[Tango-L] What is tango? [Tango Clasico]

[Tango Society of Central Illinois]

On 12/9/07, Alex <alex at tangofuego.us> wrote:
>
> Mis dos centavos...
>
> re: From: "Tango Society of Central Illinois"
> Subject: [Tango-L] What is tango?
>
> A] No - this is ballroom or "American" tango - a competitive "event".
> B] No - Finnish tango is based on ballroom
> C] Practica X - Yes and No. - Nuevo, it's close...very close...
> D] Milonga @ El Beso - Yes, most definitely. Social argentine tango as it
> has been for 80 years or so....
>
> I think the defining term is "Argentine" Tango...a DJ in Denver recently
> suggested that we start calling it Tango "Tipica"...based on the history
> of
> the use of the word "tipica" by orchestras and musicians to define
> authentic
> argentine tango...
>
> Here is his message to the Tango Colorado (TC) Yahoo Group:
>
> Back to the future
> Posted by: ruddy
> Sun Nov 18, 2007 2:22 pm (PST)
>
>
> My proposal is that henceforth here in Colorado we should adopt the
> example set down for us lo so many decades ago and start adding the
> label Tipica to traditional dance events. E.g., Milonga Tipica or
> Practica Tipica to indicate that traditional tango music will be
> ruthlessly and generously played. That way we can all avoid the
> embarrassment/aggravation of paying for an event ill-suited to our
> tastes and sensibilities.
>
>
Alex,

I like your idea. Milonga Tipica. It sounds good.  I also suggest for
consideration 'Milonga Clasica' to identify that only classic tango music
will be played. It might (and should) also imply that the milonga is for
social dancing, not exhibition tango demonstrated on the social dance floor.

Perhaps we could also call social tango as danced in Buenos Aires milongas
'Tango Clasico' so people know what we are talking about.

The reason I raised the question 'What is tango?' is because the label
'tango' has been used in several ways to describe some very different
expressions of 'tango'.

Tango at El Beso (or most Buenos Aires milongas) is social tango, apparently
pretty much the same as it has been danced at Buenos Aires milongas for 60+
years. The social tango of Buenos Aires is the foundation from which all
other versions of tango have been derived, very early (early 20th century)
for Ballroom Tango and Finnish Tango, more recently for Tango Nuevo. One
could argue that this is Tango (no adjective modifier required).

One could define 'tango' as

A social dance danced to traditional tango music in social dance clubs in
Buenos Aires, characterized by a maintained close embrace, using walking
steps, pivots and turns, progressing in a line of dance around the dance
floor.

By that definiation, only Tango Clasico would be tango.

However, linguists will often accept the public's use of language as
legitimate and one could argue that all videos represent tango. Informative
labeling of the type of dancing at an event would be helpful.

Now, for most of us, we don't expect to find Finnish Tango outside of
Finland and Ballroom Tango outside of a Ballroom Dance setting. The only
tangos that compete for space are Tango Clasico and Tango Nuevo. It is, in
fact, the mixing of these two on the same dance floor that is the cause of
many arguments on this list.

Let's face it, Tango Clasico and Tango Nuevo are different dances, even if
they share common roots and, to some degree, common movements and common
music. Compare the El Beso video to the Practica X video. A Martian
ethnomusicologist (or better yet, an 8 year old human child) will tell you
these are different dances.

A lot of the conflict between Tango Clasico and Tango Nuevo could be
resolved by having a Milonga Clasica and a Milonga Alternativa. Then we
don't have to fight over what is tango and what is not, but at least the
tanguero will know where he or she best fits in.

Ron