[Tango-L] Elegant Moving and Quality Dancing

[Stephen.P.Brown@dal.frb.org]

I've been thinking about some common elements in several different threads 
recently on Tango-L.  These include New "nuevo tango" Sacrifices Tradition 
and Grace, the Atlanta Tango Festival Video, and the Flaco Dani videos.

I find myself wondering how many tango dancers understand the relationship 
between elegant movement and good dancing.  I suspect most see elegant 
movement as a matter of style, rather than an essential element of 
technique for dancing tango.  In my experience, the body control necessary 
for elegant movement is an essential element of good leading and 
following. 

(I'm not writing about being stiff.  That isn't good body control either.)

A lack of elegant movement limits the ability to dance.  A leader who 
attempts to lead improvisational movement without sufficient body control 
makes it difficult for the follower to execute her steps.  Some women can 
compensate for these problems.  A follower who moves without sufficient 
body control, knocks the man of axis and makes it difficult for him to 
execute the accompanying steps to the woman's movements he has just led. 
Again, some men can compensate for these problems.

Sacrificing the quality of movement, sacrifices the quality of the dance.

With best regards,
Steve