The Tango-L mailing list archive
Digest from 11 Apr 2000
to 12 Apr 2000
Reply-To: Discussion of Any Aspect of the Argentine Tango <TANGO-L @MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
To: Recipients of TANGO-L digests <TANGO-L @MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 03:00:06 -0400
Sender: Discussion of Any Aspect of the Argentine Tango <TANGO-L @MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
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Subject: TANGO-L Digest - 11 Apr 2000 to 12 Apr 2000 (#2000-99)
There are 10 messages totalling 395 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. Tango Experience
2. Inanity vs. Depravity; Norteamericanos dancing counterclockwise (2)
3. Norteamericanos dancing counterclockwise (2)
4. Violin Tango
5. Dance Floors: A Secret Remedy
6. How are cruises
7. New Web Address
8. A sad tango experience
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Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2000 00:25:20 MST
From: Judy Margolis <tangomas @HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Tango Experience
Last year a friend and I were at a local street fair. The wafting strains
of Madreselva, intertwined with the smell of fresh-baked bread drifted
through the open door of our favorite coffeehouse. Our eyes met . . . we
came into one-another s arms and began a slow, close, sensual tango. At
that moment, time crashed to a halt with the crack of gunfire. My friend
was hit in the back by a stray bullet. The bullet went through her lithe
body and lodged in my side. As her life energy slipped away she moved
closer to my bloodied body and with her head nestled into my neck she
whispered, One last tango . We took three steps, and as the last notes of
the music died, so did my friend, in my arms, in tango repose.
Jon y Judy
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Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2000 07:53:19 +0000
From: Felix Delgado <felixmilonguero @JUNO.COM>
Subject: Inanity vs. Depravity; Norteamericanos dancing counterclockwise
>It seems that the list is reaching new grounds (pun intended) of
>inanity. A close second to the discussion on the proper brand of gomina.
>How about a sweeping analysis on the sweat rings of milongas patrons and
>which brand of anti-perspirant is recommended, capped with teary
>nostalgic recants by old milongueros of yesteryear comparing their
>sweating to the "nuevo tango" aficionados'?
>Jean-Pierre Jacquet
I've been enjoying Tango-L more lately since the maliciousness has died
down. The discussion of tango floors is relevant to the enjoyment of
tango, the revelation of tango experiences are heart-warming, and any
serious tanguero needs to know about gomina if he wants to be authentic.
[ :-)
I think many listeros have avoided writing to the list because of the
viciousness.
When all this character assassination was occurring, Sergio Suppa tried
to divert attention by saying
>I think I am going to take my boat out and go fishing while you find out
how
>to make Americans dance counterclock wise.
I was tempted to respond but the list climate was so hostile at the time
and I wasn't sure if Sergio was serious.
Sergio, is there an important issue here or were you just joking?
Anyway, from my limited experience I think there is an issue here. I've
gone to some milongas where there is a smooth counterclockwise flow
around the floor and some where there is virtually no movement at all. I
suspect these differences represent differences in the emphasis of local
teachers. In a few cases where I've seen 'walkers' trying to find a path
around the giro-masters in the middle there have been near collisions.
So, at the expense of sounding very naive and inviting the admonishment
of the guardians of tango truth, what is normal? What is the ideal? I've
heard many times that one needs to walk their tango miles, but at several
milongas all I've seen is a lot of circulating within a small area
without progressing. It doesn't seem to have much to do with the density
on the floor.
Felix
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Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2000 17:24:12 +0200
From: Natarajan Balasundara <rajan @EMC.COM>
Subject: Re: Inanity vs. Depravity; Norteamericanos dancing counterclockwise
Original Message-----
From: Felix Delgado <felixmilonguero @juno.com>
Date: Tuesday, April 11, 2000 4:31 PM
>serious tanguero needs to know about gomina if he wants to be
authentic.
>[ :-)
May be there is a point in gomina.
Perhaps it is even a metaphor for tango passion any
other emotion that might be evoked in the audience.
