[Tango-L] The demise of Tango

[Tango Society of Central Illinois]

I don't know about flamenco, but there is a lot of truth in this post.

Outside Argentina, nuevo is rapidly becoming the de facto standard of
dancing at events advertised as 'milongas'. Non-tango music (including
'tango fusion') is becoming a standard part of the music played at
these events, even becoming the predominnt form of music at some
events labeled (or even not labeled) as 'alternative milongas'. In
Buenos Aires, except for a handful of venues (catering heavily to the
influx of dollars, euros, pounds, and yen) where nuevo and
alternatives to tango music are played for using 'steps' associated
with exhibition forms which have evolved (with non-tango influences)
from Tango de Salon, this does not exist. Instead, there are over 100
milongas per week where only classic tango music is played for dancing
tango and dancers dance some variation of Tango de Salon. The primary
exception to this as a general rule is that one will occasionally see
some tourists and Argentine instructors who cater to tourists who use
some exhibition moves that violate the codes of the milonga (keep feet
on the floor, respect the line of dance and space fo others on the
floor).

Yes, it is true that there are still milongas outside Argentina where
social tango dancing predominates and classic tango music is played.
However, over the last 2-3 years the trend has been towards more and
more exhibitions elements and non-tango music outside Argentina, such
that the Martian anthropologist would not recognize the milonga in
Buenos Aires and the events called 'milongas' outside Argentina as
sharing a common cultural heritage.

Whether this continues to the point that it will be necessary to hire
a detective to find traditional tango de salon and classic tango music
outside Argentine remains to be seen. Some have suggested to me that
this trend represents something only characteristic of the US MIdwest
(although some of my tango contacts familiar with the tango scene in
Europe have reported the same). In contrast, several people have
reported that the West Coast US is returning to social tango after a
short (and perhaps unfulfilling) romance with nuevo.

The problem with transmitting tango culture accurately to other
cultures is that other cultures have different preconceptions
regarding expression in dancing. 'Dancing with the Stars' in the US
and similar television programs in other countries reflect the
cultural value that good dancing is mastery of steps, often with
athletic qualities. Dancing is exhibition, showing off to the audience
that you have acquired physical skills. Nuevo readily satisfies these
preconceptions. Nothing could be further from the essence of Tango de
Salon, which focuses on the interpersonal connection of man and woman
in the embrace and their connection together with the music.

Teaching Tango de Salon outside Argentina is difficult. It does not
meet our cultural expectations regarding dance. So Tango de Salon may
become an endangered species outside Argentina. However, dancing in a
maintained close embrace and maintaining a connection with partner and
tango music is something that has lasted over 100 years in Argentina
and is likely to persist for some time to come. Maybe soon it will
become necessary to travel to Buenos Aires as the only way to
experience these pleasures of tango.

Ron


On Mon, Apr 27, 2009 at 8:35 AM,  <sopelote at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> "And any "connection advantage" that a porteño has from his understanding
> of traditional Tango music, the lyrics, the cultural context, etc., is
> negated when one is talking about nuevo tango music, much of which is
> mediocre techno pop with bandoneon added."  - Shankarah
>
>  I took up playing Flamenco guitar in the sixties. The 'Golden Age' of
> Flamenco had lasted into the early Fifties and was already heading somewhere else...I watched that beautiful and profound/feeling music slowly but steadily degrade from an in-home and neighborhood product (la juerga) into something staged strictly for it's look and entertainment.
> Anyone, championing the old, golden-age form of the song and dance was to
> be sadly disappointed as it disappeared from the culture. Today, we have
> the 'Gypsy Kings' and if you enjoy their music, you too, are part of the
> demise of a music that once easily brought tears to one's eyes.
>  Why should the 'progression' of tango be any different than that of Flamenco? On every side we hear champions of 'progress' and 'alternatives'.
> Trying to postpone what seems to be the inevitable will be like trying to woo children from ice cream back to good salads. In my opinion we need a revolution in the 'teaching' industry...We need more teachers who have risen from the ranks of the Milongas of BsAs..Milongueros who dance every night if possible. Somehow, they will have to also don the hat of a 'teacher' too and they will have to do it for the love of the art not just the moohlah $$$...this is a lot to ask. Say goodbye to Tango as we knew it..say hello to the new Gypsy Kings.