The Tango-L mailing list archive
Digest from 2 Mar 2000
to 3 Mar 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: Fri, 3 Mar 2000 03:00:44 -0500
Sender: Discussion of Any Aspect of the Argentine Tango <TANGO-L @MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
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Subject: TANGO-L Digest - 2 Mar 2000 to 3 Mar 2000 (#2000-60)
There are 9 messages totalling 318 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. meditango (2)
2. Emotional Ethics / Re: meditango (2)
3. Tango trivia
4. Solo Guitar Tango
5. Gomina
6. Gomina - Brillantina - Tango look (2)
Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2000 10:15:21 -0600
From: Stephen P Brown <Stephen.P.Brown @DAL.FRB.ORG>
Subject: Re: meditango
Shirley Kwan wrote:
>[I]n tango I am very happy to connect with my partner, and create a
>time/space where we both express and receive the other's expression.
>Yes, it can engage at a molecular level and as such is intimate.
>And when the dance is over, it's over--all become part of the past,
>and we can acknowledge what we shared and move on to the next moment.
In addition to allowing us to reach a level of awareness, self expression
and connection, a tango with the right person can be a very intimate and
seductive experience. Graciela Gonzalez has called tango, the history of
love for three minutes. Some milongueros are quite well aware of the
power of a well-danced tango and use it for all its seductive energy.
>Sometimes my partners aren't able to let go so easily, and sometimes some
>of them think that moment of sharing means something else or can possibly
>mean something else. ... Usually I go my blithe and lighthearted way, but
>sometimes I wonder if I'm being too casual about it. I mean, there's no
>crime committed, no smoking gun. ... (Right?). ...Are there emotional
>ethics?
Is it the intensity of the magic in the moment that is speaking? Resting
briefly in the moment can be wonderful, but once the dance has ended, we
are free to go our separate ways. Whatever ethics are involved, each of
taking up an embrace to share a tango know that nothing other than a dance
has been offered.
--Steve de Tejas
Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2000 08:27:35 -0800
From: ramiro garcia <ramiro9 @YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: meditango
> My question is: in tango I am very happy to
> connect with my partner...[it] is intimate. And
> when the dance is over, it's over--all become part
> of the past, and we can...move on.... Sometimes my
> partners aren't able to let go so easily, and
> sometimes some of them think
> that moment of sharing means something else or can
> possibly mean something else.
> Usually I go my blithe and
> lighthearted way, but sometimes I wonder if I'm
> being too casual about it. I
> mean, there's no crime committed, no smoking gun.
Getting attached, and not being able to let go at the
appropriate time, is an inevitable part of the human
condition. The best you can do it try to minimize the
damage, show some compassion.
Tango, in particular, has a structural liability in
this regard. You're *supposed* to get close while you
dance. Small wonder some people have trouble
separating afterwards. I'm afraid it comes with the
territory.
You could try thinking about cleaning your apartment,
or grocery shopping, or how you look in the mirror
while you dance; no one will get attached then. :-)
> ... (Right?). ...Are there emotional ethics?
>
> Shirley Kwan
> NYC
^^^
No, not in New York City. There are in other places.
:-)
ramiro
=====
ramiro garcia
ramiro9 @yahoo.com
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Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 18:33:59 -0800
From: Sramana Mitra <sramana.mitra @UUMA.COM>
Subject: Emotional Ethics / Re: meditango
Great coinage, Shirley!
In Tango and in life, what are the rules of emotional ethics?
What are the rules governing the ethics of pleasantry, casual
exchange, flirtation, leading people on, mental games, affairs,
dancing a tango that feels like love or sex or both?? with
someone else's husband...??
I would guess many of us are struggling with this - misunderstandings,
misaligned expectations, guilt, disgust, hurt...
Sramana
> My question is: in tango I am very happy to connect with my partner, and
> create a time/space where we both express and receive the other's expression.
> Yes, it can engagement at a molecular level and as such is intimate. And
> when the dance is over, it's over--all become part of the past, and we can
> acknowledge what we shared and move on to the next moment. Sometimes my
> partners aren't able to let go so easily, and sometimes some of them think
> that moment of sharing means something else or can possibly mean something
> else. This goes for both new and experienced dancers--not the majority, of
> course, but it does happen. Sometimes it comes as a surprise; sometimes it's
> a conversation, invited and received. Usually I go my blithe and
> lighthearted way, but sometimes I wonder if I'm being too casual about it. I
> mean, there's no crime committed, no smoking gun. ... (Right?). ...Are
> there emotional ethics?
--
Sramana Mitra
President & CEO
sramana @uuma.com
415-905-5566 x209 voice
408-602-8914 cell
415-905-5560 fax
http://www.uuma.com
Celebrating fashion, success and individual style!
Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2000 13:46:26 -0800
From: Michael Kern <mikey @WHIDBEY.NET>
Subject: Re: Emotional Ethics / Re: meditango
.
> > Yes, it can engagement at a molecular level and as such is intimate.
If tango isn't intimate, nothing is. If it were danced casually, like swing,
few would bother. Americans for the most part try to be careful about sex;
but most of us need a little extra gas in our tanks every now and then,
whether married or single. It seems to me that Tango, at least in the
American environment, is a pretty safe place to get it.(The gas, not the
sex!) But I think it may take a little discussion between life partners to
be sure that this is comfortable. And it may well not generalize to other
places, like Latin America!
