[Tango-L] Structure of the Dance and Improvisation

[romerob@telusplanet.net]

Stephen Brown wrote:

>One has to develop the intuitive or 
subconcious feel for the movements, and the only way to do so is by 
dancing.  The idea is to use the conscious mind to help train the 
intuitive mind for dancing.<

My 2 cents,

I will say that the structure of the dance as discussed previously allows 
dancers to become aware of the possibilities for movement. 

I have doubts about using the conscious mind to train the intuitive one, I 
think that what eventually happens is that the brain gets programmed gets 
programmed to remember, perform, and synchronize most difficult and seamless 
movements. 

The challenge in performing structured sets or permutations of movements' 
combinations as advocated by the structure of dance is that the dancers have to 
learn how to stitch movements.  

What appears to be advocated among some tango instructors of the structure of 
the dance is that if one train long and hard enough in trying movements' 
combinations it will convey to an audience the impression that one's dance is 
different and thought of being creative or improvisational.

What do I think is an improvisational dance?

I think the improvisational element in tango dance is an elusive one because to 
perform an improvisational dance, as supported information in this topic, the 
dancers must be willing to allow their bodies, not their minds, take control of 
the dance. To achieve such level in the improvisational sense is for the 
dancers to be willing to risk moving into performing loose movements for which 
dancers will not know how these loose movements are going to turn out.

Paraphrasing statements and winding down this topic

> "Only when he no longer knows what he is doing does the painter do good 
things."<
For me, it will be equivalent to allow my body to take control of the dance 
with the inherited risk that I may not know what comes up next, and eventually 
freeze on the dance floor.

> "Learn the changes and then forget them."<
I would interpret it as not doing anything about what I learned, but do the 
unexpected.

Cheers,

Bruno