[Tango-L] To the ladies on Tango-L - What makes for a good dance?

[Barbra]

I have said it before in this forum - but for me, as a follower, the 
essence of tango is a warm embrace (I use the baby-holding analogy all 
the time), confident walk and musicality - that's it.  Everything else 
- the fancy stuff - is fun only when well and safely done, and it's 
tango only if the basic three elements are there.  Otherwise, it's 
something, but it's not tango - to me.

When new folks show up at milongas for the first time, I like to ask 
them who they think is the "best" on the floor.  Invariably they pick 
the folks doing the ganchos, high boleos, lots of kicking, etc.  When I 
ask them again after they've actually been dancing for a while, 
especially followers, they have usually changed their minds and enjoy 
the connection and quiet, intimate expression that I think of as tango.

barbra

-----Original Message-----
From: June es <esjune at hotmail.com>
To: tango-l <tango-l at mit.edu>
Sent: Wed, Oct 14, 2009 7:32 pm
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] To the ladies on Tango-L - What makes for a good 
dance?











Myk, your questions deserve some response. Here's my humble opinion.

Embrace.
1. When a leader's embrace is gentle but firm, this provides a sense of 
security
to the follower. When a follower feels secure, that person can follow 
you
better. Gentle and firm sound like a paradoxical situation but I think 
of being
a baby held in someone's arms and feeling secure because the hold is 
gentle but
firm.
2. I also like an embrace that is flexible, allowing the follower to 
move within
the framed space, even in a close embrace. Let me suggest that you 
think how you
like to be held for three minutes or so, and you get the idea that you 
must be
allowed to breath in and out freely when you are in that hold. I always 
imagine
the bandoneon's expansion and compression which is undoubtedly an 
exaggerated
way of looking at how the embracing arm can allow the framed space (and 
the
follower in it) to "breath".

Fun moves.
They are fun, but the leader must gauge the follower's ability to 
execute the
moves without injury to both dancers and those around them. I enjoy 
them myself
but only if I am confident that the leader has the correct timing and 
stability
to support me. Skill is required from both dancers.

Music, music, music.
This factor determines whether you walk simply or swirl busily. Let the 
music be
your guide, and respect those around you while lose yourself in the 
music. I can
talk forever about musicality, but I won't do so here.

What's regarded a good dance?
I dare say it depends on one's mood, so it can vary from one moment to 
another.
At 1am at a milonga I am happy to relax into soft movements. But if a 
vals is
played, I am prepared to dance more expressively. If a leader is 
sensitive and
picks up on the follower's ability and mood, the leader can allow the 
follower
more freedom to determine how she implements his lead. It's about give 
and take
- a converstaion between two people.

I hope this helps.

_________________________________________________________________
Take a peek at other people's pay and perks Check out The Great 
Australian Pay
Check
http://clk.atdmt.com/NMN/go/157639755/direct/01/
_______________________________________________
Tango-L mailing list
Tango-L at mit.edu
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l