[Tango-L] Women's role

[Carol Shepherd]

Rather than relying on references to the superiority of ethnicities and 
other stereotypes in discussing the building of one's dance prowess:

The best method I have seen to teach women to follow (any dance), is to 
simply ask them to close their eyes in partner work.

A. The lead and the move itself has to be mechanically and rhythmically 
correct for them to know what is being asked.  This quickly flushes out 
any balance and axis problems.

B. They won't be able to anticipate.

An 'eye opener' for the man who is used to back leading, as well.  A 
win-win technique.



Trini y Sean (PATangoS) wrote:
> A well-known American teacher/dancer told us an interesting
> story about the first time he learned tango, which was with
> Argentine women (his stepfather is Argentine).  He tried to
> take his first step, and the Argentine woman he was with
> didn't budge.  He felt that it was if she was saying to him
> "Boy, if you are going to learn this dance, you're gonna'
> do it right."  That memory still influences him today.
> 
> So WB, your assessment is probably right.  Add to that that
> these men (with Italian influences) were probably trying to
> please their mothers first!
> 
> More comments are made/heard about the good leaders' role
> in part because women like to make men feel powerful and
> assured.  So women keep their wiles to themselves.
> 
> Trini de Pittsburgh
> 
> --- "tangosmith at cox.net" <tangosmith at cox.net> wrote:
> 
>> Best thread in many moons!
>>
>> Usually we see the comments on the great leading ability
>> of Argentine men,
>> which is generally attributed to either being immersed in
>> the music for
>> many years and/or being products of the Latin machismo
>> culture.  But
>> considering this discussion, could it also be the impact
>> of years dancing
>> with Argentine women?  
>> In my view, the characteristics described here about good
>> tangueras (i.e.,
>> awareness of their considerable feminine power,
>> understanding their role in
>> the embrace and dance), are generally embodied by
>> Argentine women.  (In my
>> experience, anyone who considers them weak or as prey
>> would do so at
>> considerable risk!).   
>>
>> There is often discussion of the impact that a leader has
>> on the follower. 
>> How much can it work the other way around?  Would it be
>> surprising for a
>> leader who has the opportunity to dance regularly with
>> the kind of great
>> followers described here to be a better leader for it?
>>
>> WBSmith
>>
>>
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> 
> 
> 
> 
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-- 
Carol Ruth Shepherd
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