Michael
Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2000 16:50:35 -0500
From: Robinne Gray <rlg2 @CORNELL.EDU>
Subject: Tango trivia
Happened upon this reference to the Argentine president's jet and couldn't
resist passing it along...
--Robinne
"Enron [oil pipeline company], for its part, couldn't have appointed an
Argentine president more favorable to its interests. A right-wing follower
of Juan Peron, Menem was eager to open his country to American enterprise
-- and his own lavish spending. He took to traveling with a huge entourage
aboard Tango-01, his $66-million presidential jet. The Bushes took an
immediate liking to him. The day after the 1989 election, Neil Bush arrived
in Buenos Aires for a tennis match with the president-elect. The following
year, President Bush made the first of eight trips to see Menem, becoming
the first U.S. chief executive since Eisenhower to visit Argentina."
[full story at http://bsd.mojones.com/mother_jones/MA00/argentina.html]
Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2000 08:48:17 -0800
From: Michael Knowles <binkster @SLIP.NET>
Subject: Solo Guitar Tango
There is a solo guitar CD in existence that is entirely composed of
tangos by Astor Piazzolla played by David Tanenbaum. It is called "El
Porteno". The 1994 recording includes "Las Cuatro Estaciones Portenos"
and "Cinco Piezas". The performance is a very skilled interpretation of
these works, in my opinion, but for listening, not dancing. See the
details at: http://newalbion.com/NA065/
David Tanenbaum's website offers a few sound samples:
http://members.aol.com/dtanenbaum/sound.html
The Piazzolla website offers even more:
http://www.piazzolla.org/sounds/ra.html
--
Michael Knowles
binkster @slip.net
http://www.binkster.net/
Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2000 12:35:44 -0800
From: Ann Gazenbeek <ANN.GAZENBEEK @PRODIGY.NET>
Subject: Gomina
Dear Fellow Tangueras y Tangueros,
I am sixteen years old, OBSESSED with Argentine Tango, and a new
member to this wonderful list. Ever since I became interested in Argentine
Tango I have wondered what the dancers use in their hair to get that special
"tango" look. I searched the Internet for some keywords and came across a
posting on this list from 1997 (I believe). Someone asked what was used in
the hair and a few people responded to the question. They said that "GOMINA"
is used by the dancers. I have spent the past few days doing EXHAUSTIVE
Internet/Web research trying to find out anything about Gomina. I have been
terribly unsuccessful! I have just a few questions regarding this. They are
as follows:
1) What is Gomina? Out of what is it made?
2) Where can one buy Gomina in the United States?
3) Are there any substitutes for Gomina? or Do Tango dancers in
Argentina use anything else in their hair that gives the same look?
4) Who or what started this look? Why has THIS hairstyle become
associated with Argentine Tango?
The answers to the above questions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
all for your help.
Ciao,
Anton Gazenbeek
Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2000 22:40:10 -0500
From: Sergio Suppa <sersupa @INFOVIA.COM.AR>
Subject: Gomina - Brillantina - Tango look
Ann Gazenbeek asks about "Gomina"
"I have wondered what the dancers use in their hair to get that special
"tango" look. I searched the Internet for some keywords and came across
"Gomina"."
Before any hair spray or mouse appeared, people used "Gomina" or
"Brillantina", as hair fixers.
They have been in use for many years, probably from the end of last century.
Gomina is made with (Goma tragacanto de Persia) Persian gum; when dry it
gives a hard fixation look but not shiny.
It was used mostly by men.
Brillantina is made of an oily liquid, probably similar to liquid vaseline;
this is the substance still used that fixes the hair with a very shiny look.
In summary Argentineans in general have used both substances for many years.
The oily, shiny look can be obtained by using
a substance similar to liquid vaseline.
Sergio-Mar del Plata - Argentina
Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2000 20:40:39 -0600
From: Tom Ronquillo <chitiger @MAIL.DAVE-WORLD.NET>
Subject: Re: Gomina - Brillantina - Tango look
Sergio Suppa wrote:
> Ann Gazenbeek asks about "Gomina"
>
> "I have wondered what the dancers use in their hair to get that special
> "tango" look. I searched the Internet for some keywords and came across
> "Gomina"."
>
> Before any hair spray or mouse appeared, people used "Gomina" or
> "Brillantina", as hair fixers.
> They have been in use for many years, probably from the end of last century.
Many people in the U.S. might remember a hair pomade called "Brillantine" that
was popular from the 1920's and on. It was a popular product for achieving the
sleek look that went so well with suits and tailcoats. According to my uncle
Toribio, during the Great Depression when money was tight, he often slicked
back his hair with a concoction made from olive oil, melted beeswax and
peppermint or coconut oil. He claims it was better than the real thing.
Baby Boomers will recall the product called "Brylcream" ("A little dab'll do
ya...") which was somewhat of a takeoff on the "Brillantine" name. Now Boomers,
think back about all your axle-grease-haired friends from your school days.
With a little imagination, can't you see some of them on stage in your own
special nightmare of a tango show?
Tom (El Tigre) Ronquillo
End of TANGO-L Digest - 2 Mar 2000 to 3 Mar 2000 (#2000-60)
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