[Tango-L] What is tango? II

[Sergio Vandekier]

Style is:

a particular kind, sort, or type, as with reference to form, appearance, or character: the baroque style; The style of the house was too austere for their liking. 
 
When we talk of tango styles we have to say that there is an infinite number of tango styles, each person eventually dances his own style.
 
There are styles that are danced only by one person and there are styles that are danced by many persons.
 
There are styles that are very popular, and others that are a rarity.
 
What causes a style to become popular? - the fact that somebody starts to teach that particular style and creates a number of followers willing to dance in that particular form, and eventually to teach it to other dancers.
 
In Argentina people divide tango  1- as Salon : the one used for social dancing and 2- Stage, the one to use on stage for exhibitions.
 
Salon includes different styles, some rare, same very popular.
 
Tango tradicional as it is danced in my neighborhood of Villa Urquiza.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXU9nojcFQo  Elegant attire. Embrace in V. Close or open according to necessity.
 
Long steps. Use of firuletes (embellishments) boleos, amagues, ganchos, dibujos, walked turns with sacadas, etc.
Used for social dancing or for exhibitions. 
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7HmCGjYRYE   Tango tradicional. Social dancing .
 
Estilo Milonguero 9Milonguero Style) : As danced in Downtown Buenos Aires.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ylw2Qw20DOo  Formal attire, step length according to available space, usually small. Embrace is closed, it can be more framed in front of each other, the embrace is closed throughout the dance. Simpler steps adjusted to the lack of space and the close embrace. use of ocho cortado o milonguero.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUOJls_t_VY&feature=related
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zwA2um5rq0
 
Estilo Canyengue
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtTGni9kGYM  A historical style, danced in time of my grand parents.
 
Embrace in V, more apilado, both partners looking in the same direction and to the floor in front of them.
 
Left hand of the man at waist level. Small, rhythmic steps. Improvised with a different choreography.
 
 
Tango Nuevo
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyZq6sOLI0g  Semiformal or informal attire, style preferred by young people.
 
Open embrace, use of special technique for leading and following, use of unique technique for teaching, 
use of all the available firuletes (embellishments), utilization of a wide variety of tango music, non traditional and on occasions even non tango music.
 
Tango Elegante - Orlando Paiva - This would be a style that is not very popular. Orlando paiva is from Rosario, not from Buenos Aires it has taught in the USA, mostly in California and has a small group of followers in Argentina.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSPW4lqF7qg   The gentleman with white hair dancing with the lady in violet dress. this is a very elegant variation of Tango tradicional.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjpJhWFHCKA&feature=related  Orlando Paiva dancing at Sunderland in Villa Urquiza. Long steps, embellishments, formal attire, great elegance, long steps, stepping toes first.
 
Best regards, Sergio
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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