The Tango-L mailing list archive
Digest from 12 Sep 2000
to 13 Sep 2000
Reply-To: Discussion of Any Aspect of the Argentine Tango <TANGO-L @MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
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Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2000 03:00:04 -0400
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Subject: TANGO-L Digest - 12 Sep 2000 to 13 Sep 2000 (#2000-247)
There are 18 messages totalling 761 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. What's up with LA Tango? (2)
2. ColorTango CD (3)
3. what eva shall a waya (3)
4. Forever Tango in Cleveland Nov 1 - 4 (3)
5. Do you need Tango to Tango and why play Salsa
6. Tango in Rome
7. What was it like in the Golden Age?
8. Sticking To The Point
9. What was it like in the Golden Age (2)
10. The Tango Guesthouse
Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 02:19:28 +0000
From: Larry Carroll <larrydla @JUNO.COM>
Subject: What's up with LA Tango?
Actually, I've always thought Cherie was very courageous to quit
a steady job, start her own business, and make it a success. I'm not
sure I've got what it takes to do that. And selling condoms to women
sounds wacky at first, but I've since decided that it's a very
creative solution to serious, sometimes even literally life-or-death
situations, including the AIDS crisis, the return of syphilis, & the
reluctance of men to take responsibility for the health of women they
supposedly love. Anyone curious about Cherie's business should view
her Web site. I personally think it's a funny & tasteful approach to
the subject.
http://www.viveladifference.com/
As for questions about dress-slits & blond tangueras - well, they're
not topics that I care about, but TANGO-L is a list for every tango-
related subject.
As for LA Tango being a man's paradise & a woman's purgatory - that
rather depends on the woman. At least one woman seems to be happy
about it. This Thursday Luisa Zini & several of her friends are
starting a new milonga.
Larry de Los Angeles
http://home.att.net/~larrydla
PS Luisa's milonga is at the Jewish Community Center, 5870 W.
Olympic, near Fairfax, class at 7:00 by visiting Argentina Paula
Ferrio, dance at 9:00. For info email her at zini @chem1.usc.edu.
________________________________________________________________
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Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 19:04:50 +0900
From: astrid <astrid @RUBY.PLALA.OR.JP>
Subject: Re: What's up with LA Tango?
> Actually, I've always thought Cherie was very courageous to quit
> a steady job, start her own business, and make it a success.
As a matter of fact she also has information on breast cancer check ups. So
much for being shallow.
> As for questions about dress-slits & blond tangueras - well, they're
> not topics that I care about, but TANGO-L is a list for every tango-
> related subject.
If you want to know the truth on the importance of the location of the slit
go to www.tangomode.de. This is the first thing the tango taylor explains on
her homepage.
As far as the "blondes have more fun" theory is concerned, the first and
only woman in our practica who managed to grab the one of the best dancers
and get all the last dances and many others with him was black and wearing
glasses ! (He was blonde and blue eyed) Although I cannot vouch on who
grabbed who, really. Still, the subject of the relation between looks and
getting dances sais more about the assumed shallowness of men. To my
question whether ability was not the most important thing I was told that
women think so but men go by appearance.
Now that would be an interesting subject...
Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2000 21:32:16 -0400
From: Melinda Bates <tangerauna @EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: ColorTango CD
Mark, since you are the one who lets us know about new music available, I'll
ask you - last night I danced to wonderful music by an orchestra called
Color Tango. They are former Piazolla musicians reunited to make music in
his style but a little more modern. It was fantastic to dance to. The CD
was from BsAs. Do you know/have it?
Thanks, Melinda
> .....The tango today is experiencing a huge growth all around the world.
There
> is literally tons of "new" (classic recordings) music soon to be released
> for our enjoyment. A fantastic new video series called "The Endless
> Tango" will soon make its appearance, focusing on all the tango
> communities of the world......>
> Best regards always,
> Mark Celaya
> Los Angeles
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________
> YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET!
> Juno now offers FREE Internet Access!
> Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit:
> http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.
>
Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 09:14:07 -0600
From: Chas Gale <Chuck.Gale @IHSENERGY.COM>
Subject: what eva shall a waya
---Larry de Los Angeles wrote---
"""As for questions about dress-slits & blond tangueras - well, they're
not topics that I care about, """
Larry,
It was only about a month or so ago you posted a detailed message on
the subject of what the well dressed tanguera should and should not wear.
