Re: [TANGO-L] Neverending Ochos

[Carlos Lima <amilsolrac @YAHOO.COM>]

Referring to the postings by Carlos Rojas, and to a lesser extent Tom
Stermitz,

I would like to clarify, just in case, that I was not agreeing or disagreeing
with any one on anything. I simply took my tocayo's quote as a jumping board,
and re-used the subject line just to be contrary: the unending ochos are no
kind of problem at all to me. Well, maybe they were five times in as many
years, a few seconds at a time, with first timers; and you better believe
that I used some form of the Carlos Rojas recipe to deal with it.

My main points were on the "technology of connection" which, as all subjects
in tango, gets sometimes rather rough treatment. I actually agree with Carlos
in the sense that (in the case of the woman more so) I consider it more
important at first to have a well toned frame / embrace than to worry
overmuch about 100% relaxation. I have said so several times in this forum.
Once the habit of a dead connection is acquired, it may be forever. I know
plenty of examples. It is not either or: you need to make sure to make your
partners comfortable AND to have a very good connection with each of them, if
their skill allows it.

Another point, and in this my tocayo and I may differ just a little, there is
not one right kind of connection, quite beyond the very evident differences
between the classic dance, the milonguero way, and the avant guarde.

On this score, what about Argentine dancers (in my case just women, please)?
My experience is with all kinds of visitors and Argentines who live in the
USA, from just people to great masters. I find them no different than the
rest of the world: there are all kinds there too. But I do sympathize with
what CRojas has to say, in the sense that a minority of Argentinean women
offer an unusual level of resistance (maybe reluctance is a better word), and
need to be ReallY moved. They are not in the majority, quite the contrary. To
me it is all the same: my job is to adapt to the follower's style of
following, and provide the necessary lead. I am not one to explain to the
lady how I want her to behave, though you would be surprised to find out some
of those who are. (No, I will not name names.)

In a related point, my main point really, is that the connection is, well,
ought to be, what the lady wants it to be. In terms of how firm or how light
it is, for example. In a sense it cannot be otherwise. (I am assuming here,
of course, that both sides are competent dancers.) This is something that is
not often stated, perhaps not even widely realized. Or maybe my introspection
results are kind of odd.

(It suddenly occurred to me: what might be the relationship between all of
this and the observation that a number of tango luminaries dance practically
only with their steady partners? Hmm ...)

Cheers,


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