[Tango-L] How we learn

['Mash]

I know we write alot about how classes should be taught but I am wondering now how we actually learn Tango.
It would be interesting to hear from those who can still remember what it was like learning Tango for the first time. 

When I can I go along to the beginner (first time) classes due to the need for men and I love seeing how different people learn and react to being taught.

I have noticed that it is the men who generally get frustrated first, and are also the slowest to understand the steps by just watching them. It is the men who always ask... "So how do I know whether to do a backwards or forwards ocho?"
And the women without doubt tend to be the ones who stick no matter what to a set pattern of steps. I have watched how a teacher will demonstrate walking forwards, changing weight, walking forwards and immediately there is background chatter about whether there were two steps and then change or three steps and what leg did he start on...

What I am basically saying is that I think there is an automatic response to learning a dance even to those who have never danced in their lives. I believe we learn first and foremost from patterns whether we like it or not. The little I know of neuroscience confirms this. We learn by repetition and repetition meaning the same sequence over and over until it is etched into our memory and muscles. 

One wonders though if you were to set up the following experiment. 
What if you were to take a group of men and teach them Tango steps. Just the walking, the weight change and leading pivot and direction with ones chest. Then after say a month invite completely first time women to the class and ask the men to dance with the men and not telling the women anything other then to always face the man and turn with (follow) his chest. 

I would love to see if the women, now void of any talk of steps, number of steps, direction of steps; would just follow the men around the room. 


I personally know that there are almost waves of learning from days where it seems like rocket science to days it feels like walking down the street. What I would like to know is have teachers ever taken the time to find out just how people are learning. Why at times does the majority "get it" and other times people hide in the corners of the room. How many teachers take their students out for a drinks after class to get to know them and thus be able to change the way you give instruction to each student during class. Having the ability to give each student individual attention during a group class and in the best way is in my mind so important. 30 people in the room do not all watch the same way, do not hear the same way and certainly do not learn the same way.

I think teachers should worry less about WHAT they are teaching sometimes and first find out how their students are responding to HOW they are teaching. They may then be surprised at how creativity and musicality may never have to be formally taught as the students are dancing rather then trying to do Tango steps.


'Mash
London,UK

"Tango, like juggling with ice cream."