[Tango-L] Breaking the 'paso basico.'

[Nina Pesochinsky]

The legends told in 1996, dating back to 1983, had it that 8CB was 
invented in the spirit of balloom dances to give AT a point of 
reference where to start, when no one seemed to be able to find any 
other point of reference for the improvisational nature of 
tango.  Stage has influenced that a lot as well, as modern dancers 
tried to figure out what this dance was when it returned to 
popularity in the early 80s.

Following the history of development of certain movements in tango, 
another legend told that the cross was invented in the late 
30s/early40s as an entrance into the turns, which became complicated 
as the music has changed with two prominent orchestras.

When dancers began to look closer at the improvisational nature of 
tango, it became clear that there is no basic step, only fundamental 
principles, such as crossed and parallel relationship to the woman's 
feet, and a few conventions, such as the cross and the sequence of 
the woman's steps in the turns.

Teaching an 8CB is alright, ecxcept that it is a slow and very 
old-fashioned way of teaching and dancing.  It is not as efficient as 
teaching can be when focused on basic principles instead of combinations.

I hope this helps.

Best regards,

Nina



At 09:39 AM 2/13/2008, you wrote:
>Nina, and everybody else,
>
>This has got nothing to do with Oscar Casas. He's just one Argentine
>teacher who I happened to come across on YouTube teaching the 8CB.
>I'm talking about something much bigger and not specific to any
>particular teacher. I want to know why American teachers advocate
>teaching Tango differently than Argentine teachers. And, right now,
>I'm using the 8CB as an example. Argentines teach it and nobody has
>a problem. Americans teach it and, it seems, everybody has a problem.
>I just want to know why. Personally, I think the problem is the way it's
>taught, whereas teachers on this list say the 8CB is the problem and it
>shoudn't be taught.
>
>That's what I want to talk about, but it seems like nobody else does.
>
>Keith, HK
>
>
>  On Wed Feb 13 23:49 , Nina Pesochinsky  sent:
>
> >Keith,
> >
> >You are doing a fine job wasting your own time.  If I have not heard
> >of this Oscar and have to google him, that means he is not good
> >enough or famous enough to talk about. :)
> >
>
>
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