[Tango-L] Interview with Gustavo Naveira, Part 1

[Jake Spatz (TangoDC.com)]

List,

Looks like Dani and I still won't get to fight (yet again), as I second 
his opinion of Chris's posts here. And I believe I can help unpack the 
critical perspective from which Chris writes-- and he can certainly 
correct me if I'm mistaken about anything.

What Chris (appears to have) criticized isn't Gustavo's dancing, but 
rather his analytical approach-- or rather, others' ubiquitous reliance 
on it. That's certainly open to criticism, and should be. I've 
criticized the particular content of his analysis myself (insofar as I 
know what that content is: perhaps the Diet version in circulation is 
what I have a problem with). But others criticize it for the simple 
reason that it isn't everything or even the key thing about the dance, 
since it maps movement and therefore moves-- and doing moves, of course, 
is not the same thing as dancing.

Now, one would hardly expect an analysis of movement to tell you 
everything about good dancing. I think it's only the plethora of (bad) 
move-centric performers, and those who emulate them, who are responsible 
for promoting this stuff above its proper station in some people's eyes. 
But nonetheless it does get elevated; and so criticism of it can be not 
only deserved, but quite healthy, to keep things in perspective.

In any case, I don't believe Chris is guilty of judging Gustavo by his 
fans, which is the only real crime possible by now, for a critic. He's 
in fact criticizing the fans, if you bother to read with pre-Info Age 
care. For my part, I value Chris's noncompliance-with-herd-opinion very 
highly. And I also think Gustavo & Giselle are brilliant dancers-- and 
that their "moves" are the least interesting part of it.

Jake
DC



Club~Tango*La Dolce Vita~ wrote:
> Club ~Tango*La Dolce Vita~
> ~ Dani Iannarelli ~
>  
> Hi Manuel / Tangueros,
>
> No, I don't class you as one of the tango 'nerds' ('anoraks' in equivalent UK parlance). In fact, I see you as my southern hemisphere "El Zorro de Tango" counterpart...!   :-)))))
>
>   
>> The deal is this, I don't believe in deifying anyone in tango or in any other facet of life
>>     
>
> Although I entirely agree with you, I have to say the Gustavo is, *for me*, one of the few exceptions, and it takes a great 'icon' for me to make any sort of exception!
>
> Having thus deified him (tango-wise), I still think "The Tango Lesson" was an utterly crap 'film'...!  >:-)))))
>
> Very best wishes
> Dani ~
> `El Zorro de Tango' >:-)))))
>  
> ~Tango*La Dolce Vita~
>  
> Email: dani at tango-la-dolce-vita.eu
> Website: http://www.tango-la-dolce-vita.eu
> Yahoo Group: http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/clubtango-ladolcevita
> Online photogalleries: http://www.flickr.com/photos/club_tango-la-dolce-vita/
> http://www.flickr.com/people/club_tango-la-dolce-vita/
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: WHITE 95 R <white95r at hotmail.com>
> To: dani at tango-la-dolce-vita.eu; keith at tangohk.com; Tango-L at mit.edu
> Sent: Tuesday, 26 June, 2007 9:56:42 PM
> Subject: Re: [Tango-L] Interview with Gustavo Naveira, Part 1
>
>
> Hi Danni,
>
> I understand your point of view. I hope you don't lump me in the tango-nerd 
> category as I'm fairly iconoclastic myself ;-))) The deal is this, I don't 
> belive in deifying anyone in tango or in any oither facet of life. Actually, 
> I rather skeptical abput all the waxing lirycal about the innefabilty of the 
> tango moment, etc. I actually consider many of the current icons of tango 
> (in the US, Argentina and the world) to be fairly overrated and IMHO, some 
> are outright frauds. However, I'm not disposed to attack, denean or 
> otherwise defame any of these folks or their teachings and doctrines. 
> Perhaps Chris is merely stirring up controversy or trying to inject humor in 
> the discussion. The problem is that things  written in these forums can 
> sometimes become de facto "truths". I just wanted to set the record 
> straight.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Manuel
>
> visit our webpage
> www.tango-rio.com
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>
>