The discussion started because someone was so impressed by
the streamlined sleek serious looks it gave and the image of
intense passion it projected.
Now from knowing what it really is, it is hard not to think that
the one who wore gomina(or in some cases substitutes better
than the original) probably felt his hair sticky and rough
while his partner had to bear with the smell that came with the
substance that projected this seriousness. While at the same time
the audience feels intense buring passion between the two.
> What is the ideal? I've
>heard many times that one needs to walk their tango miles, but at
several
>milongas all I've seen is a lot of circulating within a small area
>without progressing. It doesn't seem to have much to do with the
density
>on the floor.
>
>Felix
>
>
An ideal solution would be to have a few concetric tango lanes.
Those who are in the fast lane doing tango-100mts can dash/danse
in the outer most periphery while those who want to direct traffic
can do so while doing their gyros in the middle of the floor :-)
Seriously, it is a problem since everyone is doing their own thing
in their own style. It does make sense for those wanting to do their
in-situ gyros or any other similar thing to be doing so little
inside the line of dance. It would be best if they rotate but
could also move at the same time along the line of dance along
the direction of dance(which is difficult in the beginning) -- like a
struck puck.
Part of the problem probably is everyone always says 'move in the
line of dance' -- as if there is a line and any crowded floor is an
'area of dance'. As long as everyone knows and cares about
where everyone else is, it should be ok(and as someone observed,
everyone could be dancing happily -- 'like worms').
rajan.
Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2000 12:32:05 -0500
From: Steven Lee <tango-1 @JUNO.COM>
Subject: Norteamericanos dancing counterclockwise
Hello List,
I must have missed the post by Sergio, but I hope he is serious because I
believe it needs to be addressed.
>Sergio Suppa
>tried
>to divert attention by saying
>
>>I think I am going to take my boat out and go fishing while you find
>out
>how
>>to make Americans dance counterclock wise.
>
>I was tempted to respond but the list climate was so hostile at the
>time
>and I wasn't sure if Sergio was serious.
>
In my not so experienced opinion I think moving down line of dance is
entwined with the type of tango played and the amount of tango experience
of the dancers on the floor.
In Minneapolis/St.Paul area the tango music is beginning to be sharply
defined either old and scratchy or the Piazolla-type. I see the
difference as more consistant tempo-ed or off the cuff tempo-ed. I've
also heard them described on the "L" as tangos to dance to and tangos to
listen to.
Though some people here (MSP) say that the Piazolla-type of music is for
more advanced dancers, I disagree. Looking at my test samples, groups
with higher percent of experienced tango dancers (ie- Bay Area and New
York) favor the old and scratchy. Also, though having never been to BA, I
have seen and heard VCR tapes of different BA Milonga's and the music
mostly played by far is old and scratchy. Because of this, I believe
old and scratchy goes with experience. In these same groups, I also see
more down line of dance.
In MSP we have alot of people that are new to tango. They gravitate more
to the Piazolla type music and majority don't move down line of dance.
By using old and scratchy music I think I will be able to discourage in
place trick dancing and encourage down line of dance. But because we
also don't have much history, maybe all it will take is time for the
experience that will put us on the "down line of dance" road.
BTW, Sergio, which way do you go around the room if your clock on the
wall is facing down from near the ceiling as oppose to facing up from
near the floor? ;-)
Steve
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Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2000 10:53:58 -0700
From: RM <rmenna @JOURNALIST.COM>
Subject: Violin Tango
I'm becoming interested in learning to play tango music on the violin.
Can anyone recommend the best CDs to listen to?
Would you know of any violin teachers in southern California, U.S.? I live
between L.A. and Santa Barbara.
Thank you for any suggestions you might have...
Robert
Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2000 12:34:26 PDT
From: Robert Hink <rhink2 @NETSCAPE.NET>
Subject: Dance Floors: A Secret Remedy
Hola All,
I want to share a secret divulged to me by an old-time
competition ballroom dancer. He told me that if you want
to slow down a fast (i.e. slick) floor, rub soap (in bar form)
on the soles of your shoes. Kind of ironic, huh? Don't worry,
it wears off or you may brush it off to reverse the effect.
