Re: [TANGO-L] teaching technique

[Randy Pittman <tango22 @BELLSOUTH.NET>]

Hola Milongueros y Tangueras,

I had an interesting observation at my last Saturday night milonga.  During intermission, I asked, how many people were subscribed to Tango-L?  Only 3 out of 70 people raised their hands. I'd be very curious if other milonga organizers would ask this same question and post your results.  I forgot to ask how many were on-line, and used e-mail, I'll ask that next week.  

I presented Tango-L to them, (this wasn't the first time I've told people at my classes and milongas, that they should participate in Tango-L).  I'm going to try something new; I'm putting up a Tango-L message board and post the weekly-discussed topics.  Starting with community development.  

Tango-L has been a great source of education and information to me on Argentine Tango, not only in BA but all around the world.  I wish to thank Shahrukh Merchant and all the volunteers that make it work, and all the participants that make this group of friends, this list, whatever you want to call our group, this special thing we enjoy.  Thank you to all.  

I'm very intrigued with what Marissa has pointed out.  The blind leading the blind.  This is not only is a problem in Tango, it is a problem in all of dance.  In the past I've stated that, 70% or more of the certified ballroom dance teachers that I personally know, they can dance, but they cannot teach their way out of a paper bag.  These teachers can dance, they can demonstrate the steps, but they don't know how to break it down to the simplest element, giving you the technique, that after observing what you have attempted, they can't explain what you did incorrectly or how to correct it. 

(IMHO) Every group or private lesson should begin with a warm-up, some form of exercise and technique before any steps are taught.  Competition students usually come in 30 to 45 minutes early, they are warming up, and practicing technique before their private lesson.  In both group and private lessons, from the first lesson I will make the man learn the ladies footwork, and then they will feel what lead the lady is expecting from the man.  It is necessary for the men to learn the ladies step,  I do lead them, and show them how it feels as a woman to be lead. How else are they to learn? A man cannot fully understand what a lead is, until he feels it from another man and has tried the ladies part.  The number of steps that you learn should not be the most important quest or goal of a group class from your instructor.  What you do learn, what you do leave with, and are able to accomplish after the fact should be the most important quest or goal of a group or private class from the teacher instructing.  

Tango Forever

Randy

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
REMINDER: Announcements of Tango events or products should be sent to
Tango-A and not to TANGO-L. To subscribe to Tango-A, send the
command "subscribe Tango-A Firstname Lastname" to LISTSERV @MITVMA.MIT.EDU.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------