[Tango-L] Structure of Tango (Was: Four Layers of Tango Learning)

[Chris, UK]

Norm wrote

> Learn that this dance pattern has a noun and a verb and based on  
> the syntax (rules) of the language (dance), the verb follows the noun
> .... The latter would be learning the structure of Tango.

Indeed it would... if tango had any such structure. It doesn't. It can't, 
because it's not a symbolic language.

> Since different teachers use different approaches, you sometimes have  
> to translate what is being taught into your own language.

Sure. Here's the translation of Gustavo's basis for structural analysis:

 1) Sentences can be broken down into words.
 2) We've given names (symbols) to those words.

This is an attempt to create a symbolic language to represent the dance. 
In my opinion the best it can do is misrepresent. This makes it useless...

Keith wrote
> 'Structure of the Dance' sounds like another ploy to overly-complicate 
> the process of learning Tango. 

... except as a ploy to over-complicate the process of learning! ;)

> Stephen Brown has dug a deep hole for himself and is now struggling to
> get out. 'Structure of the Dance' as the 3rd of his 4 Layers

Steve has put himself in an interesting place ;) but I think there may be 
merit in principle in the idea of layers of tango learning, so I'm looking 
forward to his further explanation. 

> All he can do is refer to other teachers and make a list of some of the
> more  common steps and figures that are danced in Tango.

Steve's Layer 3 has a little more than that. To find it, take out all the 
steps (as one must, since Steve includes those in Layer 4) and one is left 
(correct me if I am wrong, Steve) with what he's proposing as the Structure.

For example, that ochos are a sub-class of turns. So Steve, I'd like to 
hear a) why you think ochos are /necessarily/ a sub-class of turns b) and 
how this is useful to learning.

> don't think about it too much and you'll learn how to dance.

Agreed.

> Leave the theory alone until you want to start sounding important on
> Tango-L.

...or to start teaching Gustavo-style advanced seminars ;)

--
Chris