[Tango-L] taxi dancers

[El Mundo del Tango]

Traditional Tango is both in open and close embrace,(V-shaped) constantly 
switching between the two. The only "style" danced permanently in close 
embrace(squarre) is the so called "milonguero style" , which is not 
"milonguero" or "traditional" at all. It was created in the sixties and 
golden age milongueros never danced it.Quite the contrary,they despise it 
and called it "Caquero" or "Petitero".

Buenos Aires is a very large and diverse city. Open embrace, Salon and Nuevo 
are indeed danced in many places and there is nothing foreign about them.. 
It all depends who you ask, where you go, when you go, with whom, the music 
, floor conditions and your partner.
Back sacadas are beautifull and perfectly social if you know how to do them 
and moment is right.
To argue against them only shows your own limitations and your zeal to pass 
them on to your students.
In the U.S, in Buenos Aires and in Jupiter

Gabriel


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Crrtango at aol.com>
To: <Tango-L at mit.edu>
Sent: Monday, October 15, 2007 6:21 AM
Subject: [Tango-L] taxi dancers


> Just another perspective on this:
>
> Victor wrote: <I know from personal experience that it is really difficult 
> to
> get dances initially in BsAs (and sometimes in other places too!) 
> typically
> if you are not well known by the local dancers.>
>
> Yes, and there have been horror stories of spending two weeks in BA 
> without
> dancing at all by some people.   It isn't just that they don't dance with
> tourists or people they don't know; it's more a question of waiting to see 
> if you
> really know how to dance tango, meaning traditional, social tango and not
> performance and open embrace stuff, which is basically just showing off to 
> them. If
> that's all you do, don't expect your glances to be returned, because it 
> will
> be obvious you are a tourist. I dance and teach traditional tango ("close
> embrace" for the historically challenged) and I have never had a problem 
> getting a
> partner there, although I did have to get on the floor and convince the 
> women
> that I did know how to dance. I just grabbed the nearest woman (who was a
> beginner) and managed to struggle through, but at least I was able 
> demonstrate to
> those watching that I knew. Please heed what iis often repeated on this 
> list.
> Open embrace tango is not danced in the milongas there (with rare
> exceptions). Don't expect to impress anyone with ganchos or back sacadas 
> or whatever is
> the step of the month. You will just look foolish and obviously be a 
> tourist.
>
> re taxi dancing; it is hardly a new phenomenon. There were taxi dancers 
> here
> during the big band days and is not a bad idea if you can afford it. I 
> have
> been approached about being a taxi dancer for someone who lives in Buenos 
> Aires
> and comes to New York to visit and doesn't want to sit around at the 
> milongas
> waiting to be asked. However, if you hire one, you should still know how 
> to
> dance traditional tango. The real problem is that people, in the U.S. at 
> least,
> can't even agree on all the different names for the various styles of 
> showing
> off that is passed off as tango. "Salon" and "tango liso" (which evolved
> during the time of Di Sarli's orchestra and is called that because of it's 
> elegant
> smooth style - "liso" means smooth or polished) are often confused with
> performance, while "close embrace" which is basically traditional tango 
> (as is
> "milonguero" with a little variation) is just considered by people here as 
> another
> style among many. Go figure!
> Ironic isn't it, that all these tango stars make all this money by 
> teaching
> steps that you can't use down there. Caveat emptor.
> Okay, so dance whatever you want, to whatever music you like, but don't be
> surprised when you sit around at the BA milongas.
> Cheers,
> Charles
>
>
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