[Tango-L] tango schizophrenia

['Mash]

On Wed, Jan 09, 2008 at 04:04:00PM +0000, Chris, UK wrote:
> > if I want to incorperate a particular style I search out those who
> > master it. Then by copying I start building a repertoire of skills
> 
> I have to say this reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of this dance 
> and the process by which it is learnt. Copying the style of another does 
> not build a repertoire of skills. At most it builds simply a copy of the 
> style of another.
> 
> Tango dance style is not something that can "incorporated" from others. It 
> is an expression of the dancer's personality, developed from within.
> 
> Mash, as for your "copy someone else's style /to/ /perfection/" (my 
> emphasis)... well, after you've actually been dancing for a year or two, I 
> think you'll discover quite how little such "perfection" is actually 
> worth. Even and /especially/ as a means to an end.

I think it must be easier to think in terms of your own style after many years of dancing, I can understand that. But for somone like myself who has a year and a half experiance "choosing style" is not something one really has the ability to do so easily. 

I totally agree with your point about how little perfection actually means in terms of the bigger picture, but I would say for some like myself, we get our confidence from knowning that we have placed our foot just right. Like knowning when you hit a golfball or tennis ball just right. It is at some level only when we are able to feel stable that then we can just relax. 

But as always, each to there own and I think it is naive of anyone to think that there is a set way of learning as we all learn to learn in different ways.

'Mash
London,UK