[Tango-L] exchanges

[Carol Shepherd]

I am (happily!) recovering from hosting at a weekend dance exchange, so 
I thought I would share a different perspective on exchanges.

In lindy and swing, exchanges are usually just for social dancing: no 
lessons, showcases or demonstrations, just non-stop dancing and dancing 
with as many different partners from as many different places as 
possible.  It's a jubilant and inclusive celebration of love for dance. 
  There is usually an outreach component to the exchange -- several of 
the venues involve dancing in a public space so that everyone can see 
how much fun it is to learn to dance and be a social dancer.  This past 
weekend was a soul, blues and Motown exchange and we danced in a 
progression of different storefronts and restaurants downtown and at a 
street music festival, to promote social dancing to the masses...but 
more importantly, because it's really fun ;)

I have been to tango festivals, salsa congresos, and swing and lindy 
exchanges.  The energy at the tango festivals, to me, is of a different 
kind.  In tango there seems to be a higher percentage of people who are 
focused exclusively on the refining of technique and one's place in the 
dance hierarchy.  A lot of tango seems to be about constantly learning 
learning learning and 'not being worthy'.  Are there ever going to be 
times when we can drop the student demeanor and just 'come out and 
play'?  Maybe it's the inclusion of the lessons and workshops in tango 
weekends?...they become the weekend's focal point for those who would 
rather learn than dance.

I would love to see more exchange philosophy and energy (low-key, 
positive, inclusive, non-instructive, pure social dancing) in the US 
tango scene.

Make ochos not war,

-- 
Carol Ruth Shepherd
Arborlaw PLC
Ann Arbor MI USA
734 668 4646 v  734 786 1241 f
http://arborlaw.com

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