Re: [TANGO-L] Community Development

[Stephen Brown <Stephen.P.Brown @DAL.FRB.ORG>]

Luda wrote:

>WHY do so few people teach men how to lead properly??

Argentine tango really does not have a developed and widely used pedagogy.
 Most of the older teachers had very little instruction that approximated
their own level of dancing.  These older dancers developed their leading
and following skills through practice rather than instruction.  They
understand how to dance in their bodies rather than their minds.  Many of
the younger instructors learned from these older instructors, and by and
large the dancers to whom tango came easily--it was easily found in their
bodies.

>I just despair over dancing with wet noodle leads.
>It feels like dancing with men who don't have any
>backbone, so they can hold on to a woman like they
>mean it.

The wet noodle lead and the overly firm arm lead are both indicative of
people who do not really understand how to lead.  Leading is done with the
movement of the torso

Astrid added:
>Martial arts people have a definite edge over other
>beginners in tango.

The martial arts to provide a basis for understanding movement, but I am
not sure how much they help with leading and following skills.  I know
several people who are world class modern and ballet dancers who are
struggling with the lead and following aspects of tango.

With best regards for the New Year,
Steve

Stephen Brown
Tango Argentino de Tejas
http://www.tejastango.com/






luda_r1 <luda_r1 @YAHOO.COM>
Sent by: Discussion of Any Aspect of the Argentine Tango
<TANGO-L @MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
01/02/2003 02:30 AM
Please respond to luda_r1


        To:     TANGO-L @MITVMA.MIT.EDU
        cc:
        Subject:        [TANGO-L] Community Development

Andrew wrote:

"Second, I would argue that since a follower should be

able to follow a
clear lead from anybody who can provide it, the
instructor's primary task
is to make sure that the leaders can do so.

Finally, it appears to me that many instructors come
to a workshop with the
intention of "teaching" a certain number of steps,
regardless of whether
they are actually learned, rather than ensuring that
(almost) every leader
is capable of leading each step confidently before
moving on to the next
one. I would submit that the only way an instructor
can be certain that
their job is done is to see each leader execute the
step with at least two
followers..."

Bless your heart, Andrew, for saying this! WHY, WHY,

Where it's all about? Any woman can follow a good
lead.

Arrrgghh!!..... :)

Luda

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