[TANGO-L] Overcoming Patternitis

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

In some of the recent discussion, we have examined issues related to
patternitis.  What is patternitis?  Dancing tango through the rote use of
patterns taught in videos or by instructors--such as the eight count
basic--are what I call patternitis.  Much of the criticism directed at
videos and instructors comes from claiming that teaching tango in patterns
leads to patternitis.

I have previously argued that although much instruction takes the form of
patterns, it is up to the invididual dancers to overcome the tendency
toward patternitis and take ownership ot their own dance.  How might this
be accomplished?  One way is to take instruction from those few
instructors who teach tango in small elements rather than patterns.
Another is to continue taking classes and workshops from instructors who
teach tango in patterns and then take the patterns apart and incorporate
only the pieces into one's own dance vocabulary.

Given that most instructors teach patterns, the latter approach gives the
dancer a richer set of options.  In my own experience and observation, the
ability to take patterns apart and make the pieces my own own required
learning some about the structure of tango and developing some physical
skills.

The first step in deconstruction is recognizing that tango is made up of
some basic elements.  Every pattern is made from various combinations of
tango's basic elements: walking in parallel, walking in cross foot, turns
(including ochos), sandwiches and embellishments.

The second step in deconstruction is recognizing some basic relationships
between these elements.  For instance, a  boleo is an interupted ocho;
that turns are ochos connected by a side step and ochos are the result of
reversing turns; that the back ocho is a cross-foot walk that has been
twisted; and that the equivalence between the back ocho and cross-foot
walking provides a nice connection between turns and walking.

Perhaps the most important step in avoiding patternitis is in developing
physical competence in the basic elements of tango and the transitions
between.  This competence allows me to better digest patterns and make a
transition from the intellectual to the physical.  Building these skills
means developing fluidity in moving from parallel walking to cross-foot
walking; in shifting from walking elements to turning elements; and in the
four basic turns--clockwise in parallel foot, clockwise in cross-foot,
counter-clockwise in parallel foot, and counter-clockwise in cross foot.
It also requires playing with sandwiches with a friend; and it requires
practicing embellishments indepedent of specific figures.  Working with
these generalized movements gives both leaders and followers a physical
competence in the basic tango vocabulary.  You have to walk your miles,
your instructor cannot do it for you.

With an understanding of and physical competence in the basic elements of
tango, dancers are much better prepared to avoid the patternitis that
seems result from the typical classes.

Does what I am suggesting seem too mental?  The real key is in developing
the physical competence that goes with the mental recognition and working
until the movements come without thought.

Does what I am suggesting seem like too much work?  Stick to instructors
who teach tango as small elements or be content with your patternitis.

With best regards,
Steve

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