[Tango-L] Argentines vs. non-Argentines

[larrynla@juno.com]

Before you travel to Argentina you could benefit by spending some time 
with Deby Novitz's often funny, often insightful online diary of her 
years there since 2004.  And if you want an apartment for that time she 
has one in Palermo.

http://tangospam.typepad.com/
http://www.lavidacondeby.com/Home/welcome.htm

Deby writes -----------> To come here and not experience the culture - 
the food - pizza, empanadas, parilla, and the many other things that 
Buenos Aires has to offer is sort of sad.

I have to agree (though understand that I'm not claiming that Michael 
did not). BsAs - indeed, Argentina - is a beautiful, fascinating place. 
It deserves for everyone to play tourist there, in a way that respects 
those around you. It would also be a good idea to learn enough Spanish 
before you go so that you can get acquainted with some of the people. 
Tango dancing there is wonderful, but the tango people there are 
wonderfuller. Well, many of them anyway!

She also writes -----------> When people say they think that North 
Americans dance better than Argentines?  What your little feet are 
pointing better?  You have more figures?

It's my opinion that non-Argentine tango dancers ON THE AVERAGE do 
dance better than Argentine tango dancers ON THE AVERAGE. Perhaps this 
is comparing apples with oranges. I think it's more like comparing a 
huge barrel of apples someone randomly picked with a tiny basket of 
more carefully selected ones.

Or maybe it IS apples vs. oranges. I broached this subject to an 
Argentine at Lo De Celia who had lived in Boston for many years. He was 
amused and said something like, "You Americans! You take tango too 
serious. Loosen up! Tango is for fun."

Deby also writes -----------> The one thing you do not have is that you 
do not understand the music, the soul of tango.  North Americans, 
generally speaking are so concentrated on being the best technically 
they dance without soul.

I agree with this, especially since Deby qualifies her statement as 
"North Americans, GENERALLY SPEAKING..." For I believe that there are 
plenty of exceptions to this description of non-Argentine tango 
dancers. That there are many, all over the world, who hear tango music 
and feel a deep intuitive connection to it and to what some pieces of 
it tries wordless to say, and to the dance which (when we are at our 
best) expresses those pieces of music.

Surely others than Argentines can feel a deep sense of loss for a time 
or place or person forever lost? The joy of moving with the music and 
your partner and (if we are lucky) the others in the flow of dancers 
around the floor? The warmth of being with someone you like? The world-
brightening breathless excitement of embracing someone you find 
attractive?

I'm sure it works the other way. That there are many Argentines who 
hear the music and see the dance and are totally baffled and bored with 
what they see and hear. Just as there are many Americans who hear swing 
music and dancing, invented by (originally black) Americans, and are 
totally baffled and bored by it.

Larry de Los Angeles - novelette "Lady Death" added to
http://ShapechangerTales.com






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