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Digest from 23 Jun 1999 to 24 Jun 1999

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Sender: Discussion of Any Aspect of the Argentine Tango          <TANGO-L @MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
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Subject:  TANGO-L Digest - 23 Jun 1999 to 24 Jun 1999
There are 8 messages totalling 228 lines in this issue.

Topics of the day:

  1. question for DJs! [dancing to cortinas]
  2. "Tango Magic" on PBS
  3. Re[2]: Dancing to cortinas (4)
  4. tango magic
  5. dj's choices





Date:    Wed, 23 Jun 1999 15:30:48 +0200
From:    "Gabriella C. Marino" <gcmarino @IOL.IT>
Subject: Re: question for DJs! [dancing to cortinas]

As regards playing salsa/swing/folklore etc during a milonga, I think that's
fine, it helps ease tension and lift spirits and it happens almost
everywhere I've been to.
When I said that people were dancing to cortinas, I meant to the 20-second
breaks in between sets of tangos, which defies the object, because if
everyone stays on the dancefloor during that time, there's no opportunity to
change partners, rest, etc.
The idea of tandas I love, because they enable you to get used to and
confortable with a particular orchestra/style and you also know that the
mood won't be interrupted. In Rome where I lived before they still haven't
caught on and will play Piazzolla next to Canaro, for instance, followed by
one milonga and then maybe Goyeneche!
Going back to cortinas, maybe djs should use songs which people cannot
readily dance to, such as classical music, world music, or something typical
of a region. I noticed that in BsAs they would always use the same piece of
the same song and each milonga had its own distinctive one. It was never
salsa, or anything like that. They would play salsa, swing, folklore etc in
between tandas as another regular tanda, again sandwiched in between
cortinas, and it was a joy to watch people dance the different styles
because they're so talented and musical over there. I want to learn the folk
dance chacarera before I visit BsAs again because it's such fun.

Happy tangos!

Gabriella
(visit our new outdoor milonga on Fridays from 10 p.m. at Circolo Quaresimo,
Codemondo, Reggio Emilia, Italy)





Date:    Wed, 23 Jun 1999 09:30:49 PDT
From:    John Trimble <john.trimble @EXCITE.COM>
Subject: Re: "Tango Magic" on PBS

According to the programmer at the Dallas PBS station, this program is
available for pledge drives.   It's not scheduled for the next pledge drive,
but if it shows up in this market, it will be during a pledge drive.  I
presume it's the same everywhere...

A quick internet search didn't reveal it to be available on video.

John



On         Tue, 22 Jun 1999 23:41:41 +0000, Larry Carroll wrote:

> The Public Broadcasting System is airing a special on the
> history of tango. It's narrated by Hector Elizondo & has
> performances by "Forever Tango" dancers. The setting depicts
> Buenos Aires at the turn of the century.

John Trimble
john.trimble @excite.com
or backup john_trimble @hotmail.com

My web page has social dance venues in Dallas
http://home.switchboard.com/dancewithme




_______________________________________________________
Get your free, private email at http://mail.excite.com/





Date:    Wed, 23 Jun 1999 13:33:38 -0500
From:    Stephen P Brown <Stephen.P.Brown @DAL.FRB.ORG>
Subject: Re[2]: Dancing to cortinas

Gabriella C. Marino wrote:

>When I said that people were dancing to cortinas, I meant to the 20-second
>breaks in between sets of tangos, which defies the object, because if
>everyone stays on the dancefloor during that time, there's no opportunity
>to change partners, rest, etc. ...

[M]aybe djs should use songs which people cannot readily dance to, such as
classical music, world music, or something typical of a region.

I concur.  When I serve as DJ, I try to pick a piece of music for the
cortinas that is nearly impossible for any type of dancing.  I use the same
piece of music as the cortina for the entire evening.  The choice leaves no
confusion, and allows someone to get away from an undesirable partner, who
cannot say let's dance to the cortina.  One of my favorite pieces of music
for a cortina is Ry Cooder's recording of "Flashes" from his CD, Jazz.  I
have also used music by Leo Kottke.

