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

[Korey Ireland]

I can't imagine why I'm replying to this, but for what its worth:

Has it occurred to the collective wisdom on the list that many of the  
same dancers show up at el beso, and practica x, that one can often  
see ocho cortados in close embrace at villa malcolm, and elements  
generally described as nuevo at Sunderland?

The tango world (at least Buenos Aires ) is not nearly as segregated  
and clearly defined as the discussion here suggests.

Furthermore the idea of "tango as it has been danced in buenos aires  
for 60+ years" is almost meaningless as a definition.  I contend tango  
in Buenos Aires has been in constant transition over these decades,  
and that a dancer from the center of town and a dancer from the  
outskirts would differ tremendously in interpretation of "the one true  
tango."

Perhaps we can find an understanding of tango as an activity that  
brings people together with a healthy mix of tradition and innovation  
where there may be a wide range of styles and preferences.  I don't  
see much to be gained by sub-dividing and segregating this sub-culture  
beyond what happens just by preference.  And when we attempt to  
define, pin-down, or limit this phenomena we only reveal the limits of  
our perspectives.  (and of course all of us have limited perspective  
on this activity which spans decades and continents, no one will know  
definitively what its is, how it is practiced, or where its going....)

respectfully,
Korey

On Dec 9, 2007, at 4:53 PM, Tango Society of Central Illinois wrote:

> 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
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