You were very specific with regard to things like dress material and
hemlines and I think I remember being directed to your on-line book for
further advice about how the worlds tangueras should dress. I thought it
quite ballsy for you to presume such advice and was waiting for the
inevitable backlash. (I was afraid for you.) When none came I had to assume
that your advice on ladies milonga wear is welcomed. Maybe even sought
after. So now to say that dress-slits are not something about which you
care, seems unfair.
Come on Larry, you can't bail now. We need your advice on dress slits.
Exactly where and how high should they be? Can a slit go to the waist? Can
they be in front? Can they be in back? Can any length dress have a slit?
How about TWO stilts? One on each side? One in back, one in front? How
about one in front but off-set to expose the thigh. Can THAT slit go to the
waist? And while you're on the subject, how about ladies underwear? Is it
tacky for the panty part of the panty hose to show through the slit? Are no
hose OK? How about garter belts? Can THEY show through the slit? And what
about panty lines? In the right dress, even a thong can show lines. Is that
OK or do you recommend no panties?
You don't want the girls to show up naked do you?.....ah,... well OK,
bad example. But don't desert us now. Please share your fashion wisdom.
Chas "the ever sarcastic" Gale, Denver, Colorado, USA
P.S. Thanks for the tip on "Jorge".
Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 10:15:14 -0700
From: Huck Kennedy <huck @ENSMTP1.EAS.ASU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Forever Tango in Cleveland Nov 1 - 4
Dave Schmitz writes:
> Is Forever Tango travelling around the USA again?
>
> I checked their website (www.forevertango.com) but
> didn't see anything about a USA tour.
>
> Would someone please post their tour info?
I don't know about Forever Tango, but a musical entitled
Tango Pasion (which, from what I gather, seems to have started
in London's West End) is touring. I haven't found the complete
tour online yet, but it is coming here to Phoenix in January,
as well as Albuquerque, NM, Escondido, CA, Long Beach, CA:
Phx: http://getnet.com/~swdance/tangopasion.html
Alb: http://www.ovationseries.com/upcomingevents/tango.htm
Esc: http://www.artcenter.org/performing%20arts/january.htm
LB: http://www.theatreleague.org/tango.htm
They have an incomplete website that lacks tour info, but
does have info on the cast:
http://www.enterprise-design.co.uk/rosen/tango
Huck
Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 10:16:11 -0700
From: Huck Kennedy <huck @ENSMTP1.EAS.ASU.EDU>
Subject: Re: what eva shall a waya
Chas writes:
> Come on Larry, you can't bail now. We need your advice on dress slits.
> Exactly where and how high should they be? Can a slit go to the waist? Can
> they be in front? Can they be in back? Can any length dress have a slit?
> How about TWO stilts? One on each side? One in back, one in front? How
> about one in front but off-set to expose the thigh. Can THAT slit go to the
> waist? And while you're on the subject, how about ladies underwear? Is it
> tacky for the panty part of the panty hose to show through the slit? Are no
> hose OK? How about garter belts? Can THEY show through the slit? And what
> about panty lines? In the right dress, even a thong can show lines. Is that
> OK or do you recommend no panties?
> You don't want the girls to show up naked do you?.....ah,... well OK,
> bad example. But don't desert us now. Please share your fashion wisdom.
Early UNIX used to have a command called "yes" that just kept
piping the response "yes" into everthing.
Huck
Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 08:57:08 -0700
From: Al & Barbara <batango @SLIP.NET>
Subject: Re: Do you need Tango to Tango and why play Salsa
Dear Astrid et al,
I'm surprised that, in regard to the discussion about playing salsa at a
milonga, no one has mentioned that almost every milonga in Buenos Aires has one
or usually several breaks for salsa (or cumbia, merengue, mambo) and/or swing
music. And that during the Golden Age of Tango, the '40s it was common that
milongas had 2 live orchestras, tango and swing (called Tipica y Jazz), which
alternated, probably about equally, during the evening until dawn.
In San Francisco most milongas have salsa/swing breaks, but only one per night.
I consider it a good time to chat or have a glass of wine, since I don't do
those dances, allthough I keep thinking I'll learn. Some of the best tango
dancers here are also skilled at either salsa or swing.
Some of the DJ's here also use a cortina after each tanda, although rules for
tandas are not as rigorous as in BA. For non Spanish speakers, a cortina is a
curtain, a few bars of non-tango music played after each tanda (3-4 tangos,
milongas or waltzes related by orchestra, style, or whatever) to signify the end
of the set.
