[Tango-L] Tango reflects society - introduction

[Ilene Marder]

Sergio, well said...but this is true all over the world......

Sergio Vandekier wrote:

>What follows is how I see the origin of tango roles.  A representation of 
>Argentine society.
>
>Notice that I say "how I see" it. There are many Argentine Milongueros (or 
>anyone else) that read these notes and I welcome them to give their opinion 
>if they do not agree with my views on this subject. (If you write in Spanish 
>I will translate).
>
>This does not mean that you have to dance in any different way than that 
>that you prefer.
>This does not pass judgment on any society whatsoever, it merely describes 
>something as I see it.
>
>Argentine women, like many women all over the world, are happy they are 
>women.
>
>Argentine men are happy they are men.
>
>Women in Argentina have their own feminine world and men have their own 
>masculine world at the same time they have an intense relatinship with each 
>other.
>
>There is some mysterious thing about those worlds: men think that women have 
>their own mysterious world and women think the same way as to the man's 
>world.
>
>They show intense respect for each other's worlds.
>
>In a party, generally speaking, women and men mingle and talk freely but if 
>there are three or more women discussing something, men stay away and women 
>do the same when a group of men are talking among themselves.
>
>Those worlds intersect at times, men and women come together as masculine 
>and feminine, they know that they are different, they do not compete, they 
>do not compare, they help each other to fulfill their roles in life.  They 
>walk hand in hand in admiration of each other's differences, accepting and 
>celebrating them.
>
>When it comes to tango those facts are represented in the dance, there is a 
>feminine role and a masculine role.  They both men and women are highly 
>respectful of such roles.
>
>As an alternative women can perform the masculine role and men can do the 
>feminine  one, or each one can do both roles. As I explained before this is 
>not about machismo or homophobia at all. it is a mere explanation of the 
>origin of the roles in tango.
>
>There is a masculine and a feminine world at the milongas as well...but I 
>will discuss that later.
>
>Regards, Sergio
>
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