woman and that of the man are totally 
separated in Argentina. This causes that the woman on one side is a total 
enigma and a mystery for the man and the masculine universe is accepted by 
the woman as something unknown and  a fortress to be respected.

Each one knows of his specific strength and that of the other sex avoiding 
the fatal consequences of : comparing, competing or lack of trust.

To be "macho" in Argentina means to be a man with all his privileges but 
also with all his obligations.

In public he is the chief. There is no discussion whatsoever in this 
respect. Both know it. But "to be a man" in Argentina does not only means to 
have a woman but also to be responsible for her, to protect her.

It is like having a treasure in this life, for which is worth to fight day 
and night. A beautiful woman.
In this fashion "machismo" in Argentina has no negative implication, quite 
the opposite, to be macho is an excellent characteristic.

Women, specially in the tango world, organize all activities in such a way, 
that the man be convinced that what is happening was according to his 
desires. In this form the world will be in perfect order for him.  Men flirt 
with women all the time  . He is pleased by a smile, or a special look: 
something that suggests that he could have her if he wanted her. This is a 
totally innocent attitude, there is no threat whatsoever.
Both women and men know how to play this game without  burning their 
fingers. Both feel the potentiality of something but they do not allow it to 
happen.

Masculine (page. 163)

Masculine is synonymous with activity, greatness, vigor, strength.

A firm position on the floor, with legs somewhat apart constitutes a 
masculine symbol, the same way as the decision and poise in stepping without 
hesitation, to step with firmness. The man is the one that leads, if there 
is a dialog with a woman is because he wishes it to happen and not because 
he is supposed to do it. His position is solid and stable at any moment. He 
is the center.

He dances with plenty of resources, he is ready for the unexpected. He never 
gets close to his limits.
He never abandons his central position. The woman brushes his body, he never 
brushes hers.
He embraces her waist, a sign that indicates possession.

Protection and domination at the same time. His torso erect, symbolizes the 
power of the "Ego", dominion of space and security. His left hand closed 
represents strength.

Feminine (page 164)

Feminine symbolizes reception, execution, smallness, weakness and 
sensibility, harmony and equilibrium.  Her life at home, the emotional. 
Growth where the man sees facts. She gets pregnant and gives life.

In tango she receives the man's conduction, her feminine aspect lays in the 
quality of her movement.
Women find with more ease elasticity and harmony in her movements than the 
man does.

He is loaded with heavier cultural and social burdens.

The woman in tango leans on the man's body. She looks for her place like the 
bird that looks for protection in his nest. The man's hand on her back 
underlines the femininity of her forms. They seem more delicate in 
comparison to the strength of the man's hand. The stronger his hand the more 
fragile her body looks. Her movements are smooth and elastic.

The embrace is like a V with a closed side an an open side. The closed side 
represents closeness and intimacy, the open side distance. One must learn to 
notice and feel the differences within that embrace." end of quotation.

The same as in real life the man is poised, steps with decision, without 
hesitation, he is strong and firm.  Guides and is prepared for the 
unexpected, he improvises. he never gets close to his limits.
He protects and respects the limits imposed by the woman to his embrace.

She is fragile, receptive, looks for protection in his embrace and in his 
chest. She is smooth  and elastic, dances with harmony and beauty.

When you go to a gay milonga in B.A., 'La Marshall' for instance on 
Wednesdays nights, you will see couples dancing very good tango formed by 
two men : one of them leading, showing his masculine role the other one 
following performing his feminine role.

Or a couple formed by two women : one dressed with a suit and wearing a tie 
or dressed as a woman but leading in an obviously masculine way the other 
one following with a very feminine attitude.

They dance very well and create a perfect tango full of feeling, emotion 
with perfect communication and connection.

The result would be very different if both partners danced with a masculine 
or a femine attitude.

In this last case the resultant tango would be not as full of feeling, 
passion and connection  as before.  the one done by the two followeers will 
be weak and the one done by the two leaders would look as having the 
components of a fight.

The American friends I have that at present live in Argentina told me not to 
talk about this subject because people abroad will not understand it does 
not matter in what way you explained.

This is all I am going to say, if you understood fine if you did not 
understand disregard what I just translated from Nicole's book.

Have a good day, Sergio.

PS. at no time I mean to be patronizing or trying to impose any rules to 
your dancing or to your life.
Please feel free to continue doing what pleases you the most. It is a shame 
that I have to be so defensive in order to share my knowledge with you. To 
all those that wrote to me I will answer in right time.

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