[Tango-L] Note taking

[Michael]

I read some messages about note taking. Some use words, others use diagrams with a special legend (dotted lines, solid lines, etc.) I take notes at workshops and during my private lesson. I then typed them up in Word Perfect. Then I found that was really the wrong way to go about it. My notes are now grouped by subject, e.g. sacadas, vals, ochos. I found I saved a lot of space by creating a general section so I wouldn't have to repeat the same comments over and over, e.g. collect before pivoting, keep hips back, etc.

I remember a tango weekend in Reno, NV. The whole weekend I wrote down my steps. When I returned home and showed them to my teacher, he said "Fine. Now what is the woman supposed to do?"  The stunned look on my face was a Kodak moment to my teacher. I thought the $1000 I spent on air fare, hotel, registration was a waste. He told me I learned an important lesson. 

Since that time, my notes from workshops concentrate on what I'm supposed to lead the woman. Whereas before I wrote side left and syncopate, pivot woman to her left; it's now lead woman in front ocho.

The only problem I can see is when people think there's only ONE way to execute a figure. My teacher is fond of saying "What you lead in one direction, you can lead in the other direction." I correct him "No, Joe. What YOU lead in one direction, YOU can lead in the other direction. I'm not sure about me."

Michael Ditkoff
Washington, DC

I'd rather be dancing Argentine Tango


I'd rather be dancing Argentine Tango