As for dancing tango to non-tango music, it seems to me that this is a matter of
taste--how authentically Argentine do you want to be, or what is the opinion of
the local tango community?? It doesn't seem like a very good idea to play
non-tango music or tangos written specifically for listening (Piazzolla by
Piazzolla, as opposed to Piazzolla played by a dance orchestra, Julio Sosa or
Susana Rinaldi, much of Mariano Mores) at a milonga, unless the DJ is sure that
almost everyone there likes that. As for Hugo Diaz (the harmonica player as
opposed to the younger Hugo Diaz who played the bandoneon), his music is
frequently quite danceable, as is that of Tubatango. Did you all know that in
the very early days of tango it was played by brass street bands, as well as
the original flute, guitar and violin trios??
Sorry, this got out of hand, my mind running off at the mouth.
Abrazos, Barbara
Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 19:41:11 +0200
From: susanna meurer <s.meurer @TISCALINET.IT>
Subject: Tango in Rome
As some of the listees know, I'm a sort of information-point for tango
in Rome.
I used to go dancing almost every night, and I had a great time. Good
dancers, good music, lots of people at the milongas...
But things have changed. The tango comunity has changed, many of the
people who used to come frequently don't go if not very rarely. There
is a large group of rather new dancers who don't mingle much with the
others (and they mostly prefer the "open stile", as you say).
I didn't stop tango, but I do not go very often, even if my love for
tango has not diminished. But it has become so difficult to dance even
one tango who gets close to what you think tango should be, and what I
enjoy most about the milongas is the dance!
I hope that things will change - why shouldn't they? - but I do miss the
enthusiasm !
Susanne
Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 12:24:45 -0600
From: Dave Schmitz <dschmitz @MAGELLAN.TEQ.STORTEK.COM>
Subject: What was it like in the Golden Age?
Barbara wrote:
> Dear Astrid et al,
> . . .
> And that during the Golden Age of Tango, the '40s it was common that
> milongas had 2 live orchestras, tango and swing (called Tipica y Jazz), which
> alternated, probably about equally, during the evening until dawn.
This partly answers a question I have.
What was it really like during the Golden Age of Tango?
Since the music was live, there was no need for tandas,
nor for cortinas. The orchestra just played.
Did they announce each piece?
If no second orchestra, did they have long breaks?
If so, what happened during the breaks?
Socializing? Performances? Organized activities?
Would partners dance together the entire evening?
Or would partners dance just one or two dances together (as they
do here now for Swing dances) and then find another partner?
What was the tradition or protocol as for asking a lady?
Were there ever 2 live tango orchestras alternating during
the evening?
I've heard that during the Lindy hop days, that the Savoy
ballroom in NYC would have two orchestras alternating. Was it
the same with tango?
Would people wander from club to club during the evening?
I would like to hear from the veterans on this list,
or from those who've had in-depth discussions with
old milongueros/milongueras.
Thank you,
Dave Schmitz
Denver, Colorado
Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 13:11:51 -0700
From: Carlos Lima <amilsolrac @YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: what eva shall a waya
Huck Kennedy:
>
Early UNIX used to have a command called "yes" that just kept
piping the response "yes" into everything.
<
I piped Chas's message to the old YES UNIX command. Here are some highlights.
Exactly where and how high should [them dress slits] be? --- Yes
And [...] how about ladies underwear? ---Yes (*)
How about garter belts? --- Yes
And what about panty lines? --- Yes (**)
(*) Computers have no values, so what did it mean?
(**) Kinky.
I will try NT next. If things do not improve, all of us will have to be
really nice to Larry.
Cheers,
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Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 14:51:01 PDT
From: Robert Hink <rhink2 @NETSCAPE.NET>
Subject: Sticking To The Point
Hola Contributors,
I have been watching Tango-L for some time now, and I have observed
that there have been quite a few instances where contributors get
off topic.
Generally these cases occur when someone dislikes the message so
attacks the messenger. For you academics who know about rational
argument, this practice is a logical fallacy. It even has
a fancy Latin name, 'argumentum ad hominem'(i.e. argument to the person).=
These digressions are fallacious, because even unpopular or disagreeable
people can make valid statements. Likewise even popular or pleasant
people can make invalid statements. What is being said and who is
saying it are two different things.
I do understand the need to "vent" or to "lash out", but I have to
say that some of these threads to the casual observer could be
coming from the annual meeting of the World Wrestling Federation
rather than Tango-L. When one lets loose with the ad hominems,
I have to wonder whether that person has any valid points to make.
The usual result are more ad hominems hurled back until the thread
degenerates into a name-calling frenzy.
