[Tango-L] Villa Urquiza, et al

[Deby Novitz]

I would have to concur with Ron.  I find it almost laughable that people 
who have never been to Buenos Aires tout themselves as teaching the 
Villa Urquiza style of tango.  This form of tango, along with orillero 
is almost never danced anymore.  I learned to dance Villa Urquiza from 
Pocho who is 84 years old.  It is very demanding on the woman.  I have 
seen variations of Villa Urquiza in some of the milongas, and always 
danced by people who are older than 70.  It is not taught here.  
Probably never was except by uncles or brothers or cousins.

Orillero is a form of tango that was danced in Villa Devoto.  Mimi 
taught me a variation of the dance for an exhibition we did when she 
visited San Francisco when I still lived there.  Orillero is the one 
form of tango where the woman mimics the steps of the man.  The back 
step cross is very distinct and I use it in some of my steps. Like Villa 
Urquiza it is not taught.  You see it danced in shows but never in the 
milongas.

Tango never became big business until the crisis hit here in 2001.  In 
2003 the government saw tango as an opportunity to promote tourism.  
There were seminars presented by the government to the tango business 
community on how to maximize their business.  Overnight everyone became 
a teacher, a shoe store, a clothing store, a specialized hotel, tour 
agency for tango.  Prices went through the sky.  After all, why should 
people pay less just because it was Buenos Aires.  A pair of tango shoes 
now costs upwards of $90.

Now that we have so many "new" tango teachers everyone needs an angle.  
It is no longer enough to say that you are from Argentina.  So now 
people say they teach "Villa Urquiza", "Estilo Amagro", "Milonguero" or 
whatever else sounds good.  People who have been dancing less than 2 
years now have ads in the local magazines as teachers and taxi dancers.  
It is horrifying.  These people are the ones who are teaching and 
traveling.  A brother sister duo who have a huge bankroll for full color 
page ads have danced less than 2 years.  A friend of mine and Sandra's 
who is a taxi dancer who cannot dance is currently teaching in Germany 
for 4 months.  It is pretty crazy.

Then there is those of us who are so far removed from this scene.  We go 
to the milongas to dance and see our friends.  I never look out at the 
floor and think "Wow, he is dancing apilado"  or "I want to dance with 
that guy who dances estilo Amagro."  No, instead it is more like, "I 
want to dance with El boracho, but he wont give me the time of day."  or 
"Que hermoso este tango, quien puede bailar conmigo."  (How beautiful 
this tango, who can dance with me)  I don't ever recall my friends here 
in Argentine lamenting about styles or names of styles ever.  They may 
watch a certain couple and comment on their dance (Que elegante o que 
disastre). For us tango is always about the music.




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