It also works within limits to speed up a slow (i.e. sticky)
floor. Obviously if you're on pavement, nothing much can help.
Now, I never go dancing without a bar of soap. The alternative
uses are obvious.
Bob Hink
B.A. Tango
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Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2000 08:10:32 -0700
From: AisA <aisstilla @YAHOO.COM>
Subject: How are cruises
I have been intrigued with the tango cruises.
Does anyone have any suggestions what to look for ?
I know there was a cruise last month in the Carribeans
- anyone attended , comments ? There is an other one
to the Greek Islands - anyone planning to go ?
S
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Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2000 09:50:43 -0400
From: Keith Elshaw <keith @TOTANGO.NET>
Subject: New Web Address
Bonjour y Buenos Dias!
My physical move (to Montr=E9al) has happened, and now the web site has
moved as well, to:
http://ToTANGO.net. Those of you with links to my old address will I
trust be able to update them - thanks very much.
Anyone planning to visit Montr=E9al, feel free to contact me about
affordable accommodations in Tango homes.
ToTANGO! will continue to provide information on activities in both
Montr=E9al and Toronto.
There are new pages up if you haven't visited for a while.
A special hello to the 930 or so of you who never ask the rest of us to
dance!
Best,
ke
ToTANGO!
http://ToTANGO.net
Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2000 18:11:56 +0100
From: white95r <white95r @HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Norteamericanos dancing counterclockwise
I'm not sure if Sergio's post addresses the most prevalent problem. Stenven
Lee and others point out that a big problem is the "in place" dancing,
rather than the direction of the dancing. I've seen a few people actually
dancing against the line of dance!! Fortunately, in general, people do dance
in a counter-clockwise direction but the interruptions of the flow are
rather frequent.
I think that blaming the choice of music (Piazzolla vs. old and scratchy)
does not address the problem either. The inability to flow and follow the
line of dance is probably more due to less experience or skill in dancing
and paradoxically, to excessively ornate and complicated dancing! It would
make very little difference what music was played if the dancers could not
or would not dance in a big circle.
The one thing that nobody has mentioned yet is that the milongas in Bs As
also have their share of interruptions in the flow of dance and also their
share of fancy dancers who perform a lot of turns and figures in place. Some
dancers also move slightly (and not so slightly) against the line of dance.
The biggest difference appears to be that many more dancers in Bs As
milongas seem to know how to navigate the dance floor with much more skill
and confidence. The milongas in Bs As that I've attended were also quite
crowded at times (most of the time) dancing in these conditions can be very
challenging. Particularly for Americans and others who have the luxury/curse
of not too crowded dance floors.
Manuel
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 00:09:52 EDT
From: SIMONE AMARAL <keepdancing47 @HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: A sad tango experience
Once upon a time I had a boyfriend who I loved very much...
We started learning tango together for we both had a passion for the dance.
Well, we had had about 4 classes when the movie Tango by Carlos Saura came
to the big screen. We went to see the movie and not knowing any better we
thougth that it was the best we had ever seen (of course it was the only one
we had seen!!!). Now, with more experience , I know better. Anyway, back to
the story. It was the last session and there was nobody in the theather
besides us, so at the end of the movie we couldn't hold ourselves and we got
up and started dancing to the last tango in the movie (you know, when the
credits are on). It was the most beautifull tango I have ever danced even
not knowing much. The connection between us, the romanticism, the
intimacy,the intensity increased by the bit of fear of getting caugth
(remember those?) made it even more exciting. Well unfortunately we are not
together anymore and that is another Tango story of love, deception, and
everything else tango can also put us through.
Still, Gotta love it!!!!!!!!
Simone
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End of TANGO-L Digest - 11 Apr 2000 to 12 Apr 2000 (#2000-99)
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