[Tango-L] tango learning-- w/o teachers

[Tova Moreno]

On 17/06/2006, at 7:02 AM, Chris, UK wrote:
  
>
> Learning is essential to learners. Teaching is essential 
too - to teachers.
> Only one is essential to dancing.
>

I would like to see the tango dancer that learned without 
ANY teachers – and I don’t mean just not paying for classes
 - I mean without instruction of any kind.  Chris seems to 
say, above, that teachers are non-essential.  I want to see 
the dancer that has had NO instruction: no videos, no previous
instruction in other forms of movement, no dancing with people 
who already know something about how to dance and would 
therefore give silent or verbal assistance.  

If teachers are non-essential then all you need to learn 
tango is private practice (preferrably with another person 
who has no knowledge of the dance either, just to keep the test 
honest) and the music, yes?  

I would imagine that this self-made dancer would be quite a 
sight to behold, much less dance with!

Just because someone doesn't pay for classes does not mean 
that they've been free from instruction, you know?  Here in 
Boston we've got someone who says repeatedly that he's never 
taken a class, but everytime I dance with him he asks me what 
he should work on or to go over what we did in such-and-such 
class. He does this with every teacher-type he dances with, 
so I'd say he's been taught! (And when he dances with someone
who's not a teacher he tells them what they're doing wrong!) 
I know other people that have learned most or all of what they 
know by dancing with people who are better than them. In a way, 
every person they danced with was their teacher!  

I do believe teachers are essential. I guess what's up for debate 
is whether you should pay them for their expertise. ;)  
  
 
  
Best,
Tova in Boston 
www.morenotango.com




  
 		
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