[Tango-L] Male / Female - Defining the different roles.

[Michael]

Now I understand comments from Mario and Sean. Sometimes, the woman takes 
control of the dance. The best class I ever took was at the  New York Tango 
Festival. Virginia Kelly taught a class on Interleading. (I didn't find 
anything on youtube but I found some google links if anybody is interested.)

Here's an example. I lead the woman in a forward ocho to my right. She 
pivots on her right foot to her right. My right foot is next to her right 
foot. She steps over my right foot with her left foot. Before I can lead the 
next step, she grabs my right foot with her right foot. I'm at her mercy and 
don't have a clue what comes next. The woman has to lead the next step. In 
this case, I wasn't completely responsible for the physical aspect (leading 
and following) of the dance.

Tango also has an emotional aspect of the dance though you're not going to 
have it with every partner. I remember dancing with a New Yorker - - in 
Florida, while I was on vacation a few years ago. She held me so closely, 
that if I was even closer, I'd be behind her. She whispered into my ear 
"don't do figures" so I stopped the fancy stuff. We moved slowly across the 
floor feeling every beat of DiSarli. (I'll never forget that tanda.)

I read Mario's comment that the woman has absolutely no role. I've danced 
with women who set the cadence. Technically their adornments shouldn't 
impact my lead. but sometimes I move slower than usual to ensure I don't 
push them off their axis.

Michael
I danced Argentine Tango --with the Argentines

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jack Dylan" <jackdylan007 at yahoo.com>


Sean, you may well be right but I'd like to hear more about your views.

The man is the leader and must surely take responsibility for the dance. All 
the steps, pauses, cadence and tiempo are determined by the man. Yes, the 
lady can make great contributions with what happens between the steps and 
can, occasionally, if the man is sensitive, even influence the man's next 
lead, but it's still difficult to see how Mario's statement is not correct.

Jack
**************************************************************************************************
Mario  wrote:
>
> One of the differences in roles that most impresses me is how the man is 
> responsible for the dance itself. That is; he sets the cadence the 
> movements the vital feel of the dance.
*************************************************************************************************
> Sean wrote:
>
This is the man's archetypal fantasy of tango. It is so important, that if 
you take it away from him, then what you have left might not even be tango. 
The problem then is, it has been repeated so many times that women are 
starting to
believe it too.