The Tango-L mailing list archive
Digest from 8 Jul 2000
to 9 Jul 2000
Reply-To: Discussion of Any Aspect of the Argentine Tango <TANGO-L @MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
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Date: Sun, 9 Jul 2000 03:00:19 -0400
Sender: Discussion of Any Aspect of the Argentine Tango <TANGO-L @MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
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Subject: TANGO-L Digest - 8 Jul 2000 to 9 Jul 2000 (#2000-187)
There are 3 messages totalling 137 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. Social Dance Versus Posing (2)
2. One Out-Of-Towner's Experience
Date: Sat, 8 Jul 2000 13:27:20 +0000
From: Larry Carroll <larrydla @JUNO.COM>
Subject: Social Dance Versus Posing
I agree with you (Juan Rando) that no one can really know
what someone else is feeling though sometimes they do
give pretty clear indicators. I suspect Pete Hollings is
indulging in wishful thinking when he says the "posers"
"don't really seem to be enjoying themselves that much."
I'm one of those people who do very fancy stuff, & I'm good
enough at it that some women informally reserve time for me
to dance it with them. I can assure everyone that I'm
having a terrific time. And my partners give every
indication of having a good time too.
BUT ... I do this kind of thing whenever the floor allows
for expansive or stationary dancing, usually very early or
very late. I totally agree with Pete that this kind of
activity on a crowded floor demonstrates that these people
are assholes, idiots, or ignorant. I don't care if Pete is
a lousy or timid dancer, the world's greatest, or a total
spectator. His objection to this selfish & dangerous
activity is totally justified.
On the other hand, in the last year or two I've come more &
more to feel that these obstacles are as much a part of
dancing as the sides of the floor & pillars in the middle
of the floor. These idiots are so self-centered & arrogant
that they can no more be changed than the pillars that hold
up the roof. If I let either obstacle annoy me & ruin my
dancing I'm being an idiot myself.
Instead I'm trying (with occasional but ever more frequent
success) to let such obstacles become part of the Zen
experience of moving in the flow. And Pete, mi amigo, I
feel for you, but suggest you do the same.
Larry de Los Angeles
http://home.att.net/~larrydla
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Date: Sat, 8 Jul 2000 19:07:43 -0400
From: Manuel Patino <white95r @HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Social Dance Versus Posing
I agree with Juan Rando (who is by the way an excellent dancer) in some of
his premises. Often times, beginner dancers will feel compelled to pass
judgement on others. It is natural because they merely repete or emulate
what they themselves see.
While some dancers out there are doing figures and firuletes, others are
criticizing and devaluing their style. Some teachers will tell their
students that these dancers who dance firuletes and figures that they do not
teach are not dancers of *true* tango, showoffs or worse. Naturally, the
students believe their teachers an repete these things, sometimes to the
world at large in forums like the tango-L. Heck, some of these beginners
even criticize world reknown masters as being *posers* or worse because that
is what their role models say.
I do however, also agree with the statement that many self centered,
inconsiderate dancers will occupy much more space than they should and will
even cause injury to the dancers around them. I've even seen these types in
Bs As! They are not really experts or masters, and they should be avoided.
However, there is no reason to say that they are not enjoying themselves.
They probably are enjoying themselves quite well. The ones suffering are
those who cannot dance because of the lack of space.
It is really amazing how some places where there are many good teachers and
lots of dancers, milongas every day, etc, etc. have such selfcentered
dancers too.
Pleasant tangos to all,
Manuel
Date: Sat, 8 Jul 2000 22:37:09 EDT
From: Megan Pingree <Pmpingree @AOL.COM>
Subject: One Out-Of-Towner's Experience
Hola Listers,
In light of the recent (though now quiet) thread about women waiting for
opportunites to dance (especially when she is not on her home turf), I
wanted to post my most recent experience.
On June 21st, I showed up at the milonga in Cambridge, Mass. (near Boston).
I had contacted only one person, Shari Goldin, about my intention to be
there, and, although we were total strangers, she was very helpful and
welcoming in our email exchanges.
I arrived near the end of the lesson, and as soon as I had changed my shoes
(OK, I changed my clothes, having made a beeline to the milonga straight from
the airport -- such is the nature of my desire to dance), a man asked if I
wanted to jump into the lesson, which I did.
Shahrukh (the host) had greeted me at the door, and Shari and I found each
other after the lesson and chatted briefly. I had the impression that either
of them would be open to introducing me around if I asked. But it wasn't
necessary.
Fairly quickly and consistently, I was being asked to dance by leaders of a
range of skills. (BTW, I am not a pretty 25 yr.old. I am 52, and have white
hair. I'd say I'm an Advanced Intermediate dancer.) I felt neither preyed
upon nor ignored. I usually sat alone between sets, practising the
communicate-that-I-want-to-dance-skills that I've honed in BsAs (and have
been well described at length on The List). I was there, still happily
dancing when the milonga ended.
At that point, a whole new level of hospitality surfaced as I asked for
directions to get me on my way to the North Shore. Special thanks go to
Marty, who GAVE me his AAA map. As it turned out, the recommended route was
closed and no detours were posted, so I really needed that map to pick my
way, in the dark of night, through the winding roads of Old New England
until I could find highway access.
So my heart and my thanks go out to the tangueros/as of the Cambridge
milonga. May I have a chance to return your warmth here in Portland, Oregon.
Megan Pingree
pmpingree @aol.com
End of TANGO-L Digest - 8 Jul 2000 to 9 Jul 2000 (#2000-187)
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