Re: [TANGO-L] Tango dancer as improvisational musician

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

Rick from PDX wrote:

>Tango is almost totally led, no?  ... West Coast is the
>only dance I know that isn't totally led. ... [S]he [the
>follower] can hijack the lead, pause in very places &
>"say something" thru her dancing.

I do not think it is all the case that only the leader gets to be the
improvisational musician.  I have danced with a number of women who are
quite capable of hijacking the lead and rerouting the dance completely to
their own tastes.  (I am not writing about back leading.)  Some women do
it so strongly that the leader has no choice but to do what she wants.
Some do it with a light subtlety that can be overrun if the leader
chooses.

The first time I danced with a woman who hijacked with the lead, after the
first dance she asked me is it okay if I lead.  My response was that it
was great fun.  It is great to dance with someone who co-creates the
dance.

With best regards,
Steve

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