[Tango-L] Type A Tango

[Anton Stanley]

Can I put it this way: a cup of tea and a cup of coffee are both
fundamentally a cup of water with a small amount of flavouring. No amount of
blustering will convince me that they're fundamentally one and the same and
to shut up about espousing my preference for one or the other. To me they
are worlds apart and I perceive traditional and modern tango in a similar
vein. Even with an ever increasing number of flavours being introduced into
the cup of water, my preference and taste for coffee wouldn't be diminished.
I believe likewise in tango. Since joining this list some 4 years ago,
traditionalists have battled to resist the direction of enforced tango
evolution. The evolutionists claiming their concept of tango to be
evolutionary. Some in this category I believe confuse evolution and
mutation. Mutation can be a good thing. But it shouldn't be smoothed over by
tagging it evolution. And to attempt to stifle the conflict of these two
concepts by a simplistic "shut up and dance" is insulting to the advocates
of both pro and con. This list at its best provides a democratic forum to
voice opinions on deeply felt issues about tango. Whilst often tedious to
the extreme, tolerating opposing visions, I believe, is a sign of a healthy
and evolving tango community. 

PS. "Blowing out someone elses candle does not make yours burn brighter"
maybe not, but in a very closed environment it alows it to burn longer.


Anton


-----Original Message-----
From: tango-l-bounces at mit.edu [mailto:tango-l-bounces at mit.edu] On Behalf Of
meaning of life
Sent: Saturday, 25 December 2010 11:37 AM
To: sopelote at yahoo.com; tango list
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] Type A Tango

"Blowing out someone elses candle does not make yours burn brighter"

do some of you people really think that you, and you alone, hold the single
key to the "ark of tango". know what happens to false prophets? and
pretenders to the "throne"?
 
people, we are talking about a street dance with multiple contributions to
its' heritage. no one can know "the truth". you can only say "this is what i
was taught", or "this is what i saw on this day and time, at this place".
you can not speak authoritatively about that for which no "truth" exists.
 
i don't think ballet dancers are as judgemental as some of you people are,
and there are "real truths" about formal ballet. in ballet, there are books,
standards, accredation, and definable lineage. in tango, there are no such
things.
 
sheesh.
 
put your keyboards away, climb out of your mothers basements, and SHUT UP
AND DANCE
 
The Tangonista
Sponsered by P.E.T.A. (People Expressing Tango Attitude)
NOTICE - no cats were injured in the making of our music