[Tango-L] Discussion Topics

[steve pastor]

Most likely because there is no one "right" way to dance tango, but also because 
  there is so much to learn, there can be an awful lot of crossed signals and 
  misinformation floating around.
  One of my instructors here in Portland always sent out via email "class notes" after
  each class he taught. I value this written record of what was taught in class very 
  highly. 
  It isn't a substitute for the actual movement or sensation, but it does serve as a touch 
  stone when something doesn't feel right, or when there are questions about something 
  I think I know.
  Many people who have been in the same classes as I have never even looked at the notes. 
  Seems that I did hear somewhere that we don't all learn the same way.
   
   
  

Jay Rabe <jayrabe at hotmail.com> wrote:
  From: rtara at maine.rr.com

No camera or note can tell you as much as your body memory.
------------------

My 2cents:

No argument with the statement. Agree completely. But there's more to the 
actuality.

How many correct repetitions of a movement does it take before it is 
embedded in your body memory? How often do you take a class and get enough 
time to do enough repetitions that your body remembers it? How often have 
you taken a class in which you were told to do things a particular way, and 
maybe gotten that into your body memory to some degree, only to take the 
next class from a different instructor and be told something condradictory?

A lot of people who've attended festivals here in Portland and elsewhere 
have experienced that point of saturation, about the third day usually, when 
you can't seem to remember details of the classes you took the first day. 
There are a lot of reasons for that of course, not the least of which is 
that tango instructors are notorious for teaching "their" brand of tango, 
and while we sincerely admire and love them for sharing their unique soul 
with us, the problem can arise that their techniques may flatly contradict 
those of other instructors, leading to a lot of cognitive as well as body 
memory confusion.

I've taken notes during classes, and I've videotaped class summaries, and I 
find such devices helpful to remind me of details. But I wouldn't expect to 
learn, or expect anyone else to learn, from just reading my notes. They are 
just a mnemonic reminder. Then I can go back to the dancefloor and repeat 
the movement the number of times needed to sink it into my body memory.

J in Portland
www.TangoMoments.com

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