Re: [TANGO-L] Tango lies

["Christopher L. Everett" <ceverett @CEVERETT.COM>]

Sergio Vandekier wrote:

> Chistopher says:
>
> Carlos is thought of dancing Milonguero style but he claims that he
> dances
> Salon.

Just to be clear: some people think he dances milonguero, not everyone.

> "Carlos does have a highly rhythmic style, and he dances in a very
> tightly connected way, but he uses many figures people might regard
> as not in the "milonguero" vocabulary: ochos with pivots, barridas,
> paradas, and back sacadas to name a few.  Also, I think he would
> consider apilado style limiting.  Many people might feel surprised
> to see how just little space he needs, and that he can and will do
> almost anything in double-time and syncopa as the music calls for. "
>
> He certainly dances Salon close embrace.

Agreed, and he would say so as well.

> As to dancing in Buenos Aires. If you know how to dance close embrace and
> know how to navigate the floor, you should have no problem dancing in
> most
> places.

That's good news.  I can't wait.

> Let's assume that you dance Milonguero Style (like Susana Miller) and go
> dancing to a crowded milonga were people dance Salon Close embrace.

On further thought, my observation of Susanna Miller is that she
certainly teaches a somewhat elastic embrace, where the contact
point shifts as needed, and could at certain points go away.

How else can one lead giros con sacadas as she teaches?

Another notion she's put forth in both workshops of hers that I've
attended is the idea of leading the woman around yourself until she
ends up almost behind you, as in the context of a half-turn then
"snapping back" rhythmically.  Interestingly, Carlos was the first
teacher that ever told me such a thing could be done.

Also, Susanna categorically stated during the St. Louis workshop
that milongueros of Buenos Aires don't exclusively use a chest
lead, that they do in fact use a hand lead as the situation (ie,
the woman's comfort) demands.

So, I'm confused.  The idea of "milonguero style" seems increasingly
like a distinction without a difference to me.  One could certainly
say that Susanna Miller teaches a highly distinctive style of salon
tango, and be correct.

All of this begs the question: what defines milonguero style tango?

<snip to end>

--
Christopher L. Everett