Here are a couple of examples. We had the case of one contributor
who attacked another's language skills because he did not like
the latter's posting. What aspect of tango are we dealing with here?
Then more recently we heard about Ms. X's condom business, because
someone did not like what Ms. X was saying, I guess. Probably not a
good use of Tango-L.
I am not proposing tighter constraints on what is posted; that is
up to the moderators. I am just holding up a mirror.
Bob Hink
B.A. Tango
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Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 15:19:11 -0700
From: Carlos Lima <amilsolrac @YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: What was it like in the Golden Age
Oh David, was Tango: the Obsession not enough for you? Was Tango Bar not
enough for you? And what about the viejos milongueros of the not so golden
era thinking back about what their parents told them about how it used to be
when they were cutting school to play marbles? Were their memories, as heard
by wide-eyed new tangueros and tangueras coming from the northern hemisphere,
full of wonder, not enough for you? Was official milonguero history with its
wonderfully creative extrapolation from decade to decade not imaginative
enough for you? Could you not be satisfied with the wonderful, quasi
biblical, stories of how compadritos (you know, right?, from the renowned
Argentinean socio-anthropological theory of street types) invented tango
dancing ... or something? Did you have now to come and ask about how it was
all the way down to the late thirties and the forties, when the printing
presses were already working full blast? On the other hand, could you not
have been more gentle, more gradual, and ask Argentines about what has been
happening in tango dancing in 1999-2000, to see if they can get that much
straight, after all partisanship and hand waving is distilled from their
poetic creations? Was it not enough to ask the tourist guides down there
about tango history? Did you now have to go and ask the whole Tango List? Do
you realize that lots of people are busy at their computers, right now,
writing down their recollections of interviews with the few surviving 80 year
old men and women who have exceptional memories (and relatively tame
imaginations) and were expert social dancers in their twenties? Do you
realize that all hard written, recorded and filmed evidence of how it really
was, other than the music, has been destroyed in bonfires set by waves of
barbarian hordes coming up from Tierra del Fuego? Leaving us with milongas,
that is, milonguero tall ta-, I mean, memories? Have you ever thought why
Argentineans have so little to show for scholarly research into the history
of the dance aspect of their wonderful cultural creation, the tango? You
thought perhaps it was secular neglect, persistent social prejudice, and the
like, no? Ah-ah. Do you realize that a flood of History as She Really Was is
about to pour down on us, perhaps drawn us? I would give anything to be found
the worst prophet ever. David, oh David, why hast thou forsaken me!
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Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2000 00:38:47 +0200
From: Heribert Maier <hermaier @BORA.IUAV.IT>
Subject: Re: ColorTango CD
Hello Melinda, hello all,
may I reply to your e-mail written for Mark? I hope it is o.k. also
for you, Mark.
Melinda Bates writes:
> Mark, since you are the one who lets us know about new music availab=
le, I'll
> ask you - last night I danced to wonderful music by an orchestra cal=
led
> Color Tango. They are former Piazolla musicians reunited to make mu=
sic in
> his style but a little more modern. It was fantastic to dance to. =
The CD
> was from BsAs. Do you know/have it?
>=20
> Thanks, Melinda
>=20
AFAIK, Color Tango is not a reunion of former Piazzolla musicians but
of musicians of the orchestras of Don Osvaldo Pugliese, An=EDbal Troilo=
and Mariano Mores.
There stile is very close to Pugliese's (actually it seems to me that
they use a lot of his arrangements).
Color Tango was founded in 1989 and published it's first CD in 1990 in
the Netherlands. In 1993, besides other events, they toured with the
Tango-show "Tangueros" (Alejandro Aquino (show dancer of Pugliese's
orchestra) and great teacher) in Italy and South-America. In 1996
Color Tango travelled to Japan with the show "Los grandes del tango
argentino", then again Italy with "Milonga boulevard"...
There are several CD's by Color Tango like "Color Tango" (Lucho), "Con
estilo..." (Tecno Disc)) or "Timeless tango" and one was published by
Forever Tango Inc. (sorry I don't know the title of that one).
The CD you are talking about might be "Con estilo...". It is surely
terrific with all it's great and well-played Pugliese repertoire
tangos:
Gallo ciego, Malandraca, Pata ancha, Bordoneo y 900, Ilusi=F3n de mi
vida, Festejando, Nonino, La cachila, Negracha, El andariego, Zum,
Tremolina, La payanca, Morena, Nostalgico, Locura tanguera, La yumba.
