[Tango-L] Milonguero style, style vs. technique

[Igor Polk]

Nina's writing about Technique vs. Style is interesting and I guess reflects
the point of view of an artist.
I am an engineer. Though I agree with what Nina say, I look at the things
from slightly different angle.

There are techniques which contradict each other. For example, do you dance
without lean at all, or in very deep and strong lean like in Canyengue? And
there is a whole scale of variations of the amount and point of contact
application: from chest to belly (and even heap), from "directly in front"
to "to the side".

Taking one of the position, and trying to dance the whole dance in it you
will find that it demands certain changing of technique for every elements:
they are done differently. The very basic design principle builds the style
in relation to this basis. It may call for new types of artistic expressions
and forbid others.

It is like material what an artist will use: marble or granite - the outcome
will be different.

Another example is what element you take as a structural basis of the dance:
straight walk, ocho-cortado, molinete ( that is Tango Nuevo ), boleo. The
outcome is going to be different.

Pattern and amount of energy flow, rhythmical patters, (sharp or slow),
certain types of bodies ( long and slim or short and chubby), amount and
type of the dance floor, all can define styles.

There is another aspect of what defines style like Trini and Nina mentioned:
social. In certain areas, in certain clubs they tend to dance more or less
similarly, with time creating what could be called the style of this club,
place or this epoch. Especially where dance carries a certain social
function.

Going deeper, every recognizable dancer has his own style. Jake's thought is
still in my mind: call the styles by the names of great dancers. It is very
clear and they deserve it. ( Milonguero style - it is "Susana Miller's"
style to be frank ). It reflects deep and systematic thinking and working on
the dance, the independent, individual contribution to the art and science
of the dance.

Emotions play their role in style definition, but that mostly is dictated by
music, and only the best of the dancers can manipulate well with it.

See? Millions of styles ! Dozens of types of what is a style !!!

Igor Polk.
PS. When people attend to "How to dance to D'Arienzo" type of lessons, that
is the styles what they learn.
Or supposed to.