Re: [TANGO-L] competition

[Carlos Rojas <Crojas @HACIENDACDC.ORG>]

Mark wrote:
" Dance competition is what turned lovely social dances such as Fox
Trot,
Waltz, Swing etc. into the ridiculous, grotesque characters you see
today in
ballroom dance.  Most dance competition in the US was initiated by the
Arthur Murry dance studio chain as a marketing gimmick to keep students
coming back for classes.

Tango is an art, not a sport.
Tango is about how it feels, not how it looks.
Tango is between me and my partner, judgment is not welcome.
Tango is private and intimate.
For the sake of all the beauty that is Tango, just say NO to
competition."

Mark,
Thank you for such a great post, I agree with you and I must add salsa
to your list of dances that are now a show off rather than a social
dance.

Carlos Rojas
Portland, OR

-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion of Any Aspect of the Argentine Tango
[mailto:TANGO-L @MITVMA.MIT.EDU] On Behalf Of Mark Wladika
Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2003 10:09 AM
To: TANGO-L @MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: Re: [TANGO-L] competition

Dance competition is what turned lovely social dances such as Fox Trot,
Waltz, Swing etc. into the ridiculous, grotesque characters you see
today in
ballroom dance.  Most dance competition in the US was initiated by the
Arthur Murry dance studio chain as a marketing gimmick to keep students
coming back for classes.

Tango is an art, not a sport.

Tango is about how it feels, not how it looks.

Tango is between me and my partner, judgment is not welcome.

Tango is private and intimate.

For the sake of all the beauty that is Tango, just say NO to
competition.


-Mark

> What I want to know is how does ANYBODY justify having this sort of
> competition in Argentine Tango? And it got me to thinking, is there a
> way to have a good competition?? Yes, I think so, but only one
way...get
> as many dancers together as you can, and force everyone to dance with
> everyone...... And then make the followers vote on their favorite
> leader, and the leaders vote on their favorite follower! What do you
> think? No judges allowed, and make everybody close their eyes!!!
>
>
>
> But still, my main question, and one that I've not seen debated
before,
> is what does everyone think of these few  "competitions" that are held
> every year???? I won't be shy here. My opinion is that there should
> never be organized competition in Argentine Tango, and those that
> participate have lessened themselves, cheapened the art, and
compromised
> their integrity tremendously by taking part in such spurious
> undertakings.
>