The fact that there are two Piazzolla-composed tangos in between,
Nonino (after Adios Nonino) and Zum, might have misled you that
they sound Piazzolla-like.
Have a great time with tango,
Heribert.
Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 23:46:56 0100
From: John Sullivan <tangofan @020.CO.UK>
Subject: Re: Forever Tango in Cleveland Nov 1 - 4
> By the way, haven't you brits figured out who done-it in
> Agatha Christie's "The Mousetrap" yet? It's been over 46 *years*
> you know.... ;-)
>
> Ta, ta
> --
> ruddy
My dear friend ruddy,
You are absolutely off the mark here. "The Mousetrap" plays exlusively for
american tourists, for whom English is still a foreign language, and therefore
they must see the show more than once in order to "get it".
And now back to the point. Look friends, I understand that the "Forever and Ever
and Ever More Tango" show has more than one cast. But they usually seem to do
the same music with the same identical arrangements as their original orchestra.
The same applies to dancers. The only visible change from one cast to another is
their costumes (not always). Otherwise, it is the same steps and the same turns,
and the same poses, and the same jumps. It is so obvious that the same formula
that produces applause on Broadway is being applied over and over again. This
show is so american that it is funny. When you see Gavito dragging Marcela
across the stage to get the cheap applause, do you really think of Buenos Aires?
More likely - Hollywood. Nothing against Gavito personally. He must do his job
to earn his paycheck, right?
Now, someone has mentioned another show - "Tango Pasion". It is owned, I
believe, by the famous orchestra - "Sexteto Mayor". The music is as good as it
gets. Their dancers, on the other hand, are as horrible as one can imagine. No.
They are actually much worse than that. They all (with one exception) are folk
dancers, who have no clue as to what tango is. These "stars" will not be caught
dead in a milonga in Buenos Aires, and they will never dance Tango in any
milonga in your city. Salsa - yes. Mirengue - Yes-Yes!!! But Tango - sorry, No.
And you should all be thankful for that. But "Sexteto Mayor" are fun to watch
and listen to.
Cheers to all,
John Sullivan.
P.S. This post does not contain any subliminal messages of any kind...(I am
right...I am right...I am right...I am right...)
Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 17:01:55 -0600
From: Dave Schmitz <dschmitz @MAGELLAN.TEQ.STORTEK.COM>
Subject: Re: What was it like in the Golden Age
Ah, Carlos,
How evocative, erudite and avoiding the subject.
I can tell that you dearly love all those "this is the
way it is" postings, "the truth about B.A.", "what's a
real milonguero", "milonguero-style", and all that!
Sorry, I'm just asking for a bit of history.
I do expect that history is a bit less charged than
current controversial topics, so I do hope to get a
serious answer from some knowledgable person.
I'm not trying to delve into the distant past
to the origins of tango, but rather to learn about
what it was like in the Golden Age.
We certainly have a treasure trove of lore about the
Lindy Hop in the USA, so why not about the Golden Age
of Tango, which is more recent?
And no, perhaps I'm the only one on Tango-L who has not
yet seen either Tango: the Obsession or Tango Bar.
And don't expect to anytime soon.
I've been too busy dancing.
Dave
NOT David!
NEVER David!
> Oh David, was Tango: the Obsession not enough for you? Was Tango Bar not
> enough for you?
. . .
> Did you have now to come and ask about how it was
> all the way down to the late thirties and the forties, when the printing
> presses were already working full blast?
Well, yes.
> the worst prophet ever. David, oh David, why hast thou forsaken me!
As one fish said to the other, "I am not my kipper's brother."
Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 16:11:51 -0700
From: Ruddy Zelaya <ruddy.zelaya @ENG.SUN.COM>
Subject: Re: ColorTango CD
Hi Melinda,
Color Tango is composed of former Pugliese inspired musicians
not Piazzolla's. As an aside, "Color Tango" is the name of one
of Pugliese's compositions. The band formed in 1989, debuted in
1990 in Holland and has produced several CDs (5 according to their
discography). Unfortunatelly, some of the CDs have been re-titled depending
on the producing label. Anyway, their latest one, released this year,
is "Color Tango - Con Estilo... Para Bailar 2" That one just might
be the one you heard. It basically is a "Best of..." of Pugliese
hits plus some others played with the distinct "yumba" beat that
was Pugliese's signature. The first one in the series "Con Estilo..."
can be found for sale at http://www.puentealtango.com/Tango/cds/color.htm
Another one is on the "Story Of The Tango: Vol. 2 - Orquesta Color Tango"
and can be had at: http://www.mimusica.com/7783300030472.html
I prefer the last two over their first three.
