[TANGO-L] more on Enlightened dogmatism

[Oleh Kovalchuke <tangospring @gmail.com>]

To clarify my message a bit more here is analogy from movie "Owning
Mahowny" (http://imdb.com/title/tt0285861/) where gambling addict
rates his next best experience compare from the high he gets from
gambling at 10 (gambling is 100). If the best experiences from dancing
close embrace tango where at 100 than I would rate a tango with good
connection at 80 and the best salsa experience I ever had would be at
about 50 (I do not dance in open frame).

Cheers, Oleh Kovalchuke
http://TangoSpring.com


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Derik Rawson wrote a while ago about dogmatism of milonguero style dancers:

"As time went on, I also saw the local group here, which now
"preaches" her [milonguero - OK] style, become more and more
anti-social and dogmatic, so I just let them go off and do their
thing."

First of all I would like to suggest that anyone arguing with Derik
should be spanked.

Now as a way of clarification of Derik's most probably valid
observation here are two quotes from my old posts on connection:

"One of the most common problems with the followers trained in the
open frame attempting to dance in the close embrace is that their
posture is pulled too far back from solar plex, which cripples
connection, communication with the partner (the grossly exaggerated
form of this posture is done by ballroom dancers). I have experienced
this problem so many times especially with nuevo tango dancers."

and

"Fleeing connection – it's like stepping into thin air or chasing a
ghost, very frustrating. Experienced with advanced dancers trained in
open embrace who have no problem doing the footwork however
essentially dance with themselves."

It is possible to lead these followers, but the essence of tango,
connection is lost. And so the "anti-social and dogmatic" behavior is
natural result of not willing to endure these frustrating experiences.
 By the way the behavior can be observed in Buenos Aires too, if you
try to dance in open frame salon style there you will sit and observe
people dancing in close embrace for the rest of the milonga. To avoid
this it might be useful to take some lessons in close embrace before
going to milonga as Sergio has advised:

"If you are a Salon dancer but wish to go to a particular club where
Milonguero is done, try to go to the lessons that are usually taught
before the milonga. This will familiarize you with the style and some
of the people."

I should clarify though that one lesson before milonga most probably
will not be sufficient. Also if you dance in open frame salon style I
would like to sincerely wish you good luck finding a milonga to dance
in Buenos Aires.


Cheers, Oleh Kovalchuke
http://TangoSpring.com