[Tango-L] What does it take?

[Joe Grohens]

Jack Dylan wrote:

> Mario, Don't make the mistake of trying to model your dance on  
> someone else. Ricardo Vidort and the other milongueros come from a  
> bygone age. Yes, let's marvel at their dancing but, when a  
> milonguero dies, his dance dies with him and that's the way it has  
> to be. What you need to do is find your own dance. Take lessons,  
> learn good technique, learn some figures, practice, dance a lot and,  
> eventually, your own dance will come, And it'll be your dance and no  
> one else's. Jack

....

It is very true what Jack says - one needs to find one's own dance.

In my experience, that process of finding your dance does involve  
seeing things you like in other dancers, and trying to do them  
yourself, and keeping the parts that fit your body's abilities,  
personality, and dance circumstances.

I think imitation can be a valid first step towards acquiring your own  
style. I suppose it's possible to end up being merely an imitator, but  
that's only if imitation is where you stop your development.

It is very hard to really imitate fully the style of another dancer.  
And copied stylistic traits always look like an inferior copy.

Joe