Re: [TANGO-L] let's find a new name insted of this silly old milonguero style thing (and what is what anyway?)

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

For the most part, I agree with what Tom Stermitz wrote, particularly his
comment
>I think there is even more confusion about what SALON TANGO means.

Where I may differ is in finding it useful to recognize the differences
between the smooth and staccato versions of Tango de Salon, the style of
Todaro, and Fantasia.

As Tom wrote: Tango de Salon refers to a walking social style without
boleos and ganchos.  It can be danced in an open or close embrace, but it
is usually danced in what would be considered a close embrace in the
United States.

As Yvonne Meissner has written, what is called "Club" or "Milonguero" in
the United States might be considered a subcategory of Tango de Salon.  As
Tom wrote, this style is danced with a staccato rhythm.  One difficulty
with including Club/Milonguero as a subcategory of Tango de Salon is that
the style originated in the Clubs de Barrios rather than the Salons where
it is danced today.

What has been left without a name in the United States is the smoother
style of Tango de Salon that is danced without a staccato rhythm.  I have
simply called it "Salon" recognizing its development from the simpler
Tango Liso in the Salons.  Robert Hauk calls it "Old Salon."  Nonetheless,
I recognize that neither of us has really convinced others to use our
terminology.

This smoother style of Tango de Salon was once the dominant style in San
Francisco, but has given way to a multiplicity of styles.
Susan and I teach and promote the smoother Tango de Salon.  In addition to
being a rewarding style to dance, it is a very good basis for learning any
style of Argentine tango.

The smoother Tango de Salon is also the style that we primarily dance at
milongas, though we do add occasional elements of milonguero, the style of
Todaro and nuevo that respect the line of dance.

Tom and I are agreement that the style of Todaro consists of "walking, open-embrace, tango built on pivoting ochos, 8CB and molinete."   From previous discussions, we are also in agreement that this style is
of limited usefulness for dancing socially in crowded milongas because it
teachers have emphasized the use of complex, memorized figures based on
the 8CB.

Unfortunately, the term "Salon" has been applied to the style of Todaro in
the United States.  Although Todaro and others developed this style from
their knowledge of the smoother Tango de Salon and Orillero, it is not
really a style that originated in the Salons.  Hence, calling it "Salon"
does not really seem appropriate.  In recognition that the style of Todaro
has its primary roots in Tango de Salon and that many of its current
instructors intend the style to be danced socially, I have used the term
"Modern Salon."

Where I seem to differ from Tom is that I distinguish between the style of
Todaro (Modern Salon) and Fantasia.  The vocabulary of Modern Salon is
drawn almost exclusively from the elements of social dance and without
exaggeration.  Modern Salon is the basis for Fantasia, but Fantasia
exaggerates many elements of the social dance and includes elements of
ballet, modern dance and show dancing that do not have historical
antecedents in Argentine tango itself.

I would further add that many of the stage dancers who travel and teach
what I am calling Modern Salon do distinguish between what they are
teaching and what they do on the stage.  Whether one would consider what
they are teaching as being appropriate for social dancing is another
issue.

With best wishes to everyone for a great 2003,
Steve