[Tango-L] The Basic Elements of Tango

[RonTango]

In addressing the level of workshops at the recent Chicago Tango Week 
(http://chicagotangoweek.org/schedule.pdf):
 
“Intermediate: You have been taking classes regularly at least once a week and 
going to milongas regularly at least once a week for at least a year. You have 
also attended one or more intensive workshop weekends and festivals. You have 
achieved some proficiency in the foundations such as posture, embrace, balance, 
flexibility, lead, follow and the walk and have some experience with basic 
elements i.e. turns, gancho, volcada, colgada, sacada etc. You are comfortable 
on the floor and have put in at least a few miles on crowded dance floors. You 
are also able to comfortably lead or follow.”
 
The assertion is that “ganchos, volcadas, colgadas, and sacadas” are basic 
elements of tango. Assuming this refers to social tango (“a few miles on the 
crowded dance floors”), there is a problem of misrepresentation of tango here. 
By these standards the milongueros in Buenos Aires have not yet reached the 
intermediate level, despite some having danced 40-50 years. This is ever so 
clearly indicated in this recent blog post that provides links to a dozen videos 
of milongueros dancing in the milongas of Buenos Aires:
 
http://tangovoice.wordpress.com/2010/07/06/milongueros-dancing-tango-in-the-milongas-of-buenos-aires/

 
or simply:
 
http://tangovoice.wordpress.com/
 
for this blog in general.
 
The most relevant part here is the quote:
 
“General Characteristics of the Dance of the Milongueros …

Regarding movements that are often the topics (titles) of tango workshops 
marketed around the world, there were no volcadas, colgadas, or arrastres. The 
only sacadas seen were a few used by Alberto Dassieu. Forward ochos were seen in 
rare instances, but none were “overturned”. Where the milongueros show 
exceptional technique is in fitting tight turns in small spaces. Thus, the dance 
of the milongueros looks simple to the eye with respect to movement. The tango 
dance of the milongueros is not about exploring spatial relationships that could 
exist between partners and other couples on the pista. It is about exploring the 
temporal variation in the music, sharing this with a woman in the embrace.”
 
 
The obsessive attention paid to movement possibilities in tango workshops around 
the world is not improving tango dancing. Milonga dance floors have become 
increasingly chaotic. Instead of wasting their money supporting instructors and 
festival organizers who are misrepresenting tango, tangueros should travel to 
Buenos Aires regularly and observe how the masters of tango social dancing, the 
milongueros, dance tango in the cultural environment where tango social dancing 
has evolved and still thrives today.

Ron