Re: [TANGO-L] Community Growth - The Next Generation

[WHITE 95 R <white95r @HOTMAIL.COM>]

In response to Tom's post, Korey says:

>>This gives the dancer a freer and more "subtle" experience. You have
>>multiple ways to interpret the same music. The dancers become an
>>integral PART of the orchestra, interpreters with their own voice.

>fascinating.  I often describe the exact same sensation dancing to
>contemporary music.  For me, there is actually more room to interpret,
>especial in the small ensemble music.  Hugo Diaz Trio, Trio Gomina,
>Quinteto Real...(all of which show a good deal of jazz influence) with
>these ensembles I often feel like I can alternate between rhythm
>section, and melodic, lyrical gestures because the divisions are so
>clear within the ensemble...Again, I think its just a matter of taste
>and perspective, not anything inherent in the music itself.

I have to agree with Tom completely. All these musical ensembles that Korey
quotes are extremely difficult to dance tango to. The "freedom" and "room to
interpret" which Korey speaks about is basically a myth for the average
dancer. The only dancers (IMHO) who can dance well to those orquestras are
very experienced and gifted dancers. The reason so many beginners or
non-dancers like that music is because they can more easily ignore it and
move around as though they are dancing.



>theres at least as much room to play here, it just takes a different
>perspective.  If you have a vocabulary of symmetrical "syncopations"
>(Quick, Quick, Slow) these are going to play against the Piazzola
>groove.  But thats ok too.

Again, with all due respect, this is wishful thinking. Piazzolla hated for
people to dance to his later musical compositions. He's been actually quoted
to express feelings to that effect. He purposefully wrote, arranged and
played his music so it could not be danced as classic tango.


>>This makes me feel like a slave to the orchestra's interpretation.
>>"Libertango" vs "Azabache". The beat of the first is constant and
>>insistent "You must do it THIS way!"; the second is so free and
>>playful.


>This fascinates me.  It seems that you prefer the rhythmic drive and
>drama (the inner rhythms) to come from the dancers.  When those >elements
>are more present in the music, you find less room for yourself.  I >think
>this is a testament to your musicality as a dancer; but please
>understand, different dancers experience the music differently.  It is
>certain that for some, Azabache is the unrelenting beat that inhibits
>their creativity, while the driving syncopation of Libertango frees >them
>to explore.  For me, well, you've picked two of my favorites, I feel
>compelled to dance very differently to each, and I feel like each has a
>better moment in a dance evening (the moment for Libertango is rather
>rare in my view), but I'd hate to have to endorse one as danceable, at
>the expense of the other.

>In any case, I think this is a valuable discussion and I look forward >to
>hearing more perspectives.
>-Korey

Well, Korey, here is my perspective. Tom is 100% right on all he said and
wrote. What a lot of folks seem to be forgetting here is that we are
discussing dancing "tango". Not some sort of free-flowing or contact-improv
dance. Tango has certain characteristics and these are the driving beat and
the rhythmic steps made to the 4x4 or the classic era tangos or even the 2x2
of the earlier tango music. Tango is not rock-n-roll or Cha cha cha or
samba, it's tango and it should be danced to classic tango music. The later
interpreters of tango as well as Gardel of the old days, do not play for
dancers at all. Their music is for audiences that listen, not for the
milonga floors. The rreason so many folks like to dance to big Pugliese
sounds or even Piazzolla pieces is probably because they see professional,
highly talented show dancers dance their excellent choreography or their
masterful improvisations to these songs. Also, they seem to be more readily
available from your local Tower records of K-mart. I say, dance however you
want and to whatever music you desire. You could even call it tango if you
want, but that would be most incorrect. If we are going to promote, enjoy
and dance authentic Argentine Tango, we need to stay close to the roots and
not go off into tangents.

Real tangos to all,

Manuel
v

_________________________________________________________________
Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. Get 3 months FREE*.
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail&xAPID=42&PS=47575&PI=7324&DI=7474&SU=
http://www.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/getmsg&HL=1216hotmailtaglines_addphotos_3mf