[Tango-L] Four Layers of Tango Learning

[Stephen.P.Brown@dal.frb.org]

David wrote:
>Would you be so kind as to explain what you mean by "Structure of the 
Dance"?<

As no one else is tackling this question, I will try with the hopes that 
someone will improve upon my comments.

There are two different chains of dancers/instructors who have developed 
systems for organizing the possibilities of tango.

One chain was created in a group of dancers led by Petroleo (Carlos 
Estevez) and Salvador Sciana.  Mingo Pugliese was one of the youngest 
members of the group and he is credited for distilling the groups thinking 
into a systematic approach to tango.  Mingo distilled the innovative 
concepts developed by Petroleo and Salvador Sciana during the golden age 
of tango into systems of generalized eight-count right and left turns 
(giros) that can be used as a frame of reference for all turning steps 
including giros, molinettes, enrosques and ganchos.

Another chain was started by Gustavo Naveira and involves people such as 
Fabian Salas, Chicho Frumboli (and possibly Pablo Veron).  Naveira with 
contributions from his compratiots developed a systematic way for looking 
at all the movement possibilities in tango.  Walking is divided into 
parallel and crossed systems.  Turns are seen as two sets of four-count 
right and left turns.  Ochos are seen as part of the sytem of turns, 
boleos are seen as interuptions in turns, back ochos are seen as 
equivalent with crossed walking. 

If we think of the dance as being made up of these elements discovered by 
these dancers/professors, we develop an understanding of the structure of 
the dance

I recommend reading Brian Dunn's interview with Gustavo Naveira:
http://pythia.uoregon.edu/~llynch/Tango-L/2006/msg04984.html
http://pythia.uoregon.edu/~llynch/Tango-L/2006/msg05040.html

Some video tapes come to mind for a visual representation--those by 
Gustavo Naveira and Olga Besio and those by Daniel Trenner.
See: http://www.tejastango.com/video_resources.html#Structure

The Pugliese videos might also be helpful, but they are bit less direct 
that they are teaching from a structural system.
See http://www.tejastango.com/bridge_tango.html#Pugliese

With best regards,
Steve