Here's their discography.
1990 "COLOR TANGO" Boudisque Record ( Holanda)
1994 "A TODA ORQUESTA" EPSA (Argentina)
1996 "TIMELESS TANGO" Forever Music (USA)
1997 "CON ESTILO PARA BAILAR" Tecnodisc (Argentina)
2000 "CON ESTILO PARA BAILAR 2" Tecnodisc (Argentina)
The last four you can order direct from http://www.zivals.com
The first one you can order from several european cd stores
Good luck,
--
ruddy
Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 20:46:54 -0400
From: Larry Carroll <larrydla @JUNO.COM>
Subject: The Tango Guesthouse
The Tango Guesthouse looks very appealing because of the company
of other tango fanatics, & the availability of "native guides."
(Use of a fridge & kitchen & the excellent TGh prices are not
important to me. On a vacation I'm not interest in eating my own
cooking, & I don't mind paying for extra comfort & minor luxuries.)
However, one person who stayed there complained of noise & no air
conditioning. Sleeping & resting well is very important to me, since
I plan to spend most of my time out exploring & attending practicas &
milongas (or getting ready to do that). Also, I'm concerned about
smoke getting into my room from other rooms.
What has been the experience of others with the Guesthouse?
Larry de Los Angeles
http://home.att.net/~larrydla
PS The URL for the TGh is
http://www.ssdnet.com.ar/tangoguesthouse/
Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 21:15:44 -0700
From: Ruddy Zelaya <ruddy.zelaya @ENG.SUN.COM>
Subject: Re: Forever Tango in Cleveland Nov 1 - 4
tangofan @020.CO.UK wrote:
>>My dear friend ruddy,
>>
>>You are absolutely off the mark here. "The Mousetrap" plays exlusively for
>>american tourists, for whom English is still a foreign language, and therefore
>>they must see the show more than once in order to "get it".
My dear John, American tourists do understand English... it is the
Cockney accent that they have a problem with... ;-) How about if we
quit the put downs, eh?
Now, let me state for the record that I'm not a big fan of FT, much
preferring Tango X 2 or some of the other shows like Tango Argentino
(the 1986 version). Nevertheless, I rise in their defense for this
reason: It is a live performance done by live people of an art form
I care very much about. It is not a movie that once is commited to
print never changes (despite the endless "Director's cut" and other
variants that seem to surface whenever a film moves on to video/DVD).
That means that every so often dancers, musicians and the audience
get to share on something that will never again be repeated. To wit,
the night when Mayoral got out the gun and pulled the trigger to
break up the fight in the opening dance "El Suburbio" and... nothing
happened (the blank didn't go BANG!), or when Miriam was dropped a
little too close to the ground by his partner in "Tus Ojos De Cielo",
so much so that she actually bounced off the floor a little. But is
not just the mistakes that bind the audience and the performers to
that moment in time.... Just like everybody else, professional
dancers also have off-nights and great nights. When the stars are
right, musicians, dancers, and audience all get in sync and can produce
magic... for one moment in all eternity... and then it is gone forever.
Despite your impression that the cast never offers any visible change,
I submit that every couple brings to the stage something new *even* when
they are dancing to the same music as other casts or the same music as
the night before. For example, Gloria and Eduardo's "Milongueando en
el '40" is not the same as anybody else's. The tempo was changed to
support their style. Carlos and Alicia's "Gallo Ciego" was something
to behold. Carlos Gavito and Marcela's "A Evaristo Carriego" can't be
duplicated by anyone else because he has been practicing that lean
for a lifetime and nobody else crooks his back that way or lifts his
pinky finger that much ;-) "Felicia" done by XXXX and XXXX (blanked
to protect the guilty ;-) was terrible, but absolutely lovely when done
by Luis Castro and Claudia Mendoza.
Granted, there are some things about the show (or any show) so trite
that it pains me to hear the audience roar their approval (like when
Mayoral and Elsa Maria do their fast ganchos to the music of "La Mariposa")
but so what? All that that proves is that my taste is different. The
important thing is that these performers and musicians are doing
something ephemeral for my benefit and enjoyment. Once they are
gone all I'll have is the memory of the moment. To tell the truth,
if I have one regret is not that I saw the show more than twice,
but that I didn't see it as often as I could have.
Regards,
---
ruddy
End of TANGO-L Digest - 12 Sep 2000 to 13 Sep 2000 (#2000-247)
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