[Tango-L] Expanding social dancing to exhibition level?

[Lois Donnay]

This brings to mind a cautionary tale for any tango dancer, one I often tell 
my students.

I often see Judy y Jon when I am in Buenos Aires, because it is hard to miss 
them. Jon walks in with his characteristic Tango Hat, and makes a point of 
greeting the big shots so everyone see. I hear that Judy is the good dancer 
of the couple, but Jon is the flamboyant one.

Several years ago I danced with Jon in a milonga in Buenos Aires. It was 
surprisingly awful, because I couldn't connect. Now, usually I can give even 
the rankest beginner a great dance because I can provide a good connection. 
But Jon was holding me in such an unusual way that it seemed he was actually 
holding me away from him. He just was not letting me in. But this isn't the 
interesting part.

After the dance, Jon said to me "You're doing a good job. Don't get 
discouraged, tango is a difficult dance" or something to that effect. In 
other words, he put all of the blame on me. I am assuming he thought I was a 
beginner, so walked me around the floor in a way that limited either of us 
to enjoy ourselves.

So here is the cautionary tale. Never assume that you are a better dancer 
than your partner, or you will ruin it for both of you. Approach each dance 
as an honor that someone has entrusted their time and their body to your 
care.

Lois Donnay
www.mndance.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Janis Kenyon" <Jantango at feedback.net.ar>
To: "Tango-L" <Tango-L at MIT.EDU>
Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2007 12:31 PM
Subject: [Tango-L] Expanding social dancing to exhibition level?


> CLOSE EMBRACE SALON TANGO FOR EXHIBITION
> Wednesday 7-9 PM Sept. 12, 19, 26
> A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO EXPAND YOUR SOCIAL DANCE TO EXHIBITION 
> LEVEL...>
>
> I give them credit for knowing what sells in the USA tango market.  That's
> all that is being taught (sold) these days as tango in BsAs.  Is social
> dancing for exhibition?
>
> <They are true milongueros and strive to bring the milonguero culture of
> Buenos Aires to their students.>
>
> True milongueros?  Writing this about themselves only proves they don't
> understand the meaning of the word.  Besides, no milonguero would teach 
> for
> the purpose of exhibition.
>
>
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