At several recent milongas I attended, the DJ used salsa for the cortina.
That was a poor choice because people thought it was break music rather than
a cortina.  Those attending the milongas grew impatient with the DJ.  One of
the DJ's friends tried to explain to everyone that they should learn about
cortinas which created a great feeling of unpleasantness that could have
been avoided through a more judicious choice of a cortina.

--Steve de Tejas





Date:    Wed, 23 Jun 1999 15:41:54 +0100
From:    Manuel Patino <manuelp @MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject: Re: Re[2]: Dancing to cortinas

I think that playing salsa as a cortina shows extremely poor judgement.
Salsa music is eminently danceable and makes a lot of people come to their
feet. I heard in Bs As at a milonga a snatch of James Brown's "I feel good",
starting with the scream,  which was kind of amusing. Also, they played
literally a few seconds of it so nobody had the chance to get up. I'm still
not quite sure if the cortina is really necessary. After all, the tandas
already separate the music into *groups*. I prefer a music break with a few
songs of a different genre. Then back to tango again.

Manuel



 Original Message -----
From: Stephen P Brown <Stephen.P.Brown @DAL.FRB.ORG>
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 1999 7:33 PM
Subject: Re[2]: Dancing to cortinas


> At several recent milongas I attended, the DJ used salsa for the cortina.
> That was a poor choice because people thought it was break music rather
than
> a cortina.  Those attending the milongas grew impatient with the DJ.  One
of
> the DJ's friends tried to explain to everyone that they should learn about
> cortinas which created a great feeling of unpleasantness that could have
> been avoided through a more judicious choice of a cortina.
>
> --Steve de Tejas





Date:    Wed, 23 Jun 1999 17:40:28 -0400
From:    Robert Morris <morris @POP1.SCIENCE.WIDENER.EDU>
Subject: tango magic

Thanks for the info Larry.  Tango Magic will air on WHYY in Philadelphia
some time in August
Bob





Date:    Thu, 24 Jun 1999 09:28:38 +1000
From:    Sandy Smith <sg.smith @QUT.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: dj's choices

I am part of a dance academy (in Brisbane, Australia)which teaches a range
of Latin American dances. In their newly opened Tango Cafe they play sets
of other dances which are similar to tango, such as Bolero (often described
as the Cuban tango) and gafeira (a samba danced in pairs which is a
Brazilian type of tango) and the occasional set of Bossa Nova. These
dances, especially bolero, are quite popular and seem to add a bit of
energy to the night, not the least because the music is often a bit more
cheery than a lot of tango music. They generally reserve
salsa/merengue/lambada/cumbia/samba for completely separate Saturday night
parties.
sandy





Date:    Thu, 24 Jun 1999 02:12:53 +0200
From:    Peter van Munster <MunsterSoft @CSI.COM>
Subject: Re: Re[2]: Dancing to cortinas

For the sake of discussion (which I trust to get very interesting) I'd like
to throw in the following "theorem" into this discussion: 'Using cortinas is
proof of lack of craftsmanship of the DJ'.
FYI: I >do< dance and I >do< DJ
... and yes, I will give MY opinion (after the first barrage of replies
<gr>)

Peter





Date:    Wed, 23 Jun 1999 17:24:31 -0700
From:    Michael Brooks <mbrooks @WIZARDS.COM>
Subject: Re: Re[2]: Dancing to cortinas

At 2:12 AM +0200 6/24/99, Peter van Munster wrote:
>For the sake of discussion (which I trust to get very interesting) I'd like
>to throw in the following "theorem" into this discussion: 'Using cortinas is
>proof of lack of craftsmanship of the DJ'.
>FYI: I >do< dance and I >do< DJ
>... and yes, I will give MY opinion (after the first barrage of replies

I think others have already made the great point that cortinas are not just
to demonstrate skill or craft on the DJs part, but to offer a chance to
break away from your current dance partner, seek out another, and take a
little rest.

A DJ can show his or her skill by choosing cortinas which do offer a break
yet provide entertainment--I heard that the theme from "Hawaii 5-0" was
played as a cortina at a BsAs milonga.

Does anyone know how far back the tradition of the cortina goes?

Ms. Michael
Seattle, Washington





End of TANGO-L Digest - 23 Jun 1999 to 24 Jun 1999
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